Enterprise users can now download an update of SuSE
Linux's enterprise server software, which claims to offer improved
hardware support and enhanced storage access.
Service Pack 3 for SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 includes the
latest version of the kernel at the heart of its operating system
software: kernel 2.4.21 is capable of managing up to 2,000 physical
hard discs compared with only 600 discs in the 2.4.19 version.
The software also allows up to 27 large hard disc drives to be
bundled with redundant, reliable access paths in a process known as
"multipathing".
Service Pack 3 supports the latest member of IBM's thin-blade
server family, the BladeCenter JS20, while providing improved
support for x86 hardware, Intel's Itanium systems and
mainframes.
The update is available for free to enterprise customers
participating in SuSE's maintenance programme. It can be downloaded
directly from the company's maintenance website.
SuSE has also started distributing a free version of its desktop
operating system, SuSE Linux 9, which targets the consumer market.
The commercial version of the software, which was one of the first
home-user operating systems to run on Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
Atholon 64 processor, has been available since late September.
The free downloadable version contains the entire operating
system but lacks several other software applications, such as
Macromedia Flash, which was not included because of licence
restrictions.
While users can install the File Transfer Protocol version of
SuSE Linux 9 from a network or hard drive, they cannot create
installation CDs, nor do they receive support or documentation.
John Blau writes for IDG News Service
