# SUSE Licensing
**URL:** https://forums.suse.com/t/suse-licensing/22930
**Category:** SLES Updates
**Created:** [August 5, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/suse-licensing/22930 "2012-08-05T19:32:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@scottjsn](https://forums.suse.com/u/scottjsn)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/suse-licensing/22930/1 "2012-08-05T19:32:13Z")
Can not find a appropriate forum to post this question. So post it here.
Basically in regarding to the licensing of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, my understanding is that this software is free to use so long the user does not want to get the updates and support. However, if the user wants to get patches and support from Novell, then the user must purchase a subscription and support license.
The reason I believe the SLES is free in nature is because it is GNU licensing based.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
Thanks
---
### Author:  [@malcolmlewis](https://forums.suse.com/u/malcolmlewis)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/suse-licensing/22930/2 "2012-08-05T19:46:08Z")
> [@scottjsn](#):
>
> Can not find a appropriate forum to post this question. So post it
> here.
>
> Basically in regarding to the licensing of SUSE Linux Enterprise
> Server, my understanding is that this software is free to use so long
> the user does not want to get the updates and support. However, if the
> user wants to get patches and support from Novell, then the user must
> purchase a subscription and support license.
>
> The reason I believe the SLES is free in nature is because it is GNU
> licensing based.
>
> Please correct me if I am wrong.
>
> Thanks
Hi
Correct, however you only need a subscription to get updates (and
access to the updated src rpms, patches), then provide self service
support eg these forums, google, use the Open Build Service etc.
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86\_64) Kernel 3.0.34-0.7-default
up 7 days 13:16, 3 users, load average: 0.40, 0.61, 0.67
CPU Intel i5 CPU M520@2.40GHz | Intel Arrandale GPU
---
### Author:  [@SpeccyMan](https://forums.suse.com/u/SpeccyMan)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/suse-licensing/22930/3 "2013-04-23T17:32:37Z")
[QUOTE=malcolmlewis;6053]Hi
Correct, however you only need a subscription to get updates (and
access to the updated src rpms, patches), then provide self service
support eg these forums, google, use the Open Build Service etc.
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86\_64) Kernel 3.0.34-0.7-default
up 7 days 13:16, 3 users, load average: 0.40, 0.61, 0.67
CPU Intel i5 CPU M520@2.40GHz | Intel Arrandale GPU[/QUOTE]
Hi, I had the same question.
So this means i can download and install for free Suse in any number of business computers, use it for free for an unlimited period of time and if i want to get updates/patches i can also get them for free (all i need to do is to make a (also) free subscription). Did i understand this right???
In another words, all that requires money is if i want support from Novell. Is that right?
Thanks
---
### Author:  [@SpeccyMan](https://forums.suse.com/u/SpeccyMan)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/suse-licensing/22930/4 "2013-04-23T18:06:19Z")
By the way… i also have the exact same question about Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED)…
---
### Author:  [@malcolmlewis](https://forums.suse.com/u/malcolmlewis)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2013, 6:08pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/suse-licensing/22930/5 "2013-04-23T18:08:54Z")
> [@](#):
>
> On Tue 23 Apr 2013 02:34:04 PM CDT, SpeccyMan wrote:
>
> malcolmlewis;6053 Wrote:[color=blue]
>
> > Hi
> > Correct, however you only need a subscription to get updates (and
> > access to the updated src rpms, patches), then provide self service
> > support eg these forums, google, use the Open Build Service etc.
> > [/color]
>
> Hi, I had the same question.
>
> So this means i can download and install for free Suse in any number of
> business computers, use it for free for an unlimited period of time and
> if i want to get updates/patches i can also get them for free (all i
> need to do is to make a (also) free subscription). Did i understand this
> right???
>
> In another words, all that requires money is if i want support from
> Novell. Is that right?
>
> Thanks
Hi
No, you can get an evaluation license for 60 days which entitles you to
updates etc during that 60days. After that you would need a
subscription to continue getting updates. The system would keep
functioning, just not getting updates…
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 12.3 (x86\_64) Kernel 3.7.10-1.1-desktop
up 13:10, 4 users, load average: 0.00, 0.02, 0.05
CPU Intel® i5 CPU M520@2.40GHz | GPU Intel® Arrandale
---
### Author:  [@SpeccyMan](https://forums.suse.com/u/SpeccyMan)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/suse-licensing/22930/6 "2013-04-23T18:20:09Z")
So, the subscription is not free?
---
### Author:  [@malcolmlewis](https://forums.suse.com/u/malcolmlewis)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/suse-licensing/22930/7 "2013-04-23T18:38:47Z")
> [@](#):
>
> On Tue 23 Apr 2013 03:24:02 PM CDT, SpeccyMan wrote:
>
> So, the subscription is not free?
Hi
No, only the 60 day evaluation license.
You probably need to talk to a SUSE partner for pricing;
[https://www.partnernetprogram.com/partnerlocator/locator.do](https://www.partnernetprogram.com/partnerlocator/locator.do)
Are you in the education sector?
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 12.3 (x86\_64) Kernel 3.7.10-1.1-desktop
up 13:45, 4 users, load average: 0.09, 0.09, 0.10
CPU Intel® i5 CPU M520@2.40GHz | GPU Intel® Arrandale
---
### Author:  [@SpeccyMan](https://forums.suse.com/u/SpeccyMan)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/suse-licensing/22930/8 "2013-04-23T19:54:50Z")
Hi,
I suppose this also applies to SLED (which was actually what i was researching - only after I made the post i noticed you were talking about SLES and not SLED) …
As to your question: no, actually education (at least for now) is not my sector.
I was researching if there was a good alternative to OpenSuse - a more stable one - that could be use in business for free.
Since updates aren’t free i think i’ll just recommend the installation of OpenSuse. Correct me if i’m wrong, but i think this one is free in pretty much everything…
---
### Author:  [@malcolmlewis](https://forums.suse.com/u/malcolmlewis)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/suse-licensing/22930/9 "2013-04-23T20:49:02Z")
> [@](#):
>
> On Tue 23 Apr 2013 05:04:02 PM CDT, SpeccyMan wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I suppose this also applies to SLED (which was -actually -what i was
> researching - only after I made the post i noticed you were talking
> about SLES and not SLED) …
>
> As to your question: no, actually education (at least for now) is not
> my sector.
>
> I was researching if there was a good alternative to OpenSuse - a more
> stable one - that could be use in business for free.
>
> Since updates aren’t free i think i’ll just recommend the installation
> of OpenSuse. Correct me if i’m wrong, but i think this one is free in
> pretty much everything…
Hi
Yes, same for SLED…
A fine alternative, but be sure to check the lifetime cycle of
openSUSE, new release every eight months etc. Again, there is the Open
Build Service available to custom build your own packages if required 🙂
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 12.3 (x86\_64) Kernel 3.7.10-1.1-desktop
up 15:54, 4 users, load average: 0.12, 0.06, 0.06
CPU Intel® i5 CPU M520@2.40GHz | GPU Intel® Arrandale