SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)

SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server (SLES) 9 is an enterprise class operating system that will allow you to apply a "server" component to your SUSE Linux knowledge. As discussed within the book, SUSE Linux is primarily used for a desktop operating system. If you need more advanced components and services, such as the capability to cluster your systems so that in the event one of them fails, the other takes over, adding a level of reliability to your system. Tools such as this will not be found anywhere but on the "enterprise" version of the OS. SLES allows you to perform application tuning and offers advanced networking features and more.

You can use SLES as a step upgrade to OES. OES is Novell's Open Enterprise Server, or OES. With OES, you would need a base operating system in place first, and that's where SLES comes in. Like most other Novell-based operating systems used in the server-class arena, you will need to install a base OS and then apply the application-based topping, which would be OES.