02.02.08
Do-No-Evil Saturday - Part II: SUSE as SLES and SLED; Novell’s Core Business
It appears as though SLED was embraced for the use in a health unit.
Brant County Health Unit Implements Ericom’s PowerTerm(R) WebConnect for Secure Remote Access to Windows Terminal Servers from PCs Running SUSE(R) Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell
As you can see, SLED is used here to prevent security issues, lower cost (never mind SLED ‘tax’ which is paid to Microsoft), improve stability and other factors that make it somewhat of an excellent thin client.
Here is Novell’s SUSE (SLES 10) in a new cluster-building product.
Cluster Resources, Inc. announced today the finalization of the name Moab Cluster Builder for the product code named “Escalante” and the release of the final Beta version of the full HPC-stack deployment solution based on Novell’s SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10.
Sun is playing nice with real-time GNU/Linux and Novell’s SLERT is the first Linux to be supported.
Sun has announced early access to its Java Real-Time System (RTS) for Linux, Java RTS 2.1_EA. Previously Java RTS was only available on Solaris 10 x86 or SPARC. With this early access release, Sun brings real-time Java capabilities to Linux with POSIX real-time extensions.
Although only SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 10 is officially supported at this time, it is possible that other properly configured Linux distributions that implement this interface can also run Java RTS 2.1_EA. Additionally, support is planned for Red Hat Enterprise MRG 1.0 as well.
After Red Hat’s accusations against Novell, it seems safe to assume that Red Hat isn’t too thrilled about this.
Novell also scores a win that involves IBM’s love.
Novell today announced the availability of the SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server Starter System for System z, a pre-built installation server that simplifies the installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server on IBM’s System z mainframes. The starter system eliminates the need for IT managers to search for network access to installation media on the mainframe. With the new Starter System for System z, customers can quickly initiate evaluations of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for System z.
There is an article based on this press release and it’s just one among several. The legal war on IBM’s mainframes is noteworthy because it may have come from Microsoft, by proxy.
In India, Novell’s grip on Linux seems quite strong, especially as far as the mainstream press is concerned. Here is another new article about Linux. It’s very Novell-centric. They build upon and embellish the SUSE brand.
He elaborated on the issue of interoperability which is a prime concern and the initiative by Novell in this area. He even listed some of the successful Linux implementations in the government sector by many components of citizen services, Indian railways, Indian courts, Indian police system, and some public sector organizations (banks, oil sector, airlines). He cited the case of the Tamil Nadu Government that has adopted SUSE Linux as its platform for all of its Citizen-Centric Service Delivery and thus, Linux, Particularly SUSE Linux Enterprise from Novell is absolutely ready for government projects.
Not a bad week for SUSE, overall. █
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.