Which Linux distribution is priced based on the number of CPU drawers instead of CPUs?

Question

Options

• AUbuntu
• BFedora
• CRed Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
• DSUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)

• A
  93% (40)
• B
  5% (2)
• C
  2% (1)

Explanation

There appears to be an error in this answer key. Option A (Ubuntu) is not correct - the accurate answer is D. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES).

Why D is correct: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server uses a licensing model that can price based on CPU drawers (physical drawer units in high-end servers and mainframes) rather than individual CPU sockets. This is a distinguishing feature of SUSE's enterprise licensing, particularly relevant in IBM mainframe (z/Architecture) environments.

Why the others are wrong:

• A. Ubuntu - Canonical prices Ubuntu Pro per machine/node, not by CPU drawer. This is the mislabeled "correct" answer.
• B. Fedora - Fedora is a free, community-supported distribution with no commercial licensing at all.
• C. RHEL - Red Hat prices by CPU socket (or vCPU pair in virtual environments), not by CPU drawer.

Memory tip: Think "SUSE = Slots/Drawers" - SUSE's pricing scales with the physical hardware drawer structure, making it the go-to choice for large-scale mainframe deployments where CPU drawers are the natural unit of measurement.

Recommendation: If this is from a study guide or practice exam, double-check the source. The SLES/CPU-drawer association is standard material in Linux+ and LPIC certifications, and flagging bad answer keys is worth doing before exam day.

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