SLED 10 vs. openSUSE 10.2 RC1

By: Philip McCartney
November 25, 2006

Introduction

After ongoing tests of both versions, I have come to the conclusion that it really depends on what your level of experience is, as well as, what kind of support you are looking for. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED for short) is the stable release of SUSE for the desktop that is distributed by Novell. Novell also distributes a version for server environments, better known as SUSE Linux Enterprise Server or SLES. This article primarily focuses on the desktop environment. SLED includes desktop applications such as OpenOffice and games while SLES does not. On the other hand, SLES includes server apps such as MySQL and the Apache Web Server while SLED does not.

The other distribution we will be discussing is openSUSE. It is the open-source distribution of SUSE that is still maintained in Germany. It is what Novell bases it's commercial version off of. With openSUSE you get the best of both worlds, the ability to implement it as either a desktop or as a server, or both. The choice is entirely up to you.

So there you are, debating on which Linux distribution you want to try. It doesn't matter if you are new to Linux or a seasoned veteran, people still have difficulty choosing which distribution is right for them. It really boils down to personal preference. I've worked with many distributions, and no matter what I do, I still find myself going back to SUSE.

Until just a few years ago, selecting which version of SUSE was not that difficult, mainly because SUSE was still being distributed by SUSE, and even then you only had two choices of which version you wanted... either the Standard or the Professional version.

Today is another story. Now you have to decide whether you want to go with Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise and purchase an annual license for your copy of SLED or SLES, which includes complete customer support for your particular version, or do you download a copy of openSUSE which is supported by the community. If you decide to choose the latter, you will be responsible for finding your own resolutions. Here is where the majority of the people need to decide, they either want to pay someone to help fix their problems or they have to be willing to learn and fix their problems themselves.

Personally, I'm the type of person who is willing to learn and fix my own problems, because of two things: First of all, I feel that it is important that I understand the tools I am working with. My computer system is considered one of my tools. Secondly, I don't like other people messing with my tools... ask any mechanic if you can use one of their tools, and they are more than likely going to tell you the very same thing.

Next: Which distribution is the right choice for you?

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