The SUSE Liberty Linux Packages: Which Support Option is Right for You?

If you have been using CentOS for your business, you are painfully aware that you no longer can get the trusted support and security patches that you once depended on. And if you’ve been using Linux for any length of time, you know support patches are released frequently. For example, at SUSE, we release an average of 9 security patches every month for our SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.

You simply can’t run your business on an unsupported system. Bad actors are lurking and they’re more than happy to take advantage of your system vulnerabilities. And research shows that 60% of cyberattacks happen due to unpatched systems.

In recent blogs, I’ve made the case for SUSE Liberty Linux as the best alternative to CentOS. After all, with Liberty Linux, you get to keep your current operating system and get security updates and maintenance updates from a leader in open source with over 30 years experience. With Liberty Linux, you do not have to go through a costly and risky migration or upgrade. It’s like keeping your mobile number and changing your carrier.

In this blog, I’m going to discuss the different packages that SUSE offers for Liberty Linux – and how you should go about choosing which one is right for your business.

Liberty Linux Lite for CentOS 7

Liberty Linux Lite for CentOS 7 gives you access to security patches and maintenance updates for your CentOS 7 systems. You also get a limited license to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server so you can set up your RMT. If you only have CentOS 7 systems, don’t need access to technical support, and want to easily transition to Liberty Linux, this offering is for you. This package is available only on the SUSE Shop or through AWS.

Liberty Linux Lite

Liberty Linux Lite is very similar to the package described above, however, this package gives you access to security patches and maintenance updates for any of your CentOS (7 or 8) systems through 2028. You still get a limited license to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server so you can set up your RMT; however no technical support is provided. This is for customers who have the staff to handle technical support in house and are running a mix of CentOS versions in their ecosystem and want to be protected for 3 years.

Liberty Linux Basic

Liberty Linux Basic provides a little more support for the CentOS customer. With this package, you get access to security patches and maintenance updates for any of your CentOS (7 or 8) systems through 2028. You still get a limited license to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, so you can set up an RMT – but with Basic you don’t have to! That’s because you also get entitlement to a SUSE Manager subscription. SUSE Manager is our mixed Linux IT management solution. With SUSE Manager, you simply run the Liberate formula and your systems will automatically connect to the right channels to get the security patches you need. With Liberty Lite Basic, you also get access to world class, follow-the-sun SUSE technical support. If you are using a mix of CentOS versions, want to tap into expert support, and want to manage all of your systems from a single pane of glass, this offer is for you.

Liberty Linux Professional

Liberty Linux Professional is for customers who have a mix of CentOS and RHEL running in their infrastructure. With this package, you also get entitlement to a SUSE Manager subscription as well as access to 24/7/365 SUSE technical support for both your CentOS and RHEL systems. SUSE Manager will manage your entire infrastructure and you will always have access to technical support. With this package, you can really start to future-proof your systems with the support of an enterprise open source company.

Liberty Linux Enterprise

Our most robust package, Liberty Linux Enterprise is for those customers who are looking to modernize their infrastructure. With our Enterprise package, you not only get entitlement to a SUSE Manager subscription and 24/7/365 technical support, you also get entitlement to a full SUSE Linux Enterprise Server subscription, which you can use in production. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server is the open, reliable, compliant, and future-proof Linux Server choice that ensures the enterprise’s business continuity. With up to 19 years of support per version and ready for uninterrupted operation, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 offers the longest-term innovation and security today and into the future. With Liberty Linux Enterprise, you not only get the support you need today, but you get the tools you need to modernize your business for the future.

Liberty Linux is clearly the technology and support solution you need if you are currently running an end-of-life operating system. With many packages to choose from, we are sure you will find one that works for your business. The time to act is now. Get ahead of the bad actors with a partner you can trust. With SUSE, choice happens.

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