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<title>[ANNOUNCE] SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 OpenBeta is out!</title>
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<div role="article" aria-roledescription="email" aria-label="[ANNOUNCE] SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 OpenBeta is out!" lang="en" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly">
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<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Having trouble viewing this email? Please check the plain text version of this email.</p>
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<h1 style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; color: #30BA78; text-transform: capitalize">
<center>Your Next Enterprise Linux: SUSE Linux 16.1 Public Beta is Available</center>
</h1>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Exciting news for the open-source and enterprise world! We are thrilled to announce the <font color="#30ba78"><strong>public beta</strong></font> release of the <font color="#30ba78"><strong>SUSE Linux 16.1 family</strong></font> officially arriving on May the 28th 2026.</p>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">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 <font color="#30ba78"><strong>SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 16.1</strong></font>, <font color="#30ba78"><strong>SLES for SAP applications 16.1</strong></font>, and the <font color="#30ba78"><strong>SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.1</strong></font>.</p>
<h2 style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; color: #30BA78; text-transform: capitalize">
<center>The Big Headline: Immutability Meets SLES</center>
</h2>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">The standout evolution in this release is all about flexibility and resilience. We have integrated <strong>SUSE Linux Micro into SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)</strong>.</p>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">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 <strong>SLES in immutable mode</strong> (as in SUSE Linux Micro), or stay in the standard mode featuring read-write partitions.</p>
<h2 style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; color: #30BA78; text-transform: capitalize;">
<center>What Else is Coming?</center>
</h2>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">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:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Agentic AI via MCP</strong>: We are rolling out deeper AI integration capabilities with new MCP components (in tech preview) and extending the management ecosystem with companies like <a href="https://www.suse.com/news/new-pagesuse-and-industry-leaders-deliver-secure-agentic-ai-for-infrastructure-management/" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Fujitsu/FSAS, n8n, Revenium and Stacklok</a>, and major cloud providers AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Oracle. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmgb3TFFcG4" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Check this video of Rick Spencer & Craig McLuckie in Techstrong TV</a>)</li>
<li><strong>Built-in Real-Time Capabilities</strong>: 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!</li>
<li><strong>Browser-Based Installation & Management</strong>: Remote administration is getting a massive upgrade. Expect an improved browser-based installer and updated Cockpit management.</li>
<li><strong>Easy graphical Snapshot Management</strong>: Best of all, you will be able to manage BTRFS and Snapper Snapshots directly from Cockpit!</li>
<li><strong>Ironclad Security</strong>: To meet strict compliance demands, the platform is targeting top-tier security certifications, including FIPS-140-3 and Common Criteria.</li>
<li><strong>Modernized Developer Stacks</strong>: Ready to build? The release features refreshed versions of essential development tools, including GCC, PHP, Python, and Node.js. Build on Linux!</li>
<li><strong>Updated Core Components</strong>: Updated database and infrastructure components like PostgreSQL and MariaDB to deliver better features and performance.</li>
<li><strong>Future-Proof Infrastructure</strong>: Ongoing work includes making <strong>Arm a first-class citizen</strong>, enabling reproducible builds and introducing new hardware support.</li>
<li><strong>Smooth Transitions</strong>: Seamless migration paths from SLES 15 and openSUSE are being designed to make upgrading as frictionless as possible.</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; color: #30BA78; text-transform: capitalize;">
<center>Mark your calendars</center>
</h2>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Whether you are running massive data centers, <a href="https://www.suse.com/success/cona_services/" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">incredibly large cloud instances (i.e. 24 TB RAM)</a> 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.</p>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">As this is not a final release, report bugs via <a href="https://bugzilla.suse.com/enter_bug.cgi?product=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2016.1" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">bugzilla</a>.</p>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">After this beta release, we will release the release candidates publicly and finally we plan to release the gold version in November 2026.</p>
<h2 style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; color: #30BA78; text-transform: capitalize;">
<center>Download</center>
</h2>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">The following beta products are available for download:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.suse.com/download/sles/" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.suse.com/download/sle-sap/" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">SUSE Linux Enterprise for SAP applications 16.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.suse.com/download/sle-ha/" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.1</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; color: #30BA78; text-transform: capitalize;">
<center>SLE Beta Subscription and Registration Code</center>
</h2>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Please note that your regular SLE key will <strong>not</strong> activate the beta environment. A <strong>special Beta Registration Code</strong> is required to access the SUSE Linux Enterprise 16 beta online channels and repositories within the <strong>SUSE Customer Center</strong>. Without this code, you will not be able to access the beta content.</p>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">To obtain a <strong>Beta Registration Code</strong> and unlock your <strong>Beta Subscription</strong>, please submit a request to <a href="mailto:beta-programs@suse.com" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">beta-programs@suse.com</a>. When requesting, specify the desired products (SLES 16.1, SLES for SAP 16.1, SLE HA 16.1, or all) and the relevant architectures.</p>
<h2 style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; color: #30BA78; text-transform: capitalize;">
<center>Documentation</center>
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<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Draft release notes are currently available:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1</strong>: <a href="https://susedoc.github.io/release-notes/sles-16.1/html/release-notes/" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">susedoc.github.io/release-notes/sles-16.1/html/release-notes/</a></li>
<li><strong>SUSE Linux Enterprise for SAP Applications 16.1</strong>: <a href="https://susedoc.github.io/release-notes/slesap-16.1/html/release-notes/index.html" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">susedoc.github.io/release-notes/slesap-16.1/html/release-notes/</a></li>
<li><strong>SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.1</strong>: <a href="https://susedoc.github.io/release-notes/sleha-16.1/html/release-notes/index.html" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">susedoc.github.io/release-notes/sleha-16.1/html/release-notes/</a></li>
</ul>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Draft product documentation can be found at <a href="https://susedoc.github.io/#sles16" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">susedoc.github.io/#sles16</a></p>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">The beta allows for both online and offline installation using the <strong>Agama installer</strong>. More details are available at <a href="https://agama-project.github.io/" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">agama-project.github.io</a></p>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Please be aware that documentation for the beta is still under development, and not all content is finalized or available yet.</p>
<h2 style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; color: #30BA78; text-transform: capitalize;">
<center>Questions?</center>
</h2>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">For additional details, please consult the dedicated <a href="https://www.suse.com/betaprogram/sles16-beta" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Beta webpage</a>.</p>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">If you want to contact us for any inquiry, we are at your disposal via email at <a href="mailto:beta-programs@suse.com" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">beta-programs@suse.com</a>.</p>
<p style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">The SUSE Linux Enterprise Team.</p>
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