SUSE Appliance Program

Plugging in to the future of application delivery.

What Are Software Appliances?

Software appliances are virtual machines with one task in mind: serving a particular application. A software appliance is a pre-configured disk image containing an application, middleware, database, and minimal operating system. Software appliances can be deployed directly on a server as a hard-drive image. Alternatively, appliances can be packaged as a virtual machine to be loaded on a hypervisor. This sub-set of software appliances is typically called a virtual appliance.

Software appliances can be deployed just like virtual machines in the cloud: simply upload an image. Novell's just-announced SUSE Appliance Program provides best-in-class tools and support that allow software vendors to easily create software appliances.

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 a plug and play experience for the customer.

What are the Benefits?

Shorten Sales Cycles. Appliances can shorten sales cycles by simplifying customer demos and evaluations, and significantly reduce the time to value for end customers. Sales engagements are more predictable, less time consuming and more successful.

Extend Applications to Cloud. Using Novell's innovative tools to create virtual appliances, ISVs can extend their existing applications to the cloud. This enables new cloud based business models for ISVs, without the big capital outlays traditionally required to target a new platform. Further, since the appliance runs SUSE Linux Enterprise, applications currently certified for SUSE Linux Enterprise do not need to be re-certified for the appliance program. ISVs can extend their market opportunity to the cloud with little to no extra configuration required.

Reduce Development & Support Costs. With pre-configured software appliances, ISVs maintain a single operating system and support a single set of middleware and software versions. As a result of this simplicity, software development time is reduced and customers have fewer support issues, saving time, increasing satisfaction and improving margins.

Enter New Markets. With the ease of pre-configuration and pre-installation of software appliances and the flexibility to adapt for different deployment scenarios, ISVs can spend less time developing custom applications for different platforms and more time selling into new markets. Additionally with the limited technical and sales training required from a software appliances, new reseller and distribution channels can be easier to establish. The simplicity of the SUSE Appliance Program makes it easier to tap into markets that have found software complexity a major challenge.

Learn about how to create software appliances with our industry-leading SUSE Appliance Program.