Suse: Linux Management And Beyond

Anyone who uses IT systems will not be able to avoid managing, controlling, checking, orchestrating, and monitoring all existing components. So-called system management or enterprise management software has proven its worth in this context. Functionality is always improving, offering the possibility to e.g. see how ‘healthy’ IT system environments are, identify potential errors or downtimes and ‘cure’ them, comply with compliance and security guidelines, manage assets, or save costs through automation.

Suse Manager

Suse presented version 1.2 of its system management software Suse Manager – based on open source solution Spacewalk – in spring of 2011. The focus back then was largely on monitoring Linux systems like Suse Linux Enterprise Server (SLES). Comparing current version 4.1 with version 1.2, it’s easy to see just how much functionality and performance have improved, spanning far beyond mere Linux (or Linux cluster) system management.

How ‘healthy’ is Hana?

Especially SAP customers benefit from improved functionality. Suse SLES for SAP Applications, a Hana/Linux operating system platform including specific functions for SAP use, can be managed, orchestrated, and monitored using Suse Manager to guarantee seamless system operation.

For comprehensive monitoring, Suse Manager is also able to manage Linux servers, VMs, containers, SAP Linux clusters, and Hana dashboards – either directly through the solution or indirectly through partners. Suse’s tool can also be seamlessly integrated into SAP Solution Manager (SolMan). Furthermore, SAP users can create and use their own scripts for customer-specific functionality. Suse Manager can be used in the cloud or on premises.

Using a central console, Suse Manager automates entire processes end to end, including asset management, orchestration, provisioning, and deployment, software and package management, and patch management. All system management tasks are sorted into one of three categories: health, compliance, or security.

Seamless and continuous

In combination with Suse Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications including the High Availability Extension HAE, a cluster software, and Suse’s own live patching technology (patching without disruptions), Suse Manager can also help reduce downtimes.

Suse has been offering high availability solutions and features specifically for SAP systems for years. In the early days of Hana, Suse took on the topic of high availability with disaster recovery and is still helping to reduce SAP downtimes in ERP/ECC, S/4 Hana, and other software applications, functions, and add-ons.