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hß · SecurityCurated

Novell brings SUSE Linux server with kernel 2.6

Summary

In August 2004 Novell presented SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 with kernel 2.6, available for x86, AMD64, Intel’s EM64T, Itanium, IBM Power and zSeries. Prices started at 349 US dollars a year for a server with two CPUs and rose considerably for Itanium and mainframes. Besides YaST, the package included ZENworks for Linux and the Service Location Protocol, and Common Criteria EAL4+ certification was planned.

Ideas

  • An enterprise Linux supported all important platforms from the PC to the mainframe.
  • The licence was sold as an annual subscription with maintenance.
  • The price depended on platform and number of processors.
  • Security certifications were meant to qualify Linux for authorities and corporations.

Insights

  • Enterprise Linux does not sell the software but maintenance, certification and predictability.
  • With SLES 9, kernel 2.6 arrived in a major enterprise distribution for the first time.

Facts

  • The cheapest zSeries edition cost 5,999 US dollars a year.
  • The predecessor SLES 8 was certified to Common Criteria CAPP/EAL3+.

References

Critique

  • The report reproduces prices and features according to the vendor, without comparing them with Red Hat’s offering.

Recommendations

  • With enterprise Linux, take the ongoing subscription costs over the entire period of use into account.
  • Check whether certifications such as Common Criteria are actually required for your use.

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