Linux vendor SUSE has launched a version of its operating system developed for 64-bit ARM processors.

The latest version of the OS – SUSE Linux Enterprise 12 – is now compatible with the growing number of low-power chips from the likes of AMD, AppliedMicro, Qualcomm and Cavium.

The move is set to establish SUSE as an early adopter of AArch64 architecture, an alternative to x86 instruction set backed by Intel.

“SUSE has always been a leader in porting Linux to other platforms, and this program brings the same benefits and interaction to the ARM AArch64 ecosystem that our partners providing x86-64, Power and System z solutions already experience,” said Ralf Flaxa, vice president of engineering at SUSE.

They adapt

Green chameleon - the mascot of SUSE
Green chameleon - the mascot of SUSE – Thinkstock / sergeyskleznev

Servers based on ARM architecture consume less power and require less cooling than their x86 counterparts. They are cheaper to operate and offer different performance characteristics – a typical ARM SoC includes more cores clocked at lower rates than a typical x86 CPU. This makes them suitable for specific workloads, for example serving web content.

Some of the hardware vendors that already make servers based on ARM silicon include Dell, HP, E4 Computer Engineering and SoftIron.

“Interest in ARM servers is growing, and the first ARM server units are already shipping into market,” said Matt Eastwood, senior vice president of Enterprise Infrastructure and Datacenters at IDC.

“The release of SUSE Linux Enterprise for AArch64 is an important step to helping to build a Linux software ecosystem around ARM server products.”

To simplify partner access, SUSE has also implemented support for ARM and AArch64 architecture into its openSUSE Build Service. This allows the community to build packages against real 64-bit ARM hardware and Linux binaries, improving time to market and compatibility for AArch64 solutions.

SUSE is by no means the first major Linux vendor to announce support for ARM processors: Canonical’s Ubuntu has been compatible with AArch64 since version 14.04, released in April 2014. Meanwhile Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server for ARM is currently available in the development preview stage.