Novell expands support for SUSE Linux enterprise server

LINUX DISTRIBUTOR Novell has extended the support it offers for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES).

The firm said that it will offer extended global support for SLES running on IBM System z, and released the SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 Service Pack 4 (SP4), which bundles together the assorted fixes, patches, and antiseptic plasters released for it in the last few months.

"Our customers have made it clear that the long-term support of their Linux platforms is critical to their business," said Markus Rex, SVP and general manager of open platform solutions at Novell.

"The extension of our support programme and the release of SP4 for SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 provide important benefits for data centre operators, giving them UNIX- caliber lifecycles for their critical workloads."

Extended support should help Novell datacentre users keep their systems more up to date, the firm added, and will let them run workloads for a longer time on one service pack. Novell added that it would also cut the time needed to migrate to later SUSE Linux releases.

The Long Term Service Pack Support (LTSS) for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server support extension increases extended coverage to three years, and when combined with seven years of general support adds up to, well, ten years of support.

The extended support programme and service pack 4 are available now. µ