SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop

Interoperability

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop interoperates with existing systems, enabling organizations to leverage their IT investments. Novell understands the need to reduce and contain costs, so SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop was designed to easily coexist with Mac, UNIX, Windows and other operating systems; in fact, it is the most interoperable Linux desktop available today. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop works flawlessly with Novell GroupWise, Lotus Domino, and Microsoft Exchange collaboration servers and can run the Lotus Notes client natively. As a result, it is the first enterprise-class Linux desktop that can be deployed confidently to general knowledge workers.

The desktop seamlessly connects to mixed networks (including eDirectory and Active Directory and most other flavors of LDAP). Regardless of the operating system—Linux, UNIX or Windows—the desktop works for everyone.

Industry-supported standards and technologies include the following:

• Microsoft file-format fidelity in OpenOffice.org
• Printing and file protocols
• Multimedia content viewers
• Plug-n-play hardware for USB and Bluetooth
• Wireless networking
• Compliance with password and security regulations
• Collaboration tools, including Novell Evolution, Novell GroupWise, Lotus Notes and Domino, and Microsoft Exchange

Co-existing with Windows

Many organizations begin by replacing Microsoft Windows with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop for a subset of employees, leaving others to continue running Windows. This is easily accomplished because machines running SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop fit right into your existing Microsoft environment – authenticating via Active Directory, connecting to Exchange, reading and writing Office files, and seamlessly accessing your existing file, print, and other network services.

In some cases, organizations install SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop on their existing Windows PCs. There's no need to rip anything out; you can simply install and run both operating systems. During installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop on a Windows machine, you can automatically resize your hard disk to accommodate Linux. Once Linux is installed, you use the Linux boot manager to select the operating system you want to boot each time you power up the machine.

If your Windows partition contains data you would like to access in Linux, it's no problem. Linux can read the data on all Windows systems. On FAT partitions, Linux can even write data without any risk – i.e., the Windows partition can store the data you process in Linux. Whether you are using image, text, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, or other files, you're all set: the applications in SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop can read and write numerous formats. You can easily use OpenOffice.org to open and save the files of various office productivity suites. And accessing Windows directories is as simple as accessing a CD or USB flash drive.

Another option for running Windows applications is to use the Windows emulator "wine" to run those applications on Linux. When started for the first time, wine creates a folder in the home directory of the user. Using wine, you can install and use many of your favorite Windows programs, even if you do not have Windows installed on your machine. Note, however, that this does not work with all programs. Please visit www.winehq.org/ for more information.

Take a Closer Look

• Use the Reviewers Guide to guide your exploration of all the features of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 in greater detail.
• Want to see SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop in action? Check out the product presentation and demos.

Talk to a Sales Rep today about SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10.