Brief

Novell rolls out SUSE Linux 10

Novell has announced the worldwide availability of SUSE Linux Enterprise 10. Revathi Kasturi, Managing Director, West Asia, Novell said, "We are excited to announce the availability of the first complete open source Linux platform for the enterprise. We aim to demonstrate the capabilities of the SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 Server and Desktop in customer roadshows across the country, including the first fully supported virtualisation, application-security, and improved desktop usability.” The roadshows will be held at Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi and Kolkata.

The company says that with the launch of SUSE Linux Enterprise 10, it has simplified pricing for enterprise customers. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server subscriptions are now available in two forms for either mainframe or non-mainframe servers. In addition, customers can choose basic, standard or priority support. Subscriptions start at Rs 18,497 per server, and there is no additional cost for virtual server images.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop subscriptions are available for a list price of Rs 2,650 per device per year, or Rs 6,625 for three years. Subscriptions include 90 days of installation assistance and product updates through the term of the agreement. 

Among its killer application for the desktop version is the enhanced 3-D accelerated graphics. The new graphical interface and XGL powered 3-D desktop effects provide more desktop space for efficient use. The other feature, Compiz, a composting window manager uses a three-dimensional cube that maps the desktop on the cube and according to your usage you can switch among the various workplaces.

Virtualisation is once again a hot topic in data centres because of the benefits it provides such as better resource utilisation, efficiency, scalability and manageability for commodity hardware systems. To achieve this SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 Server comes with Xen hypervision.

It supports Xen 3.0 virtualisation on both 32 and 64-bit x86-based architectures. It offers support for both para-virtualisation through the Xen hypervisor and full virtualisation support through partners like VMware. Novell claims that SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 is the first operating system of any type to support Intel VT and AMD-V.

IBM has already announced full support for Xen hypervisor included in SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 on all of its hardware and Dell and HP are expected to announce in the third quarter of 2006.

The key in this product is interoperability and localisation. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 will be available in English, Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Bengali and Marathi. Novell has identified few verticals like the government, BFSI, telecom and SMB where Linux has good potential.

Says Kasturi, “The localisations will give a great boost to the e-Governance initiative by the state and central governments in the project areas of community kiosks, as well as the ongoing educational initiatives by both the private and public sectors.”