SUSE Appliance Program
SUSE Linux Enterprise
What Is a Software Appliance?
A software appliance is a pre-configured combination of an application and an operating system integrated into a single image and deployable on industry standard hardware. If it is intended for deployment on a server, it is a software appliance. If it is intended for deployment on a hypervisor or in a cloud computing environment, it is a special type of software appliance called a virtual appliance. Software appliances are typically single purpose in nature, designed for a specific function. An e-mail server for a small office would make a good software appliance as it is designed for a single purpose—to serve e-mail, host address books and manage rules and e-mail traffic.
Within a software appliance, the operating system is often configured for the specific function of the appliance, with excess and unnecessary capabilities removed. This is called a Just Enough Operating System (JeOS). The JeOS contains just the components the application needs, and nothing more. The application in the appliance is configured by the software vendor for a specific set of use cases. By configuring the JeOS and the application together, typical installation issues and errors can be avoided. The combined image has little "last mile" setup required—it is much closer to a plug and play experience for the customer.
Discover a new approach to software development and distribution.
Why Software Appliances?
For Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), software appliances represent a new method of packaging their solution in a simpler model. By pre-configuring the application and the operating system, customers no longer have to worry about headaches associated with pre-installation, installation and post installation activities—the application is already installed and configured. This means customers have fewer problems installing software, and make fewer calls to the helpdesk. Those calls they do make are simpler to resolve because the ISV knows exactly what is and is not included in the image—they created it.
Software appliances also open new markets for ISVs, providing more revenue from existing software assets. Customers who typically are overwhelmed by the complexity of buying, installing and managing enterprise software can now use this simpler software appliance. Simply pre-configuring the application for a specific use case can make much of the complexity transparent to the customer. Similarly, software evaluations can be simplified, whether in the form of a proof of concept or product demo.
For the end customer, software appliances are also beneficial. Easier installation means faster time to value, something customers demand, particularly when IT budgets are constrained. Single, integrated images are mobile across virtual machines, meaning customers can migrate and manage the appliance where and how the business demands—in their data center or beyond. Simpler support and easier installation also means less down time when something does go wrong. Smaller, purpose-built operating systems mean greater security, easier management and lower consumption. These benefits taken together mean lower total cost for the ISV and for the end customer.
The SUSE® Appliance Program is the fastest and easiest way for you to build, test, and get to market with a software or virtual appliance. At the core of the SUSE Appliance Program is the industry leading SUSE Linux Enterprise. Fully supported by Novell's award winning support organization, and with a more granular package structure for easier customization, SUSE Linux Enterprise is the operating system of choice for building hardware, software and virtual appliances. Using our tools, it is faster and easier to build, test and manage software appliances on SUSE Linux Enterprise and openSUSE® than on any other platform. With our partnerships, you can get your appliance into the market quickly, and use our tools to manage it once it is deployed. With our complete appliance solution, the SUSE Appliance Program is your best path to a sustainable software, hardware or virtual appliance offering.
Full Support, Flexible Pricing
When you provide a software or virtual appliance to your customer, you are providing a complete, fully integrated solution. We have designed our support offerings to help you not only build, but also support that solution with complete confidence, backed up by Novell's award winning support organization. We offer a complete range of support options for software, hardware and virtual appliances. If you are building a hardware appliance, we provide driver certification support to ensure your solutions works seamlessly on top of SUSE Linux Enterprise. If you are building your first software or virtual appliance on SUSE Linux Enterprise, we can assist you through the process at no cost. Once shipping you appliance, we offer additional support options sized to meet your needs, from technical support calls to dedicated support engineers with up to 24x7 support.
Deliver turnkey solutions to customers in a single, bootable package.
In the world of software appliances, business models are evolving rapidly. What was once a perpetual license model has become a mix of perpetual, yearly, quarterly and hourly subscriptions offered on site, hosted, and in public and private clouds. To make it more complicated, many software vendors choose to offer the same product in multiple license models. To provide you with the most flexibility possible, we offer our common sense pricing that can support these license models and more. For additional information on our support and pricing models, please request a sales call and one of our specialists will contact you to further explain these models.
Partnerships
The SUSE Appliance Program is not only making it faster and easier to build and test software appliances. With our program, it is also easier than ever to get to market with appliance solutions. Whether through joint promotions, appliance platforms, marketing or other options, SUSE Appliance Program partners that build SUSE Powered appliances can take advantage of more than just technology—they can work with us to build solutions that define the market.
IBM announces Lotus Foundations Start, a SUSE Linux Enterprise Appliance for Small Businesses
The dynamics of the software industry are changing. Virtualization is on the rise in the data canter and beyond. Cloud computing is adding a pay-as-you-go dynamic. Software appliances are making it easier than ever to evaluate and install new applications, whether in the data center or in the public cloud. At Novell, we are committed to offering solutions that make it easier for our partners to make these new dynamics work for them. The tools and technology found here can help our partners get started today.
The most powerful and flexible fully supported appliance platform.
Why SUSE Linux Enterprise?
Software appliances require a flexible, modular, and customizable operating system. From the outset, SUSE Linux Enterprise was designed with a flexible, modular package structure. Recent releases have enhanced this flexibility with additional package granularity. Further, cost effective redistribution of SUSE Linux Enterprise has never been easier—whether as a free evaluation software appliance, or a production appliance, SUSE Linux Enterprise is the only operating system that provides all of this in a single cost effective package.
SUSE Studio: Simple and Fast Appliance Builds
Need to build a virtual appliance, but not entirely sure where to begin? SUSE Studio is your easy to use, Web-based appliance creation tool. We have taken all of our knowledge about how to build and customize SUSE Linux Enterprise, and captured it for you in one place. Simply log in to SUSE Studio, and the simple, intuitive interface will have you building appliances in no time.
- Configure your SUSE Linux Enterprise or openSUSE with the graphical interface.
- Add packages and repositories, configure startup options, add your application, and customize the look and feel for your customers.
- With the click of a button, launch and interact with your creation in a virtual machine, make changes and commit those changes to the appliance.
- From a simple menu, build an appliance in many formats, from LiveCD and USB sticks, to OVF, virtual appliances and cloud computing offerings.
- Download the resulting images and distribute them to your customers.
SUSE Studio has everything you need to quickly and easily create your appliances.
For access to SUSE Studio, visit susestudio.com
During May and June 2009, Novell will be hosting a beta of SUSE Studio for our software partners. If you are interested, or would like more information about our beta program, please fill out a beta program application.
Kiwi: Command Line Appliance Creation
If your application requires frequent automated builds, and requires creating appliance images automatically, then Kiwi, our command line image creation tool is the right tool for you. With Kiwi, all of the appliance construction functionality of SUSE Studio is available through XML files. Simply specify the recipe for your appliance, and Kiwi will take the repositories and files you want included in your appliance and create output files in your desired format—from LiveCD and bootable USB, to OVF, virtual appliance and cloud computing platforms. If you want the best of both worlds, you can use SUSE Studio to build an appliance recipe, and then download the XML file to use with Kiwi in an automated fashion. Our goal is to provide you with tools that encapsulate our expertise in a simple, flexible, easy to use interface, making it faster and easier for you to create appliances with us than with any other vendor.
JeOS: Manual Appliance Creation
If you wish to build appliances in a more hands on manner, we offer the SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 JeOS—a just enough operating system configuration of SUSE Linux Enterprise 11. JeOS is a bare minimum bootable image that can be used to build your appliance manually. Simply load the SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 JeOS on the desired appliance platform, log in and use the included utilities to add the desired SUSE Linux Enterprise packages. Once you install and configure your application, simply take a snapshot and use the resulting image for you customers. The SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 JeOS is available for download now, and is available in 32- and 64-bit images pre-formatted for OVF, VMware and other platforms.
Free Evaluation Redistribution
Do you provide evaluations of your software to potential customers? Making the process as easy as possible for your potential customers to try your software is key to a successful evaluation. A software or virtual appliance is a natural fit, as the application and operating system are pre-configured, and loading the appliance is as simple as booting the image on the desired platform. Customers can immediately start working with your software, since they don't have to worry about installation, operating system configuration, or any of the other activities that can go wrong when installing new software. We understand the value of a good evaluation program, and that is why we offer SUSE Linux Enterprise free for use in your evaluation software appliances. You can build, create and redistribute SUSE Linux Enterprise as part of an evaluation appliance at no cost to you. Simply accept our online agreement, and start distributing your evaluation appliance today.
Do you have more questions about the SUSE Appliance Program? E-mail SUSEApplianceProgram@novell.com to learn more about appliances, the SUSE Appliance Program, and how we are making it faster and easier than ever to build, test and get to market with SUSE Powered appliances.