SUSE SolidDriver Compliance Definition
SUSE SolidDriver Compliance Definition
Enterprise customers have various requirements for deploying software and hardware in their data centers. Having identified the common requirements, SUSE has defined SolidDriver Compliance as a set of criteria to meet in order to address the needs of SUSE Linux Enterprise customers. SolidDriver compliance is useful in helping partners in building and distributing kernel module updates in a robust and customer satisfactory manner as well as provide a base line whereby customers can establish confidence in deploying the kernel module updates they receive.
The compliance definition consists of 11 criteria falling into the four areas of Compatibility, Supportability, Usability, and Certification. The sections below summarize the SolidDriver compliance criteria.
Terms
The following terms are used in the SolidDriver Compliance criteria:
- Vendor:
- SUSE partner who provides and supports the kernel module code and packaging.
- Package:
- Software package that provides kernel module binary code (usually an RPM).
- Level 1 (L1) support
- Problem determination, which means technical support designed to provide compatibility information, installation assistance, usage support, on-going maintenance and basic troubleshooting. Level 1 Support is not intended to correct product defect errors.
- Level 2 (L2) support
- Problem isolation, which means technical support designed to duplicate customer problems, isolate problem area and provide resolution for problems not resolved by Level 1 Support.
- Level 3 (L3) support
- Problem resolution, which means technical support designed to resolve complex problems by engaging engineering in resolution of product defects which have been identified by Level 2 Support.
Criteria Overview
The following sub-sections briefly outline the key criteria of the SUSE SolidDriver Compliance definition. The criteria items are defined as general goals without implementation details to allows for some flexibility in distribution methods. The criteria is explained in detail in Section 2 SUSE SolidDriver Compliance in Detail
Compatibility
- Module package does not break SUSE Linux Enterprise installations
- SUSE Linux Enterprise kernel updates do not silently break module functionality
- Stick to standard kernel APIs meant for kernel modules
Supportability
- Package is Level 1 and Level 2 supported by SUSE technical support
- Package is Level 3 supportable by SUSE together with the driver vendor
- Vendor of the package can be reliably identified
- Products that the Package is qualified for are clearly identified
- Integrity of the Package can be established
Usability
- Package can be installed in a manner identical to standard SUSE Linux Enterprise packages
- User can easily and automatically find updates to the Package
Certification (YES)
(Applicable when a kernel module is used as a requisite component of a SUSE YES certification)