From:	 meck@suse.de (Martina Eckstein)
To:	 lwn@lwn.net
Subject: "SuSE announces 64-Bit-Version of the SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 for IBM eServer zSeries"
Date:	 Wed, 13 Mar 2002 18:17:01 +0100 (CET)

SuSE announces 64-Bit-Version of SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 
for IBM eServer zSeries

Nuremberg, Germany, March 13, 2002 - Today, SuSE Linux, the 
international Open Source technology leader and solutions 
provider, announced that the latest version of its advanced 
enterprise operating system, the 64-bit SuSE Linux Enterprise 
Server 7 for IBM eServer zSeries, will be available by the 
beginning of May.

With the 64-bit SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 for IBM eServer 
zSeries, SuSE completes its product offer for the IBM server line. 
Extremely failsafe and high performing, IBM mainframes are the 
ideal solution for running mission-critical applications such as 
the administration of complex e-business transactions and ERP 
(Enterprise Resource Planning) systems. SuSE Linux Enterprise 
Server 7 for IBM eServer zSeries excellently matches IBM's 
hardware as the perfect medium for consolidated server services on 
IBM mainframes, e.g. for Intranet and Internet services.

The 64-bit version expands the possibilities of SuSE Linux 
Enterprise Server 7 for S/390 and zSeries. For example, complex 
database applications can benefit from the much larger address 
space and are not confined to a memory boundary of 2 GB. In order 
to fully retain the value of investments in existing applications, 
the 31-bit shared libraries of SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 
support the parallel operation of 31-bit and 64-bit applications 
on the same machine within the same Linux instance.

With Linux kernel 2.4.17, glibc 2.2.4, HiperSockets support, 
Logical Volume Manager and journaling file system, SuSE Linux 
Enterprise Server 7 for zSeries provides state-of-the-art Linux 
technology: Kernel 2.4.17 supports both S/390 servers and IBM's 
latest server generation, eServer zSeries z900 and eServer zSeries 
z800. The support of HiperSockets, a high-performance feature 
unique to IBM eServer zSeries, substantially accelerates the speed 
of the data transfer between virtual servers in the mainframe. The 
host operating system, z/OS, also supports HiperSockets, allowing 
data exchange between SuSE Linux and z/OS with maximum bandwidth 
and near-zero latency. 

SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 for zSeries also supports the 
journaling file system ReiserFS. Data entities containing large 
numbers of small files especially benefit from the efficiency and 
performance of ReiserFS. With SuSE's latest Enterprise Server 
version for zSeries, the network and disk device configuration can 
be modified dynamically without a reboot. The Logical Volume 
Manager allows the runtime-integration of dynamically attached 
storage devices into existing virtual volumes of almost arbitrary 
size, while delivering practically unlimited disk space without 
downtime.

Investment security included

SuSE Linux Enterprise Server is one of the most advanced 
enterprise Linux computing systems available today. As it is 
certified across all IBM hardware architectures, SuSE's Enterprise 
Server makes Linux corporate computing a reality. For companies 
hosting complex IT infrastructures, this opens the door to the 
unprecedented perspective of spanning the entire IBM eServer line 
with a single powerful enterprise operating system.

In contrast to conventional Linux versions, SuSE Linux Enterprise 
Server is a business-optimized operating system that is actively 
maintained by SuSE for a guaranteed period of at least 24 months. 
During this period, SuSE delivers important security, performance 
and usability improvements in the form of certified upgrades and 
ensures the uninterrupted productive operation of mission-critical 
server services. In addition, SuSE offers individual assistance 
for the integration of new patches into the existing system and 
for ongoing system operation. SuSE's support services guarantee 
that companies receive assistance for their running systems 
whenever necessary, as quickly as possible - at fixed rates, with 
defined turnaround times, and if required, around the clock.

Available across all relevant hardware architectures

With its consistent, fine-tuned Linux solutions, SuSE is the only 
company in the operating system market that supports the hardware 
of all relevant processor architectures. SuSE Linux Enterprise 
Server operates just as smoothly on 32-bit PC platforms (Intel, 
AMD, Cyrix) as on SPARC, IBM pSeries and IBM iSeries server 
architectures. Therefore, companies can use SuSE's Linux systems 
as a single enterprise platform for all types of hardware, from PC 
clients to powerful host systems. This enables a uniform, rational 
administration of heterogeneous networks. Due to the comparatively 
low acquisition costs and permanently reduced administration 
workload, the operation expenses for growing server farms can be 
cut considerably. Furthermore, as the entire source code is freely 
available, SuSE's enterprise operating system provides transparent 
interfaces for applications and middleware, directly based on the 
operating system, thus acting as a pacemaker for upcoming 
developments in the e-business segment.

About SuSE

SuSE Linux is one of the world's leading providers of complete 
solutions based on the Open Source operating system Linux. In 
addition to operating systems and application software for private 
customers, SuSE offers software solutions and complete systems for 
the deployment of Linux in companies.

SuSE supports its enterprise customers with a comprehensive range 
of qualified consulting, training, and support services. The 
company, which hosts the world's largest development team for Open 
Source solutions, has made its unique project and support know-how 
accessible via the Internet in the largest existing Linux 
knowledge database.

For more information, please visit http://www.suse.de/en/

Press contact:
SuSE Linux AG
Martina Eckstein
Deutschherrnstr. 15-19
90429 Nuremberg
Germany
Martina.eckstein@suse.de
Phone: +49-(0)911-74053507