OpenSuse brings ARM-version

OpenSuse has a version of its Linux distribution to be released that is specifically focused on ARM processors. The release candidate of OpenSuse 12.2 on ARM is focused on ARM processors, which are built on version 7 of the ARM architecture.

The ARM edition is specifically optimized for ARM chips, which use the so-called Cortex A-processorprofiel. This will make OpenSuse do not work on all ARMv7 processors running. The developers have therefore made the choice to the 12.2 release to run on chips from a limited number of brands: the Omap 3 and Omap 4 designs of Texas Instruments, Marvells ArmadaXP 510 and Freescale I. MX51. These processors are amongst others to find on the Beagleboard and Pandaboard. There is also an image available for the VersatileExpress platform.

With OpenSuse 12.2 on ARM can especially hobbyists experimenting on the mostly cheap and energy-efficient ARM hardware. There are images available with the Xfce desktop environment and without graphical interface. It is unclear yet whether the developers of OpenSuse for their Linux distribution in the future also make it suitable for more modern ARM-processorontwerpen.