My main use case for SUSE Linux Enterprise involves deploying SUSE Linux Enterprise and using it with the YaST installer to guide, set up the system, partition, and select the packages.

I also use SUSE Linux Enterprise to deliver training on SUSE Linux administration and Linux administration in general, teaching how to create users, partition the system, browse the file system, create symbolic links or hard links, and create VMs on AWS with the SUSE flavor.

SUSE Linux Enterprise has positively impacted my organization by resulting in more contracts signed, including a recent customer from Austria working on SUSE Rancher, which means having employees skilled in SUSE Rancher gives us the opportunity to bring this workload to our company and grow our revenue.

For my team, there are more than 10 contracts signed for SUSE products; however, I don't have much insight about the global contracts signed or a summary since I do not occupy a management position.

The best features SUSE Linux Enterprise offers include a streamlined installation process with the YaST installer, thorough documentation, and tools such as AutoYaST that enable automated, repeatable deployment; however, a new user may face a learning curve, especially if unfamiliar with SUSE-specific tools.

The need to register a system for updates and support can complicate deployment in an isolated environment. SUSE Linux Enterprise is recognized for its stability and reliability in production environments, with YaST providing a centralized interface for managing system settings, updates, and services, making routine administration straightforward.

Performance is strong out of the box, and the system is optimized for enterprise workloads; nevertheless, the official repositories prioritize stability, so some newer or less common packages may not be immediately available. Advanced configuration may still require command line expertise, and while SUSE Linux Enterprise is designed for scalability with built-in support for high availability, clustering, and seamless integration with major cloud platforms, leveraging advanced features requires careful planning and expertise, and some management tools can introduce resource overhead, particularly on smaller systems.

SUSE Linux Enterprise is a mature and reliable platform, but there are areas where it can be improved. Modernizing the system management tools is important as many users appreciate YaST for its centralized management, but there is a growing demand for more modern, web-based, and modular tools. The introduction of tools such as Agama, a web-based installer, and Cockpit in newer releases is a step in the right direction.

SUSE has made progress with multi-Linux support, allowing organizations to manage and support not just SUSE systems but also other distributions such as Red Hat and CentOS; continuing to expand these capabilities, especially for hybrid and multi-cloud environments, will help organizations manage diverse infrastructure more effectively.

Security is a top concern, and further strengthening default security policies, simplifying compliance management, and integrating advanced vulnerability management tools would be a valuable improvement.

I have been using SUSE Linux Enterprise for more than six years.

SUSE Linux Enterprise is stable.

SUSE Linux Enterprise is widely recognized for its strong scalability, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to global enterprises. It can scale horizontally or vertically, horizontally by adding more servers and vertically by increasing resources on an existing instance.

Vendor support is another strong point of SUSE Linux Enterprise, with the support team generally being responsive and knowledgeable, offering 24/7 assistance for critical issues. There is a wealth of resources available, including a comprehensive knowledge base and proactive support options.

Initial support interaction may follow a scripted process before more complex issues are escalated to specialized engineers. The quality of support can vary depending on the region.

SUSE Linux Enterprise provides a stable, secure, and well-supported platform for enterprise workloads, with powerful management tools and robust support for clustering, cloud, and containers. The main challenges include the initial learning curve for SUSE-specific tools, the need for system registration, and limited availability of the latest packages in the official repositories. Customer support is really super.

Positive

We are actually using both SUSE Linux Enterprise and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, so we didn't switch; rather, we are using both, and it's ultimately the customer who decides to choose, although we try to provide them with ideas.

Before choosing SUSE Linux Enterprise, we evaluated other options; however, in our environment, particularly production and customer production environments, we prefer enterprise versions, and for Linux, it is either SUSE or Red Hat, leaving us with limited choices for deploying Linux in an enterprise setting.

We have seen a return on investment from using SUSE Linux Enterprise, with more people engaged on projects needing SUSE skills and more revenue for the company.

I rate SUSE Linux Enterprise a 10 out of 10 because it keeps improving, with great products such as SUSE Rancher, and it stands out as the best product in the market.

I advise others looking into using SUSE Linux Enterprise to clearly define their requirements, such as workload types, scalability needs, compliance standards, and integration with existing infrastructure before committing, as SUSE Linux Enterprise excels in regulated, mission-critical, and hybrid environments. They should also invest in learning SUSE tools and take advantage of vendor support.

Public Cloud

Microsoft Azure

I use it for the corporate SAP landscape.

It provides a stable and reliable OS. I recommended it based on its stability and functionality.

It has a stable and reliable OS. I recommended it based on its stability and functionality.

The functionality is good, but the licensing subscription model needs improvement. The license we subscribed to should carry over within the same instance family. Why are we required to re-subscribe when upgrading within the same family? Why are we effectively paying double fees during an upgrade?

I have been using the solution for three years.

We chose this solution because it was recommended by our managed service provider and it is known to be a good OS for SAP.

We are facing an issue with licensing usage. The subscription does not carry over within the same instance family, so upgrading an instance results in overlapping or double subscription fees.

We did not consider alternate solutions because it was highly recommended by the managed service vendor.

We are facing an issue with licensing usage. The subscription does not carry over within the same instance family, so upgrading an instance results in overlapping or double subscription fees.

I've been using SUSE Linux Enterprise for a petroleum company client. They run it as their primary server hosting environment, connected to NAS and various external applications and hardware. We integrate it with Spacewalk for management, which is known by different names on other distributions. 

I like how the tool handles kernel modules and upgrades - we rarely have issues after upgrades, unlike with other Linux distributions like Oracle Linux or Ubuntu. The kernel module management is excellent. Changes made in one version typically work the same in other versions too, which isn't always the case with other distributions. There's also lots of information and community support available if you run into any problems, both on the official website and in forums and user groups. I know many people who use it specifically, so it's easy to get independent support if needed. I've been working with the tool for a long time, since 2003, before they became SUSE Linux Enterprise. It's always been one of the most admin-friendly Linux versions. 

Depending on the underlying hardware, setting up and running services can sometimes be problematic. It's not always uniform—you can't necessarily move a service from one system to another and have it work seamlessly.

Additionally, error handling needs improvement. The system should be more transparent when there's an error, rather than just declaring a generic error. It would be helpful if it could provide more specific information about the problem on that particular system. As it stands, you can waste a lot of time trying to troubleshoot these vague errors. 

I have been using the product for six years. 

I rate the tool's stability a ten out of ten since we do the regular upgrade cycles. 

The solution is scalable, and I rate its scalability an eight out of ten. Our usage will triple in the coming 18 months. We're pushing our on-premises clients to adopt cloud modules. When they move to the cloud, they can centralize many international and local business systems into one point, which will increase users. We have diverse geographical setups, and moving to the cloud will bring all users onto one or two systems.

Right now, we might have 15 users in one place using one system, not always SUSE Linux Enterprise. We want to consolidate everything because it makes system administration easier. Currently, our technical resources need to know many different products, which is challenging since some of us are experts in certain areas but not others. It's difficult. We're trying to make things easier from an administrator's perspective. 

I've never had problems with SUSE Linux Enterprise's customer support. They're very responsive when we log cases with them. I usually get a response within 24 hours. I work with suppliers like Qualys and Acronis, but SUSE Linux Enterprise is generally the fastest to respond. Their support team is always willing to help, and the engineers are happy to share knowledge. This level of support is very impressive compared to other vendors I work with.

Positive

The initial setup of SUSE Linux Enterprise is very easy. Its GUI-based interface is self-explanatory. Someone with basic IT knowledge who pays attention could set up a system. For higher-end integration, more technical expertise is needed. An entry-level Linux administrator could set it up by receiving a basic document.

On a scale of one to ten, with ten being very easy setup, SUSE Linux Enterprise rates an eight.

Regarding deployment time, it's less than an hour, never more than an hour. However, this can depend on the hardware - if the hardware is slower, the installation and everything will go slower.

There is currently a mix of deployment options. It is deployed both on the cloud and on-premises.

SUSE Linux Enterprise is reasonably priced compared to other operating systems. I find it's a much better option for us than Oracle, for example, because of the pricing structure. The pricing is easier to explain to clients and makes it easier to get clients' commitment. The licensing is also simpler to manage and keep track of. Their responsiveness is great - they give feedback very quickly when we ask questions about licensing or other aspects. This helps ensure we're always at the gold standard regarding licensing and everything related to SUSE Linux Enterprise.

None of our current clients are looking at AI features. We mainly work with traditional clients using custom-built systems developed over the past 20-30 years, so there's limited room for improvement or AI integration. However, we may potentially be involved in an AI-related project in 2025, but that would involve a redesign and isn't confirmed yet. For now, we don't use AI for our client work.

I rate the overall solution a ten out of ten.