From beta-programs at suse.com Thu May 28 14:11:31 2026 From: beta-programs at suse.com (SUSE Beta Program) Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 14:11:31 +0000 Subject: [ANNOUNCE] SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 OpenBeta is out! Message-ID: <6a184d139be34_ee2ab7b7d7c5f04c5@eca8fdd23f8e.mail> Your Next Enterprise Linux: SUSE Linux 16.1 Public Beta is Available Exciting news for the open-source and enterprise world! We are thrilled to announce the public beta release of the SUSE Linux 16.1 family officially arriving on May the 28th 2026. As the successor to the highly successful SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE) 15 family, this SUSE Linux release introduces a modernized Linux operating system engineered to tackle next-generation IT challenges head-on. The initial rollout of the SUSE Linux Family includes SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 16.1, SLES for SAP applications 16.1, and the SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.1. The Big Headline: Immutability Meets SLES The standout evolution in this release is all about flexibility and resilience. We have integrated SUSE Linux Micro into SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES). What does this mean for you? It means that if you are interested in working with immutable operating systems you can get all the capabilities of SLES in immutable mode (as in SUSE Linux Micro), or stay in the standard mode featuring read-write partitions. What Else is Coming? Beyond immutability, SUSE Linux 16.1 focuses heavily on hardening security, streamlining systems management, and updating core developer environments. Here is a look at the major capabilities planned and currently under consideration for this release cycle: - Agentic AI via MCP: We are rolling out deeper AI integration capabilities with new MCP components (in tech preview) and extending the management ecosystem with companies like Fujitsu/FSAS, n8n, Revenium and Stacklok[1], and major cloud providers AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Oracle. (Check this video of Rick Spencer & Craig McLuckie in Techstrong TV[2]) - Built-in Real-Time Capabilities: The previously separate Realtime Extension is now integrated directly into SLES right out of the box. This means you will be able to count on the same SLES lifecycle with the same lifecycle extensions for your Real-Time projects. Run on Linux! - Browser-Based Installation & Management: Remote administration is getting a massive upgrade. Expect an improved browser-based installer and updated Cockpit management. - Easy graphical Snapshot Management: Best of all, you will be able to manage BTRFS and Snapper Snapshots directly from Cockpit! - Ironclad Security: To meet strict compliance demands, the platform is targeting top-tier security certifications, including FIPS-140-3 and Common Criteria. - Modernized Developer Stacks: Ready to build? The release features refreshed versions of essential development tools, including GCC, PHP, Python, and Node.js. Build on Linux! - Updated Core Components: Updated database and infrastructure components like PostgreSQL and MariaDB to deliver better features and performance. - Future-Proof Infrastructure: Ongoing work includes making Arm a first-class citizen, enabling reproducible builds and introducing new hardware support. - Smooth Transitions: Seamless migration paths from SLES 15 and openSUSE are being designed to make upgrading as frictionless as possible. Mark your calendars Whether you are running massive data centers, incredibly large cloud instances (i.e. 24 TB RAM)[3] with super-critical workloads, deploying tiny edge nodes, or building the next generation of AI apps, SUSE Linux 16.1 is built to make your infrastructure more secure, scalable, and easier to manage. Run on Linux, Build on Linux. As this is not a final release, report bugs via bugzilla[4]. After this beta release, we will release the release candidates publicly and finally we plan to release the gold version in November 2026. Download The following beta products are available for download: - SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1[5] - SUSE Linux Enterprise for SAP applications 16.1[6] - SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.1[7] SLE Beta Subscription and Registration Code Please note that your regular SLE key will not activate the beta environment. A special Beta Registration Code is required to access the SUSE Linux Enterprise 16 beta online channels and repositories within the SUSE Customer Center. Without this code, you will not be able to access the beta content. To obtain a Beta Registration Code and unlock your Beta Subscription, please submit a request to beta-programs at suse.com. When requesting, specify the desired products (SLES 16.1, SLES for SAP 16.1, SLE HA 16.1, or all) and the relevant architectures. Documentation Draft release notes are currently available: - SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1: susedoc.github.io/release-notes/sles-16.1/html/release-notes/ - SUSE Linux Enterprise for SAP Applications 16.1: susedoc.github.io/release-notes/slesap-16.1/html/release-note s/[8] - SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.1: susedoc.github.io/release-notes/sleha-16.1/html/release-notes /[9] Draft product documentation can be found at susedoc.github.io/#sles16 The beta allows for both online and offline installation using the Agama installer. More details are available at agama-project.github.io[10] Please be aware that documentation for the beta is still under development, and not all content is finalized or available yet. Questions? For additional details, please consult the dedicated Beta webpage[11]. If you want to contact us for any inquiry, we are at your disposal via email at beta-programs at suse.com. The SUSE Linux Enterprise Team. Your SUSE Linux Enterprise team Click here to unsubscribe[12] [1]:https://www.suse.com/news/new-pagesuse-and-industry-leade rs-deliver-secure-agentic-ai-for-infrastructure-management/ [2]:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmgb3TFFcG4 [3]:https://www.suse.com/success/cona_services/ [4]:https://bugzilla.suse.com/enter_bug.cgi?product=SUSE%20Li nux%20Enterprise%20Server%2016.1 [5]:https://www.suse.com/download/sles/ [6]:https://www.suse.com/download/sle-sap/ [7]:https://www.suse.com/download/sle-ha/ [8]:https://susedoc.github.io/release-notes/slesap-16.1/html/ release-notes/index.html [9]:https://susedoc.github.io/release-notes/sleha-16.1/html/r elease-notes/index.html [10]:https://agama-project.github.io/ [11]:https://www.suse.com/betaprogram/sles16-beta [12]:mailto:sle-beta-leave at lists.suse.com?subject=Unsubscribe %20from%20SLES%20Public%20Beta%20Program&body=Unsubscribe%20f rom%20SLES%20Public%20Beta%20Program -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: