Dell Offers Enterprise Linux Operating System from Novell to Address Growing Market for Thin Clients

SUSE Linux Enterprise Thin Client to be preloaded on new Dell OptiPlex thin client devices

Novell today announced that Dell will preload SUSE Linux Enterprise Thin Client, the market’s leading enterprise-quality Linux thin client operating system, onto Dell’s new OptiPlex FX160 thin client device. The OptiPlex FX160 is part of Dell’s diverse portfolio of Flexible Computing Solutions, which was introduced in October 2008. SUSE Linux Enterprise Thin Client from Novell in conjunction with Dell’s Optiplex FX160 will help customers dramatically lower costs, while simplifying IT from the desktop to the data center.

According to a 2008 IDC report (1), the Linux thin client market will grow from nearly 1 million units in 2008 to 1.8 million units in 2011. Linux will reach a 30.5 percent share of all operating system shipments on thin client devices by 2011.

As the market’s only enterprise-quality Linux computing solution, SUSE Linux Enterprise Thin Client provides Novell partners with a powerful image creation toolkit to easily and rapidly generate thin-client images tailored to customer needs, roles, and responsibilities. This new thin client solution gives customers centralized data and image control for tighter security, easier image management, and better reliability — all without compromising the end-user experience.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Thin Client inherits the strengths of the SUSE Linux Enterprise platform. The next-generation platform for the open enterprise, SUSE Linux Enterprise is the best-engineered and most interoperable platform for mission-critical computing, from the desktop to the data center. For more information on SUSE Linux Enterprise offerings from Novell, visit www.novell.com/linux. For more information about SUSE Linux Enterprise Thin Client, visit www.novell.com/products/thinclient.

To learn more about Dell Flexible Computing Solutions, visit www.dell.com/flexiblecomputing.

1 IDC, Worldwide Enterprise Thin Client 2008-2012 Forecast and Analysis: QView, Doc # 212588, June 2008