Novell this week launched SUSE Linux Enterprise 11.

"SLED (Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop) 11, which was released on March 24, stands above its competitors because it works and plays well with existing Windows business networks, data files and application servers," writes Computerworld's Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols. "You can, of course, add this functionality to other Linux distributions — if you're willing to do it manually. SLED gives you pretty much the full deal out of the box."

"With its SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11, Novell is backing up its claim that the Linux distribution is ready for businesses to use," agrees eWeek's Jason Brooks. "For enterprises looking for a Linux alternative to Microsoft Windows, Novell's SLED 11 is a solid option, with features and support options the address concerns for larger companies. It offers strong basic features and interoperability with key Windows tools."

"On the server side, SLE 11 offers a high-availability extension that lets firms build Linux clusters to maintain business continuity," writes VNUnet's Daniel Robinson. "Available from the second quarter of 2009, it consists of various tools including Distributed Replicated Block Device for mirrored storage, Oracle Cluster File System 2, and a graphical user interface for monitoring and administering clustered environments."

More here from Channel Register ... more here from InformationWeek ... more here from DesktopLinux.com ... more here from ZDNet ... and the press release is here.