Linux Premium Certification as SAP Endorsed App

Infrastructures in general and operating systems in particular have always played a special role in building and using SAP solutions. And they still represent a central element. In connection with Hanaization, SAP has famously consolidated the world of operating systems.

The measure of all things is Linux. Specified for Hana and all Hana-based SAP solutions. Regardless of whether SAP solutions are operated in the cloud or on-premises or are used as part of as-a-service cloud solutions.

As a close and long-standing SAP partner, Suse has been in the front row, so to speak, for a long time. An estimated 85 percent of all Hana or Hana-based SAP application solutions at customers use Suse Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) for SAP Applications. And an equally high percentage in the NetWeaver environment (SAP Classic).

SLES for SAP and native Suse Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) differ in particular in that SLES for SAP has important and valuable functions specifically for SAP use, which were developed in collaboration with SAP. Since 1999 - with the founding of the SAP Linux Lab - there has been close cooperation between SAP and Suse.

On the basis of this partnership, numerous joint developments (such as Deployment Automation) emerged to establish open source solutions for mission-critical SAP deployment. This was achieved with flying colors. For example, with the cluster solution for Hana called Suse High Availability Extension (HAE) or the system management software Suse Manager.

Now there is another important milestone in the collaboration, which represents a kind of accolade: SLES for SAP has recently been awarded the globally valid premium certificate SAP Endorsed App and is now available on the digital marketplace via SAP Store. Endorsed Apps are premium certified by SAP and provide additional security through in-depth tests and benchmark comparisons with other solutions.

At the same time, this certificate represents a recommendation with added value for SAP customers. Among other things, this means that SLES for SAP and SAP solutions are ideally matched, that they can be used securely, quickly and efficiently, and that companies can optimize their business models and processes to their advantage. Regardless of the industry sector and regardless of whether the company is a medium-sized or large enterprise.

The Endorsed App certification level is characterized by extensive and in-depth tests and comparisons with other solutions. What's also special about it is that you can't apply for an Endorsed App, but SAP invites you to do so. This premium certificate was introduced and announced by SAP last year at the SAP Global Partner Summit Online.

So with technology solutions from Suse and SAP, customers can optimize their business models and processes. For example, a global company in the building, construction and manufacturing industry uses its SAP applications to pay its 46,000 employees on time and correctly.

By implementing the integrated high availability solution in Suse Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications, the company achieved 99.995 percent availability for its Hana database systems. In four years, the company recorded only two hours of unplanned downtime.

Of course, the joint journey continues. One example is the close cooperation on the topic of Kubernetes containers. Namely, in the project called Gardener, which is being promoted by SAP as an open source project. The key point here is the administration and control of Kubernetes services in the hyperscale environment. Specialists from Suse and SAP are working together intensively to support the development of deployment tools and back-end integration for on-premises customers.