| Novell previews new SUSE Linux Enterprise distros |
Jun. 27, 2006
Novell Inc. is treating its users to early Independence Day fireworks, by releasing a special, free preview of its upcoming SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 platform. In this pre-release, Novell is offering early versions of both of its flagship distributions: SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10.
Novell will officially release the server and desktop products later this summer.
"Demand from customers to preview SUSE Linux Enterprise 10, both the server and desktop products, has been unbelievable," said Justin Steinman, director of product marketing for Linux and Open Platform Solutions at Novell in a statement. "So we're making it easy for everyone to experience for themselves how the best Linux just got better, with no cost or obligation. The value of SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 can best be experienced hands-on, and we firmly believe that those people who take some time to kick the tires will end up wanting to drive it off the lot when it's formally released in the next few weeks."
SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 is built on the foundation of the community developed OpenSUSE 10.1. On the desktop, it comes with many applications already baked in such as: - OpenOffice.org 2.0
- Firefox Web browser 1.504
- GAIM 1.5 instant messaging client
- Beagle desktop search
- Evolution 2.6
For its user interface, the new SUSE defaults to Gnome 2.12, but KDE 3.5 is also available. The new desktop also includes the Freedesktop.org project's OpenGL-driven X Server, Xgl. With Xgl and Novell's compositing window manager, compiz, users can switch among 3D virtual desktops with translucency and all the other hot, desktop interface prettiness.
The server version includes a fully integrated and supported version of Xen 3.0, the emerging open-source virtualization standard. With it, Novell claims you can consolidate multiple workloads on a single server or allocate a single workload across multiple servers.
While Novell has slightly delayed the operating system's arrival, it will be out by mid-summer. An internal, non-publicized deadline has electronic copies of the final, commercial version shipping on July 17.
The free peek at the operating system is available as five-CD ISO images for both the x86 and x86-64 architectures. There are no DVD images at this time. The shipping server version will also be available for AMD64, EM64T, PowerPC, and z390x machines.
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 for x86 and related hardware will soon be available from resellers and solution providers. The suggested retail price for SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop for x86 will be $50.
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 has subscription-based pricing, available for a one- or three-year period. The subscription fee entitles customers to receive software updates and support
No matter the time-period, there are three levels of support. These are: Basic, which comes with web support and unlimited incidents; Standard, which gives users 12-hours of support per business day with unlimited incidents; and Priority, which provides 24 by 7 support and unlimited incidents.
On the x86 and related architectures and the POWER-based architectures, support for one year is $349 for Basic, $799 for Standard, and $1,499 for Priority. For three years, it's $873, $1,998, and $3,748, respectively. Mainframe pricing goes for $11,999 for Basic, $15,000 for Standard, and $18,000 for Priority. For three years of z390x support, it's $29,997, $37,500, and $45,000 for each service level. Other pricing is also available, Novell said.
Further details are on the SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 previews are available here.
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
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