SUSE silently released the first Service Pack of SLES 12

Dec 18, 2015 02:45 GMT  ·  By

Today, December 18, SUSE has announced the immediate availability of the first Service Pack (SP1) for its long-term supported SUSE Linux Enterprise Linux (SLES) 12 operating system.

Prominent features of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1 include the addition of Docker, the world's best open-source Linux container engine that was designed from the ground up to help automate the deployment of conternized applications. Also worth mentioning is the implementation of the powerful single sing-on (SSO) Shibboleth technology for computer networks and web infrastructures, allowing users to sign in across multiple domains using a single identity.

Furthermore, SUSE has implemented Network Teaming, a state-of-the-art technology that is similar in functionality to Network Bonding, helping users combine several network connections in parallel, thus increasing the network uptime. Support for unattended and interactive upgrades is offered as well, so the SysAdmins can easily and quickly upgrade their SLES servers while reducing cost and downtime.

SLES now has a JeOS version

Another interesting feature implemented in the first Service Pack for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 is the addition of SLES JeOS (Just Enough Operating System). This is a bare-bones version of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server that is ready for deployment in virtual images, delivered as a KIWI template for partners and customers, and designed to make virtualization deployment more efficient.

Furthermore, there's now a rollback functionality that makes Service Pack upgrades safer, and SLES 12 has adopted modules for providing customers with the latest upstream updates. Moreover, the new Subscription Management Tool (SMT) offers a proxy solution for large organizations to get updates and patches for their SUSE Linux Enterprise software, as well as a way for them to benefit from the new SLES modules.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 is currently under evaluation for a Common Criteria Certification to provide its customers with the latest security standards compliance. The operating system is now supported on several 64-bit processor architectures, including the well-known AMD64, Intel 64, IBM POWER8 LE, and IBM System z (s390x).