SUSE Linux
Technical Support
SUSE Manager · Rancher · SAP HANA · PaceMaker HA · Up to 13 years of LTSS.
Specialised engineering from Europe for mission-critical environments.
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) is the leading Linux distribution for SAP, HPC and hybrid cloud environments. SIXE, an IBM Business Partner with over 15 years of experience in critical infrastructure, provides specialised SUSE support for organisations that require stability, performance and an extended lifecycle of up to 13 years with LTSS.
Our team manages SUSE Manager, Kubernetes orchestration with Rancher, high availability with PaceMaker, and migrations from other distributions. We operate as a SUSE Partner from Spain, serving clients across Europe — direct engineer response, no middlemen.
Why does SAP HANA run on SUSE Linux?
Over 80% of SAP HANA installations worldwide run on SLES. SUSE offers joint certification with SAP, priority patches before public release, and a kernel optimised for large-scale in-memory workloads.
SIXE designs, deploys and supports SLES architectures for SAP HANA — from initial IBM Power server sizing to PaceMaker configuration for active-passive high availability and System Replication.
Source: SUSE for SAP Solutions
What does SIXE's SUSE support include?
SUSE Manager
Centralised patch management, configuration and compliance for SLES server fleets. We set up SUSE Manager so you can control hundreds of nodes from a single dashboard: package distribution, CVE auditing, automated Salt states and internal repository synchronisation. Compatible with SLES, openSUSE, RHEL and managed CentOS instances.
Fleet managementRancher & Kubernetes
Deploy and manage Kubernetes clusters on-premise and in hybrid cloud environments. RKE2, K3s or managed clusters with security policies, GitOps and integrated monitoring.
PaceMaker HA
High availability with PaceMaker and Corosync for critical services: SAP, databases, NFS. Configuration, STONITH fencing and documented failover testing.
Btrfs & storage
SLES uses Btrfs by default — atomic snapshots, system rollback and transparent compression. We configure Snapper, subvolumes for /home and /var, and recovery from failed updates.
Migrations to SLES
Migration from CentOS, RHEL or Ubuntu Server. Dependency analysis, documented migration plan, staging tests and zero-downtime production cutover.
SAP on SUSE
Design, deployment and support for SAP HANA and SAP NetWeaver environments on SLES. IBM Power server sizing, System Replication for DR, kernel sysctl tuning for in-memory workloads, and automation with saptune. Our engineers know the SAP Notes and the specifics of each SLES for SAP Applications release.
SAP specialisationHow long does SUSE LTSS support last?
Up to 13 years of lifecycle support — general support plus extended LTSS. Ideal for regulated environments, SAP and systems that cannot migrate every 3 years.
What is the difference between openSUSE and SLES?
The most common question. Both share the same DNA but serve very different purposes.
| Feature | SLES | openSUSE Leap |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Commercial subscription | Free (community) |
| Support | SUSE + partners like SIXE | Community |
| Lifecycle | Up to 13 years with LTSS | ~18 months per release |
| SAP certification | Yes — officially certified | No |
| SUSE Manager | Included with subscription | Uyuni (community fork) |
| Security patches | SLA with defined timelines | When ready |
| Best for | Production, SAP, HA, regulated | Development, labs, testing |
Related services
Frequently asked questions about SUSE support
Is SIXE an official SUSE Partner?
Yes. SIXE operates as a SUSE Partner in Europe, offering specialised technical support, architecture consulting and managed services for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, SUSE Manager and Rancher. We are also an IBM Business Partner, enabling us to integrate SLES with IBM Power infrastructure.
What is the difference between direct SUSE support and SIXE support?
Direct SUSE support is handled through tickets to their global centre. SIXE offers proximity support with engineers in Europe who know your specific environment: configuration, dependencies, applications and hardware. We act as an extension of your IT team — not a call centre.
Can I migrate from CentOS or RHEL to SUSE with SIXE?
Yes. We carry out full migrations from CentOS, RHEL, Ubuntu Server and other distributions to SLES. The process includes dependency analysis, a documented migration plan, staging environment testing and production cutover with rollback available.
What is SUSE Manager and do I need it?
SUSE Manager is SUSE's centralised management tool for administering patches, configuration and compliance across Linux server fleets. If you manage more than 10 SLES servers, SUSE Manager simplifies updates, audits CVE vulnerabilities and automates tasks with Salt. SIXE deploys and configures SUSE Manager tailored to your infrastructure.
Does SIXE support SUSE on IBM Power Systems?
Yes. We specialise in SLES on IBM Power10 and Power11 with PowerVM. We configure LPARs, VIOS, HMC and the optimised Linux environment for workloads such as SAP HANA, databases and HPC applications that leverage the POWER architecture.
Let's talk about your SUSE infrastructure
Tell us what you need — support, migration, SAP architecture or patch management. Direct response from engineers, no salespeople.
