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 1. 1 About the Release Notes
 2. 2 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications
 3. 3 Modules, Extensions, and Related Products
 4. 4 New Features, Changes & Fixes
 5. 5 Known Issues & Workarounds
 6. 6 Removed and Deprecated Features and Packages
 7. 7 Obtaining Source Code
 8. 8 Legal Notices

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3

Release Notes #

This document provides guidance and an overview to high-level general features
and updates for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3. In
addition to architecture or product-specific information, it also describes the
capabilities and limitations of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP
Applications 15 SP3.

These release notes are updated periodically. The latest version of these
release notes is always available at https://www.suse.com/releasenotes/x86_64/
SLE-SAP/15-SP3/. General documentation can be found at https://
documentation.suse.com/sles-sap/15-SP3.

Publication Date: 2021-05-05, Version: 15.3.20210505

1 About the Release Notes
2 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications

    2.1 What Is New?
    2.2 Important Sections of This Document
    2.3 Security, Standards, and Certification
    2.4 Documentation and Other Information
    2.5 Support and Life Cycle
    2.6 Support Statement for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications
    2.7 Technology Previews

3 Modules, Extensions, and Related Products

    3.1 Modules in the SLE 15 SP3 Product Line
    3.2 Available Extensions
    3.3 Derived and Related Products

4 New Features, Changes & Fixes
5 Known Issues & Workarounds

    5.1 Workarounds to Enable SAP HANA Workloads on Intel Optane DC Memory

6 Removed and Deprecated Features and Packages

    6.1 Removed Features and Packages
    6.2 Deprecated Features and Packages

7 Obtaining Source Code
8 Legal Notices

1 About the Release Notes #

These Release Notes are identical across all architectures, and the most recent
version is always available online at https://www.suse.com/releasenotes.

Entries can be listed twice, if they are important and belong to more than one
section.

Release notes usually only list changes that happened between two subsequent
releases. Certain important entries from the release notes documents of
previous product versions are repeated. To make these entries easier to
identify, they contain a note to that effect.

However, repeated entries are provided as a courtesy only. Therefore, if you
are skipping one or more service packs, check the release notes of the skipped
service packs as well. If you are only reading the release notes of the current
release, you could miss important changes.

2 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications #

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applicationsis the leading Linux platform
for SAP HANA, SAP NetWeaver, and SAP S/4HANA applications that provides
optimized performance, reduced downtime, and faster SAP landscape deployments.
It includes features to secure SAP HANA systems and ease the transition to SAP
S/4HANA for systems administrators. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP
Applications combines SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and SUSE Linux Enterprise
High Availability Extension with additional software specifically meant to
simplify running and managing SAP applications. This document provides an
overview of high-level general features, capabilities, and limitations of SUSE
Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 and important product
updates.

2.1 What Is New? #

2.1.1 General Changes #

Media Changes

    The Unified Installer and Packages DVDs known from SUSE Linux Enterprise
    Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1 are deprecated and have been replaced by
    the following media:

      + Online Installation Media: All SUSE Linux Enterprise 15 products can be
        installed with this stand alone media, after entering a registration
        key. The necessary packages are fetched from online repositories only.
        For information about available modules, see https://www.suse.com/
        releasenotes/x86_64/SUSE-SLES/15-SP2#Intro.ModuleExtensionRelated

      + Full Installation Media: All SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP
        Applications 15 products can be installed without network connection
        with this media, for offline installation scenarios. The media contains
        all necessary packages. It consists of directories with module
        repositories which need to be added manually as needed. RMT (Repository
        Mirroring Tool) and SUSE Manager provide additional options for
        disconnected or managed installation.

Extended Package Search

    Use the new Zypper command zypper search-packages to search across all SUSE
    repositories available for your product even if they are not yet enabled.
    This functionality makes it easier for administrators and system architects
    to find the software packages needed. To do so, it leverages the SUSE
    Customer Center.

Software Development Kit

    With SLE 15, the Software Development Kit is now integrated into the
    products. Development packages are packaged alongside regular packages. In
    addition, the Development Tools module contains the tools for development.

RMT Replaces SMT

    SMT (Subscription Management Tool) has been removed. Instead, RMT
    (Repository Mirroring Tool) now allows mirroring SUSE repositories and
    custom repositories. You can then register systems directly with RMT. In
    environments with tightened security, RMT can also proxy other RMT servers.

Kernel

    SLE 15 SP3 will come with Kernel 5.3. This new kernel release includes
    upstream features like 16 million new IPv4 addresses, utilization clamping
    support in the task scheduler, power efficient userspace waiting with the
    umwait x86 instructions and many more.

Major updates to the software selection: #

Salt

    SLE 15 SP3 can be managed via salt to help integration into up-to-date
    management solutions, such as SUSE Manager.

Python 3

    As the first enterprise distribution, SLE 15 offers full support for Python
    3 development in addition to Python 2.

Directory Server

    389 Directory Server replaces OpenLDAP to provide a sustainable directory
    service.

2.1.2 Changes in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 #

TBD

    TBD

2.2 Important Sections of This Document #

If you are upgrading from a previous SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP
Applications release, you should review at least the following sections:

  * Section 2.6, ?Support Statement for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP
    Applications?

2.3 Security, Standards, and Certification #

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 has been submitted to
the certification bodies for:

  * Common Criteria Certification, see https://www.commoncriteriaportal.org/

  * FIPS 140-2 validation, see http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/STM/cmvp/documents/
    140-1/140InProcess.pdf

For more information about certification, see https://www.suse.com/security/
certificates.html.

2.4 Documentation and Other Information #

2.4.1 Available on the Installation Media #

  * Read the READMEs on the media.

  * Get the detailed change log information about a particular package from the
    RPM (where FILENAME.rpm is the name of the RPM):

    rpm --changelog -qp _FILENAME_.rpm

  * Check the ChangeLog file in the top level of the media for a chronological
    log of all changes made to the updated packages.

  * Find more information in the docu directory of the media of SUSE Linux
    Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3. This directory includes PDF
    versions of the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3
    Installation Quick Start Guide.

2.4.2 Online Documentation #

  * For the most up-to-date version of the documentation for SUSE Linux
    Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3, see https://
    documentation.suse.com/sles-sap/15-SP3.

  * Find a collection of White Papers in the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for
    SAP Applications Resource Library at https://www.suse.com/products/
    sles-for-sap/#resources.

2.4.3 Identifying the Base Product #

To identify and distinguish SUSE products, use one of the following files:

/etc/os-release

    A text file with key-value pairs, similar to shell-compatible variable
    assignments. Each key is on a separate line.

    You can search for the `CPE_NAME` key; however, between different releases and service packs, the value has been changed. If you need further details, refer to the article at https://www.suse.com/support/kb/doc/?id=7023490.

/etc/product.d/baseproduct

    A link to an XML file. The /etc/product.d/ directory contains different
    .prod files.

    Depending on which products you have purchased and how you installed your system, the link `/etc/product.d/baseproduct` can point to a different `.prod` file, for example, `sle-module-sap-applications.prod`.
    The same information as in `CPE_NAME` is also stored in the tag `<cpeid>`.

2.5 Support and Life Cycle #

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications is backed by award-winning
support from SUSE, an established technology leader with a proven history of
delivering enterprise-quality support services.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 has a 13-year life cycle,
with 10 years of General Support and 3 years of Extended Support. SUSE Linux
Enterprise Server for SAP Applications comes with Extended Service Pack Overlap
Support by default, this means SP3 will be fully maintained and supported until
36 months after the release of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP
Applications 15 SP4.

For more information, check our Support Policy page https://www.suse.com/
support/policy.html or the Long Term Service Pack Support Page https://
www.suse.com/support/programs/long-term-service-pack-support.html.

2.6 Support Statement for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications #

To receive support, you need an appropriate subscription with SUSE. For more
information, see https://www.suse.com/support/programs/subscriptions/?id=
SUSE_Linux_Enterprise_Server_for_SAP_Applications.

The following definitions apply:

L1

    Problem determination, which means technical support designed to provide
    compatibility information, usage support, ongoing maintenance, information
    gathering and basic troubleshooting using available documentation.

L2

    Problem isolation, which means technical support designed to analyze data,
    reproduce customer problems, isolate problem area and provide a resolution
    for problems not resolved by Level 1 or prepare for Level 3.

L3

    Problem resolution, which means technical support designed to resolve
    problems by engaging engineering to resolve product defects which have been
    identified by Level 2 Support.

For contracted customers and partners, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP
Applications is delivered with L3 support for all packages, except for the
following:

  * Technology Previews, see Section 2.7, ?Technology Previews?

  * Sound, graphics, fonts and artwork

  * Some packages shipped as part of the module Workstation Extension are
    L2-supported only

  * Packages with names ending in -devel (containing header files and similar
    developer resources) will only be supported together with their main
    packages.

SUSE will only support the usage of original packages. That is, packages that
are unchanged and not recompiled.

2.6.1 General Support #

To learn about supported features and limitations, refer to the following
sections in this document:

  * Section 4, ?New Features, Changes & Fixes?

  * Section 5, ?Known Issues & Workarounds?

2.6.2 SAP Support Statement #

Make sure to also review the SAP Product Availability Matrix and/or SAP Note
2235581 - SAP HANA: Supported Operating Systems for official SAP support and
certification statements.

2.7 Technology Previews #

Technology previews are packages, stacks, or features delivered by SUSE which
are not supported. They may be functionally incomplete, unstable or in other
ways not suitable for production use. They are included for your convenience
and give you a chance to test new technologies within an enterprise
environment.

Whether a technology preview becomes a fully supported technology later depends
on customer and market feedback. Technology previews can be dropped at any time
and SUSE does not commit to providing a supported version of such technologies
in the future.

Give your SUSE representative feedback about technology previews, including
your experience and use case.

3 Modules, Extensions, and Related Products #

This section comprises information about modules and extensions for SUSE Linux
Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3. Modules and extensions add
functionality to the system.

3.1 Modules in the SLE 15 SP3 Product Line #

The SLE 15 SP3 product line is made up of modules that contain software
packages. Each module has a clearly defined scope. Modules differ in their life
cycles and update timelines.

The modules available within the product line based on SUSE Linux Enterprise
15 SP3 at the release of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications
15 SP3 are listed in the Modules and Extensions Quick Start at https://
documentation.suse.com/sles/15-SP3/html/SLES-all/art-modules.html.

Not all SLE modules are available with a subscription for SUSE Linux Enterprise
Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 itself (see the column Available for).

For information about the availability of individual packages within modules,
see https://scc.suse.com/packages.

3.2 Available Extensions #

Extensions add extra functionality to the system and require their own
registration key, usually at additional cost. Most extensions have their own
release notes documents that are available from https://www.suse.com/
releasenotes.

The following extensions are available for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP
Applications 15 SP3:

  * SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching: https://www.suse.com/products/
    live-patching

The following extension is not covered by SUSE support agreements, available at
no additional cost, and without an extra registration key:

  * SUSE Package Hub: https://packagehub.suse.com/

3.3 Derived and Related Products #

This sections lists derived and related products. Usually, these products have
their own release notes documents that are available from https://www.suse.com/
releasenotes.

  * SUSE Linux Enterprise Server: https://www.suse.com/products/server

  * SUSE Linux Enterprise JeOS: https://www.suse.com/products/server/jeos

  * SUSE Enterprise Storage: https://www.suse.com/products/
    suse-enterprise-storage

  * SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop: https://www.suse.com/products/desktop

  * SUSE Linux Enterprise for High-Performance Computing: https://www.suse.com/
    products/server/hpc

  * SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time: https://www.suse.com/products/realtime

  * SUSE Manager: https://www.suse.com/products/suse-manager

4 New Features, Changes & Fixes #

Information in this section applies to all architectures supported by SUSE
Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 unless noted otherwise.

5 Known Issues & Workarounds #

This is a list of known issues for this release.

5.1 Workarounds to Enable SAP HANA Workloads on Intel Optane DC Memory #

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 supports Intel Optane DC
persistent memory. This enables SAP workloads, such as SAP HANA to benefit from
persistent memory This shortens start times of the system and provides better
system stability.

From a file system perspective, the XFS file system is supported for persistent
memory, with SAP HANA running in DAX mode. Make sure to also check the SAP
instructions for using persistent memory with SAP HANA. SUSE is working closely
with SAP on future developments.

If there are pmem namespaces, these need to be destroyed before the
installation. To mount persistent memory directly on boot, the respective
entries need to be added to /etc/fstab, for example:

/dev/pmem0    /mnt/pmem0    xfs    dax    0  0
/dev/pmem1    /mnt/pmem1    xfs    dax    0  0

Namespaces need to be created individually. Execute the following command for
each namespace you want to create:

ndctl create-namespace --mode=fsdax --map=dev

Because the systemd and udev default timeout may be too short for large memory
setups to become usable, your system may run into a timeout and the boot
process may stop with an emergency shell. To prevent this from happening,
increase the timeout to 1200 seconds. Create the file /etc/systemd/system/
systemd-udev-settle.service.d/00-override.conf with the following content:

[Service]
TimeoutSec=1200s
ExecStart=/usr/bin/udevadm settle -t 300

Important

Important

In an earlier version of this document, we recommended mounting persistent
memory with the nofail option in /etc/fstab. Unfortunately this frequently
required a manual mount of pmem devices on reboot. To automatically mount pmem
file systems after reboot, we strongly recommend removing the nofail option and
modifying the timeout value as described above.

6 Removed and Deprecated Features and Packages #

This section lists features and packages that got removed from SUSE Linux
Enterprise Server for SAP Applications or will be removed in upcoming versions.

6.1 Removed Features and Packages #

The following features and packages have been removed in this release.

6.2 Deprecated Features and Packages #

The following features and packages are deprecated and will be removed with a
future service pack of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications.

7 Obtaining Source Code #

This SUSE product includes materials licensed to SUSE under the GNU General
Public License (GPL). The GPL requires SUSE to provide the source code that
corresponds to the GPL-licensed material. The source code is available for
download at https://www.suse.com/download/sle-sap/ on Medium 2. For up to three
years after distribution of the SUSE product, upon request, SUSE will mail a
copy of the source code. Send requests by e-mail to sle_source_request@suse.com
.

8 Legal Notices #

SUSE makes no representations or warranties with regard to the contents or use
of this documentation, and specifically disclaims any express or implied
warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Further,
SUSE reserves the right to revise this publication and to make changes to its
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Further, SUSE makes no representations or warranties with regard to any
software, and specifically disclaims any express or implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Further, SUSE reserves
the right to make changes to any and all parts of SUSE software, at any time,
without any obligation to notify any person or entity of such changes.

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responsibility for your failure to obtain any necessary export approvals.

Copyright ? 2010-2021 SUSE LLC.

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