SUSE Software Solution Product GuideProduct Guide

SUSE and Lenovo work together to ensure that the latest SUSE technologies work perfectly with Lenovo ThinkSystem infrastructure and ThinkAgile solutions to provide the most reliable, secure and high-performing datacenters for our customers. Built with proven Lenovo innovation, Lenovo ThinkSystem servers and ThinkAgile solutions extend SUSE's operating systems, virtualization technologies, and infrastructure platforms so you can build a highly productive IT environment that can help your business achieve true innovation.

Lenovo has proven experience in developing and delivering SUSE-based solutions that help customers modernize and simplify their IT infrastructure to dramatically drive down operating costs and open the door to cutting-edge innovations. Built around the latest Lenovo ThinkSystem servers and networking hardware, the Lenovo solution with SUSE provides businesses with an affordable, interoperable, and reliable industry-leading solution to manage their virtualized workloads.

Figure 1. Lenovo and SUSE lead in SAP solutions

Lenovo’s largest supercomputer installations use SUSE Linux Enterprise Server operating systems optimized for High-Performance Computing. This includes LRZ in Germany and the Barcelona Super Computer. Also, SUSE is the initial default operating system for SAP HANA and Data Hub solutions.

Lenovo offers various types and forms of SUSE subscriptions so organizations and partners can leverage best in class Lenovo servers to build agile IT infrastructure that is reliable, secure, and high performing. Choosing a SUSE OEM subscription from Lenovo for most customers is the simplest and most cost-effective approach. SUSE subscriptions from Lenovo are specifically pre-tested and optimized to install on Lenovo servers. Lenovo offers support for several SUSE offerings including SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and SUSE High-Performance Computing, giving customers a single point of support for their datacenter with better pricing than they can get from normal SUSE distributors.

With a history of technical collaboration, SUSE and Lenovo consistently deliver innovative joint solutions for the data center. Lenovo's leadership in reliability, customer satisfaction, and performance, combined with SUSE’s reputation in software, continues to deliver innovative data-center solutions and lower total cost of ownership for our joint customers.

With Lenovo, customers have access to decades of datacenter expertise, industry leading support services and the option to leverage Lenovo consultative, professional, and managed service offerings. Lenovo provides customers with the best solution to generate the business results they are looking to achieve, while leveraging a single partner for all aspects of support and services.

Support levels

Lenovo sells SUSE subscriptions that offer either Lenovo support or SUSE direct support. The advantage of the Lenovo support options is that they all offer 7x24 support at significantly lower cost than vendor-provided support options.  Support from SUSE comes in two options: Priority subscriptions or Standard subscriptions.

• Priority subscriptions have support offered 7x24 - seven days a week, 24 hours per day
• Standard subscriptions have support offered 5x12 - Monday to Friday, local business days, typically offered from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM local hours

This section describes the subscriptions available for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) supported by world-class Lenovo Services.

SLES is available in the following deployment scenarios:

• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) Physical or Virtual Node: This is the basic SLES x86 Linux Operating System (OS) is sold in a single 2-socket subscription. This subscription supports either two physical sockets of SLES or two virtual machines using SLES.
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) Virtualization Unlimited: This subscription offers unlimited “bare metal” SLES OS instances for virtual machines. Note - this subscription does include the 1-2 socket physical server OS and unlimited SLES VMs.

Customers can purchase SLES subscriptions from Lenovo through the following ways:

• CTO (Configure to Order) – this is the OEM subscription that is added to the Lenovo server quotes.
  • Socket-based per Server
• BTO (Build to Order) – this is the OEM subscription that can be added to any customer quotes.
  • Socket-based per Server

Each SLES OS subscription can provide an OS instance for up to two sockets or two virtual machines. Other options include unlimited SLES virtual machines. A “virtualization unlimited” subscription provides both the 2-socket OS and unlimited bare metal SLES virtual machines.

The following table lists the available SLES subscriptions.

The following table lists the SLES ordering feature codes.

This section provides information on SUSE Linux Enterprise for High Performance Computing (HPC) from Lenovo. Lenovo is an industry leader in the HPC space with hundreds of HPC wins using SUSE Linux Enterprise for HPC in the deployments. Many of the largest supercomputers are deployed with Lenovo servers and SUSE HPC software.

Features

For IT professionals with performance is a primary concern, SUSE Linux Enterprise for HPC provides capabilities to build high performance datacenter environments. These subscriptions are sold by two physical sockets or two virtual machine instances.

• SUSE Linux Enterprise for HPC. Lenovo resells SUSE Linux Enterprise for HPC subscriptions that cover both Compute and Head Nodes. These are subscriptions where the customers access SUSE for patches, downloads, software, etc. The support options include Standard 12x5 and Priority 24x7 support levels directly from SUSE. A Lenovo Support option is also available and recommended due to the lower costs and extensive HPC experience within Lenovo support groups.

The following table lists the ordering feature codes for SUSE Linux Enterprise for HPC with Lenovo support.

The following table lists the ordering part numbers SUSE Linux Enterprise for HPC with SUSE support.

This section provides information on add-on packages that can be sold with the SLES Operating System from Lenovo. Any “Add-On” package will adopt the support levels of the underlying server OS (i.e. Standard or Priority support, Lenovo Support or SUSE Support).

• SLES High Availability Extension. SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability (HA) Extension provides mature, industry-leading open source high availability clustering technologies that are easy to set up and use. It can be deployed in both physical and virtual environments. Together with Geo Clustering, the SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension helps maintain business continuity, protect data integrity and maximize service uptime for mission-critical Linux workloads across local to unlimited geographic distances.
  • Load Balancing. SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension includes IPv4 and IPv6 load balancing, allowing you to handle node and service failures and redirect requests to other nodes to maintain the availability and performance of the service.
  • Clustering. SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension supports the Corosync cluster engine and OpenAIS—the leading standards-based communication protocol for server and storage clustering. Also included is Pacemaker, a highly scalable cluster resource manager with a flexible policy engine that supports n-node clusters. Using Corosync, OpenAIS and Pacemaker, you can continuously monitor the health of your resources, manage dependencies and automatically stop and start services based on configurable rules and policies.
• SUSE Geo Clustering. Geo clustering provides rules-based failover for automatic and manual transfer of a workload to another cluster outside of the affected area. Your mission-critical workloads are transferred away from the affected region to continue to run.

  Note: Geo Clustering is included WITH the High Availability Extension subscription for SLES Release 15 and later.

• SLES Long Term Service Pack Support (LTSS). SLES LTSS extends the support period of a SUSE Linux Enterprise Server update for up to three (3) years beyond the standard Service Pack end-of-life. Long Term Service Pack Support significantly lengthens the supported transition period for service pack migrations and extends the life of your SUSE Linux Enterprise Server deployment. You can reduce upgrade risks and costs while ensuring the stability and predictability of your deployment. SUSE typically releases a Service Pack every 12 to 18 months.
• SLES Live Patching. The SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching almost eliminates the need for down time during maintenance upgrades. This feature allows for kernel updates in real time. SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching is a simple open source solution that delivers live kernel patching without the need to reboot. With this subscription offering based on the kGraft project, you can perform patching without interrupting your mission-critical workloads and in-memory databases, saving the cost of downtime and increasing service availability. Because it builds on to the existing SUSE Linux Enterprise kernel infrastructure and uses familiar deployment methods, SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching is an easy way to make operating system maintenance more efficient and secure.

The following table lists the ordering feature codes.

This section provides information on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications sold from Lenovo. SUSE offers a subscription called SLES for SAP Applications that is used for SAP HANA installations and non-HANA applications such as Business Warehouse. As the number one reseller of SAP HANA servers, Lenovo is well-versed in installing, selling and managing SUSE-based SAP HANA deployments. Lenovo also offers Lenovo Support options for SLES for SAP Applications.

• SLES for SAP Applications. SLES for SAP Applications is an attractive, bundled subscription with several SUSE technologies. This is the subscription required for SAP HANA use cases. This subscription includes SUSE Linux Enterprises Server with 1-2 sockets or 1-2 Virtual Machines, SUSE High Availability Extension Add-On and integration into the optional SUSE Manager. It also has support of three years included. Like other SLES subscriptions, this one offers the two socket, or two virtual machine option and the unlimited bare metal virtual machine option noted by a “Virtualization Unlimited” description.
• SLES for SAP Data Intelligence. A new offering from SAP provides a powerful data “management” solution that can access data from multiple disparate locations and databases. This product utilizes SLES, SUSE Storage (Ceph) and SUSE Container as a Service Platform (containers). Lenovo and SUSE have validated and certified solutions for this new use case.

The following table lists the ordering feature codes.

The following table lists the option part numbers.

This section provides information on SUSE Containers as a Service Platform (CaaSP), SUSE’s container platform. Containers are providing datacenter managers with an excellent tool to support multiple applications via individual “containers” while providing security. SUSE CaaSP offers a consistent hybrid cloud foundation for building and scaling containerized applications. Benefit from streamlined platform installation and upgrades from one of the enterprise Kubernetes leaders. SUSE CaaSP gives administrators a single place to implement and enforce policies across multiple teams, with a unified console across all SUSE CaaSP clusters.

• SUSE Container as a Service Platform. SUSE’s container platform (CaaSP) is sold by sockets or VMs. The lowest cost option is a two-socket subscription. Like all SUSE subscriptions, support is either 12x5 Standard or 24x7 Premium. These subscriptions offer SUSE or Lenovo support.

The following table lists the ordering feature codes.

The following table lists the ordering part numbers.

This section provides information on SUSE Storage. This portfolio contains object and file storage solutions contained in SUSE (Ceph) Storage subscriptions.

• SUSE Ceph Storage. SUSE Ceph Storage is an open, massively scalable storage solution for modern workloads like cloud infrastructure, data analytics, media repositories, and backup and restore systems. SUSE Ceph Storage delivers software-defined storage on your choice of industry-standard hardware. With block, object, and file storage combined into one platform, SUSE Ceph Storage efficiently and automatically manages all your data. SUSE Storage subscriptions are sold in a bundle. The “Base Configuration” SKU supports up to four 2-socket Storage nodes or up to five 2-socket Monitor nodes and one Storage Management node. The “Expansion Node” SKU is for a 2-socket additional storage node.

The “Base” configuration comes with management node plus four Storage nodes for 1-2 sockets each. CPU sockets in addition to that have to add “Expansion node”. For example, if you had 4x Storage nodes with each one using 4 sockets, you would need to order one Base configuration and four Expansion nodes.

The following table lists the ordering feature codes.

The following table lists the ordering part numbers.

This section provides information on SUSE management products.

• SUSE Manager Server. SUSE Manager is software that can automate all aspects of IT environments and processes. The SUSE Manager subscriptions sold by Lenovo are sold by number of nodes vs per socket. Current offers include management for up to 50 nodes per subscription.

  SUSE Manager was designed to help your enterprise DevOps and IT Operations teams reduce complexity and regain control of their IT assets with a single tool to manage Linux systems across a variety of hardware architectures, hypervisors as well as containers, IoT and cloud platforms. It automates Linux server and IoT device provisioning, patching and configuration for faster, consistent and repeatable server deployments helping to optimize operations and reduce costs. And with automated monitoring, tracking, auditing and reporting of your systems, VMs, and containers across your development, test and production environments, you can ensure compliance with internal security policies and external regulations.

• SUSE Manager Proxy Server. SUSE Manager Proxy provides mirroring proxy support for large and distributed environments. Operation of the proxy is completely transparent. The SUSE Manager Proxy looks like a managed client to SUSE Manager Server, and like a Server to the managed clients. The proxy server lowers bandwidth needs and provides faster local updates for environments with more than 300 servers or deployments across dispersed geographical locations
• SUSE Manager Lifecycle Management. This subscription delivers functionality for updating servers. It also includes advanced server management capabilities that increase your Linux environment’s scalability and enhance your IT staff productivity.

  It enables you to deploy, configure and redeploy Linux systems from a single, centralized console. Simplify management and reduce operational expenditure with enhanced package staging and improved APIs for managing packages, patches and configurations. Moving packages across multiple stages, such as development, QA and production, is now a simple UI-based task.

• SUSE Manager Monitoring. A so-called monitoring scout will execute commands via ssh on the client and gather data from the output. So, the configuration of monitoring mainly consists in allowing the server to remotely execute commands on the clients.

The following table lists the ordering feature codes.

The following table lists the ordering part numbers.

This section provides a listing of additional subscriptions available for sell by Lenovo that come with only SUSE support. Customers must call SUSE directly for any software related issues. These are “duplicate” subscriptions of those previously listed in this document offering Lenovo Support (referred to as “OEM” subscriptions).

The following table lists the SUSE part numbers and the corresponding Lenovo feature codes and part numbers.

Additional information about subscriptions.

1. Q: What types of SUSE subscriptions does Lenovo offer?

   A: Lenovo offers OEM subscriptions and Resell subscriptions for SUSE Linux, HPC, SAP, Containers and Ceph storage. “OEM” subscriptions come with industry leading 24x7 support from Lenovo offering a single point to call for any hardware or software issues. Please refer to the product list found in this document.

2. Q: How is SUSE Linux Enterprise Server sold?

   A: SUSE subscriptions are sold in 1, 3 and 5-year options. These are not “licenses” but are subscriptions that provide access to all software downloads, patches, upgrades, etc. and the ability to contact Lenovo or SUSE for support. Support will be either 12x5 or 24x7 terms. Subscriptions are delivered from Lenovo to the customer.

3. Q: How are the SUSE subscriptions delivered?

   A: SUSE subscription keys are inventoried by Lenovo and delivered via the Lenovo Key Management System (LKMS). Customers are sent an Authorization Code used to register the purchase on the LKMS. The actual subscription keys are then emailed to the customer to register at the customer’s SUSE user account.

4. Q: Can I reassign a SUSE subscription in the case of new hardware or a disaster recovery scenario?

   A: Yes, SUSE subscriptions can be reassigned to a new server by changing the server on the customer’s SUSE account.

The Lenovo Server Operating System Interoperability Guide (OSIG) is a comprehensive source of information about operating system compatibility with Lenovo servers. It includes servers in the ThinkSystem, ThinkAgile, System x, ThinkServer, NeXtScale, Flex System and BladeCenter product families and covers servers that are currently supported by Lenovo under warranty.

For more information, please visit the OSIG page at http://lenovopress.com/osig. Use the dropdown menus to filter and fine tune your search. In each of the search results, the support statement column contains clickable links that opens a popup window with details about the support.

For Lenovo option compatibility, the Lenovo ServerProven® program validates selected products for compatibility with all Lenovo ThinkSystem servers. Through the ServerProven Program, Lenovo works with industry leaders to test their equipment with Lenovo products.

For compatibility information, please visit the ServerProven site at http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/serverproven/. For more details, please click on the Lenovo product. For compatibility with OS, please click on the green + button to expand the section.

Lenovo Support provides comprehensive, single-source support for a wide range of server operating systems including SUSE Linux. Lenovo provides 24x7x365 service for critical problems, and support during business hours for noncritical problems. If live phone help is unavailable during those service windows, responses are provided within 2 hours.

For more information on SUSE Linux support, see the following web page:
https://datacentersupport.lenovo.com/solutions/HT507837

For more information about these SUSE offerings from Lenovo, see the following links:

• SUSE for HPC Solutions
• Flyer: Grow Your SAP Applications with Lenovo and SUSE