SUSE and openSUSE have unveiled Agama 18, the latest version of their operating system installer for distributions like SUSE Linux Enterprise and openSUSE Leap. This release features a revamped storage configuration interface and enhanced hardware support, while dropping outdated 32-bit architecture compatibility. It aims to simplify complex installations for enterprise users.
Agama 18 introduces a redesigned storage configuration page that reorganizes elements for better clarity, making it easier to manage partitioning, RAID setups, and file systems without command-line work. This update addresses pain points in storage management for data centers and cloud environments driven by big data and AI workloads.
The installer now supports upcoming releases including SLE 16.1 and openSUSE Leap 16.1 alphas, allowing early adopters to test next-generation systems. It enhances compatibility with Direct Access Storage Device (DASD) on IBM’s S/390 architecture, benefiting mainframe users in finance and large-scale computing. Agama 18 officially drops support for the i586 (32-bit) architecture, focusing instead on 64-bit systems like x86_64, AArch64, ppc64le, and s390x. This aligns with industry trends phasing out older, less secure 32-bit systems.
Additional features include using SLE’s self-update repositories to refresh the installation environment mid-process, ensuring latest security patches. It also enables offline validation of JSON configuration profiles without launching the full installer, aiding DevOps workflows. The release removes openSUSE Kalpa from supported distributions, allowing focus on core products like Tumbleweed and Slowroll.
Community feedback highlights the intuitive storage UI and DASD enhancements as delivering more powerful installs. Agama 18 builds on version 17's improvements, such as VLAN support and zFCP device enablement, and runs on a lightweight HTTP server for remote installations. This positions SUSE competitively in enterprise Linux, emphasizing flexibility and innovation.