openSUSE Project releases openSUSE 12.3

The openSUSE Project has announced the latest release of its reliable, modern and easy-to-use multi-purpose Linux operating system. openSUSE 12.3 improves search, filesystem performance and networking, as well as makes great strides forward in ARM and cloud support. openSUSE 12.3 is the latest Linux distribution from the openSUSE Project, allowing users and developers to benefit from free and open source software in physical, virtual and cloud environments.

“Six months of open collaboration by our international Free Software community has once again resulted in a great product,” said Michael Miller, SUSE. “We are completely committed to the continued growth of the openSUSE Project and are just as passionate about its success as the many people who personally use and contribute to it. As an independent community, openSUSE contributors innovate and build what they’re passionate about and enjoy doing it. This innovation isn’t directed or controlled by SUSE; it’s a free and open project. In fact, that’s exactly why the relationship between openSUSE and SUSE works so well and partly why openSUSE is such a great project for contributors to join.”

Search, performance and networking
openSUSE 12.3 introduces pervasive search features both online and locally. On the desktop, GNOME Nautilus and KDE Dolphin offer improved search capabilities. Personal information management software enhancements include automatically updating email search folders in Evolution. The quick filter in Kontact can search through the entire email body versus just the header. For servers, openSUSE 12.3 has replaced MySQL Database Server as the default option with the more openly developed, drop-in replacement MariaDB. PostgreSQL 9.2 introduces NoSQL integration capabilities with its JSON support. In the area of cloud computing, openSUSE 12.3 debuts full packages for setting up OpenStack Folsom, the most recent release from popular OpenStack open source cloud computing project.

The Linux 3.7 kernel within openSUSE 12.3 boosts connectivity, performance and networking. It features enhanced file system performance and a much-improved network layer that supports the TCP Fast Open protocol for faster browsing and several new features to decrease bufferbloat.

Desktop
Desktop users can look forward to the latest Linux desktop software to come with openSUSE 12.3. Application updates include the new Amarok 2.7 and Rhythmbox 2.98 for music lovers and digiKam 3.0 for handling photos and creating video slide shows. For productivity, the popular LibreOffice 3.6 offers cutting-edge tools from a proven open source office suite. openSUSE 12.3 also debuts a new theme that reflects the distribution's reputation for elegance and attention to detail. Improvements to package management allow better software handling from the graphical tools.

Tools
In addition to the technical enhancements in openSUSE 12.3, the live images have grown to a larger size ??? up to 1 GB ??? to be able to include the basic software most ? users expect. Among other things, Gimp and LibreOffice are now available within the live images. openSUSE 12.3 now ships a smaller XFCE-based Live CD for rescue and backup of an existing system. This provides a lightweight and effective environment and powerful applications for recovering lost data, backing up existing data, and editing disk partitions.

This release also brings proper UEFI support for x86_64-bit hardware and experimental support for Secure Boot enabled hardware.

The openSUSE ARM team plans to release openSUSE 12.3 for ARM within a few weeks, allowing users to test the abilities of this architecture on laptops and on small servers. A preview of openSUSE 12.3 for ARM 64-bit is already available with over 4300 packages built for this new architecture, putting openSUSE well ahead of all other distributions with AArch64.

“We're very proud of openSUSE 12.3 as a stable and current operating system” said openSUSE board member Richard Brown. “We are looking forward to the openSUSE Conference in Greece this summer, where we can celebrate this release and continue working towards the future of Free Software.”