SUSE Manager Optimization & Migration
The customer operated an extensive SLES infrastructure that was fully managed via SUSE Manager. The goal was to modernize the existing environment, build internal knowledge, and migrate outdated SLES 12 servers to SLES 15.
The challenge
The customer relied exclusively on SLES servers and managed them through SUSE Manager. In addition, many systems were still running on SLES 12, which was nearing the end of its support period.
- Outdated SLES 12 systems
- Limited knowledge about SUSE Manager and Salt
- Partially manual and unstructured configurations
Project goals
The goals of the project were:
- Build internal expertise in using SUSE Manager
- Simplify administrative processes for SLES systems
- Migrate SLES 12 systems to SLES 15
- Introduce a modern workflow based on Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Solution approach
I started with a SUSE Manager crash course to give the customer’s team an overview of key functionalities. As I strongly prefer the IaC approach, I customized SUSE Manager and its underlying SaltStack configuration to be managed via an Azure DevOps staging system. I implemented a staging environment within SUSE Manager and defined a development flow for the ongoing improvement of Salt states. Together with the customer, we successfully migrated all SLES 12 systems to SLES 15 using SUSE Manager.
The implementation
- Crash Course: Provided an introduction to SUSE Manager fundamentals
- IaC Setup: Integrated Azure DevOps and Salt for version-controlled configuration management
- Staging System: Implemented a testing and release process within SUSE Manager
- Migration: Upgraded systems from SLES 12 to SLES 15
- Documentation: Delivered structured operational documentation for long-term use
The result
- The staging system and IaC workflow I established are still in use today
- Numerous SLES 12 systems were successfully migrated to SLES 15
- The customer can now independently manage SUSE Manager
In September 2024, the project was handed over to a colleague following my job transition.
Insights
This project deepened my expertise in SUSE Manager, SaltStack, and IaC workflows within enterprise environments. I gained hands-on experience in building maintainable, version-controlled Linux infrastructures.
- Experience in developing automation and staging processes with SUSE Manager
- Effective knowledge transfer through practical training sessions
- Strengthened IaC principles in complex enterprise Linux environments