SUSE expands open source package support for Amazon Linux in collaboration with AWS

SUSE has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to introduce Supplementary Packages for Amazon Linux (SPAL), a collection of additional open source software packages designed to extend the capabilities of Amazon Linux.

This development aims to augment the software options available for Amazon Linux users, targeting enhanced security, reliability, and a broader set of enterprise-ready tools. The initiative is intended to support customers deploying complex software while addressing operational cost and compliance considerations.

The service provides thousands of extra open source packages derived from the Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL) repository. These have been repackaged and tested with a focus on enterprise environments, allowing users to access vetted components without assuming maintenance responsibilities.

The work involved delivering these additional packages as a complementary resource for Amazon Linux 2023 (AL2023). The extended toolset is intended for applications requiring stable, secure, and customizable Linux distributions, potentially simplifying regulatory compliance and risk management.

Rick Spencer, General Manager of Business Critical Linux at SUSE, said, “We're proud that the Amazon Linux team has chosen to leverage SUSE’s Linux expertise and secure toolchain to provide these packages to their users. This is a rewarding collaboration driving mutual success while also enabling us to extend our foundational commitment to security, reliability, and quality to a broader community of users.”

The companies described plans to continue supporting this collaboration, focusing on maintaining and securing the expanded package repository to facilitate operational agility for AWS customers deploying enterprise workloads on Amazon Linux.