I have been using SUSE and OpenSUSE since 1999 in various capacities.
Systems Support Specialist at a hospitality company with 201-500 employees
YaST simplifies the server management allowing for a centralized utility to control most of the server functions
Pros and Cons
- "YaST simplifies the server management of SUSE allowing for a centralized utility to control most of the server functions."
- "The initial setup for most modern Linux distributions is normally straightforward. Most of the common distributions use an ncurses or GUI install."
- "All distributions of Linux could use some improvement."
- "The only stability issues that I can recall encountering with SUSE would be with KDE. However, that is limited to just the desktop environment as I have not had stability issues with most server functions."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
There are several items which make this distribution a good product, however I think YaST is probably what I like most about it. YaST simplifies the server management of SUSE allowing for a centralized utility to control most of the server functions.
What needs improvement?
All distributions of Linux could use some improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
More than five years.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The only stability issues that I can recall encountering with SUSE would be with KDE. However, that is limited to just the desktop environment as I have not had stability issues with most server functions.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Not that I can recall.
How are customer service and support?
I have never actually used the technical support. If I had an issue, then I would search the forums to find others that may have encountered similar issues.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used various different distributions of Linux. Currently, I am supporting Ubuntu and CentOS server deployments.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup for most modern Linux distributions is normally straightforward. Most of the common distributions use an ncurses or GUI install.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I would advise others to download the free or strictly open source versions, then test them in their environment before committing to a purchase. This will allow for testing suitability for applications that they want to run.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have evaluated several different versions of Linux distributions over the years. It depends upon the planned use as to which platform will work best. I have tested RedHat, Debian, Ubuntu, SUSE, Linux Mint, SparkyLinux, SliTaz, Gentoo Linux, and several others.
What other advice do I have?
Verify this product will do want you need it to do. As with all server class distributions, it can be setup with or without the GUI.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
IT Admin at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Compared to Windows, use is more stable and scalable; easy to manage.
What is most valuable?
SuSe has an offline repository in DVD media. It's easy to use, although not as easy as Ubuntu is.
The administration tools are very useful.
How has it helped my organization?
We use it as a webserver: DNS Server and LDAP server.
What needs improvement?
The updating package:
We had trouble installing packages outside of the repository.
There were often conflicts in the existing version;
A depends on B, B depends on C, and etc...so we must upgrade to C and B before installing A.
For how long have I used the solution?
Since 2010.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
So far the use is very stable and we've never experienced any constraints.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
No.
How are customer service and technical support?
We do not pay for a subscription, so we do not get support. But out there, there are a lot of forums that can help us to solve the problem.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Previously, we used Microsoft products. The expensive license fees made us switch to open source.
Compared to Windows, use is more stable and scalable; easy to manage.
How was the initial setup?
Initial setup is straightforward. They have a very good GUI/user interface.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We're not subscribed to any support. So far, without a subscription, there are no obstacles.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We've tried some Linux distro.
Limited internet connection made us look for distros which have repository on DVD.
Ubuntu may be the best choice for beginners if you have reliable internet access.
What other advice do I have?
Look for products that have broad support and community, because it is very helpful when experiencing problems.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
SUSE Linux Enterprise
December 2025
Learn what your peers think about SUSE Linux Enterprise. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2025.
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DevOps Software Engineer at a tech company with 201-500 employees
An efficient operating system with good stability
Pros and Cons
- "It is a stable platform."
- "They should improve their educational portal."
What is our primary use case?
SUSE Linux Enterprise is an operating system for server workstations, desktop computers, and other platforms.
What needs improvement?
They should improve their educational portal. There should be a dedicated lab to learn about features similar to Red Hat's portal.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using SUSE Linux Enterprise for seven months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable platform.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The product's scalability is better than DevSecOps. We have enterprise and medium customers using it.
How are customer service and support?
There are limitations in terms of getting administrative rights or comprehensive data support.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
The installation and registration process was complicated because of security settings. We didn't receive support services to tackle the difficulties. It requires four to five executives for maintenance.
What other advice do I have?
I rate SUSE Linux Enterprise an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
System Engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Open-source, reliable, easy to use, and has good support
Pros and Cons
- "It's a flexible solution."
- "I would like to see GUI improved, it could be more user-friendly."
What is our primary use case?
SUSE Linux Enterprise is a critical component. We also use it with SUSE Rancher.
This solution is used to run the master node of Kubernetes and Rancher, which are co-dependent, and it does not run on Windows.
What is most valuable?
It is very powerful and different from Windows.
It is very simple to use.
You don't have to click, you just enter the commands.
It's a flexible solution.
What needs improvement?
I would like to see GUI improved, it could be more user-friendly.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SUSE Linux Enterprise for seven months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
SUSE Linux Enterprise is a stable product.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is very strong. Many resources can be found on the internet.
They offer enterprise-level support, similar to Red Hat and SUSE.
We are satisfied with the technical support.
How was the initial setup?
If you are a technical person, the setup is easy, but if you are not, it can be quite complex.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Anyone can use Linux because it is open-source. If you require technical assistance, you will have to pay for it.
What other advice do I have?
I don't have a lot of experience with this solution, I have recently completed my MCA, as well as my internship.
I would rate SUSE Linux Enterprise a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Although I would agree that Ubuntu is a good choice for beginners, I would not suggest using it in an enterprise environment. CentOS, fedora, or OpenSuse are better for learning enterprise level servers as I have found that most enterprise customers prefer RHEL or SLES over the debian based distros.