Installing openSUSE 11.1

openSUSE Linux is a robust distribution based on Slackware. It has many applications that would make it ideal for the desktop, power user, or server while still maintaining an easy-to-use interface. SuSE depends on YaST (Yet Another Setup Tool) for easy administration of the desktop, sharing files, or setting up an NFS or Apache server. It runs on all types of hardware and can be normally be loaded and configured in under an hour. I have put together a walk-through for installing SuSE which will give a wide range of users access to many of the powerful tools that are built in.

Let’s Get Started

1. Boot your system from openSUSE 11.1 DVD. You may have to press [F2] or [F12] depending on the system if it does not default to the DVD drive. Either of these function keys will allow the machine a access boot menu so the user can select the device they wish to boot from.
2. On the [Welcome] screen, please choose NEXT.
3. The [System Probing] screen will automatically detect the hardware on the host machine. It will let you know the internal configuration of the machine and load the appropriate files.
4. On the [Installation Mode] screen, please choose New Installation (Use Automatic Configuration), then NEXT. If you are already running a version of SuSE, then you may want to pick the UPDATE option.
5. Next is the [Clock and Time Zone] screen. Choose the appropriate time zone for your area and click on NEXT.
6. The [Desktop Selection] screen will allow you to choose between GNOME, KDE, and a couple of other options. You may want to consider GNOME for the cool graphic effects or KDE for more tools or a machine with limited hardware. When finished, choose NEXT.
7. The [Suggested Partitioning] screen can be a little trying to navigate. Please read the screens for more detailed information on how the computer will be configured. If your machine already has Windows loaded, SuSE’s installer will shrink the Windows partition and load Linux in the newly formed free space. It will also write a boot loader screen (GRUB) that will allow the user to select between Windows or Linux. This is very handy when needing a dual-boot machine. You can also select an option that will allow the entire hard drive to be used. When done, click on NEXT.
8. On the [Create New User] screen – please fill in the required information of full name, login name (if you want to change the default) and type in the password twice. You may wish to unclick the ‘Automatic Login’ feature so you will have a choice of what user to login is as. When finished, click on NEXT.
9. The [Installation Settings] screen is where you can pick what applications will be installed. Please click on SOFTWARE, and then DETAILS button at bottom for more features to choose from.

   In addition to the default items that will be installed, please also include:

   • Graphical Environment
     XFCE Desktop Environment
   • Desktop Functions
     Multimedia
     KDE
     Remote Desktop
   • Base Technologies
     Console Tools
   • Server Functions
     File Server
     Miscellaneous Server
     Network Administration
     Web and LAMP Server
     DHCP & DNS Server
     Directory Server (LDAP)
   • Development
     Base Development
     .NET Development
     C/C++ Development
     Java Development
     Linux Kernel Development
     Perl Development
     Web Development

   Click [ACCEPT] when finished.

10. A pop-up window with [Changed Packages] will appear. This screen lets the installer know what applications and dependencies are going to be needed or changed. Please click on CONTINUE when you are finished reviewing these updates.
11. The next pop-up window to appear is for the [Installation Settings]. This normally comments on any proprietary software that needs to be installed such as Java or Adobe Acrobat Reader. Please select INSTALL.
12. You will be returned to the [YaST2 Installation] screen for any final changes or updates that you may wish to do. If there are no changes, please select CONFIRM INSTALLATION and then click on the INSTALL button.
13. The next screen to appear is the [Perform Installation] screen. This will show the activity of the installation. You may click on the [DETAILS] tab at the top for more information what of magic is happening to your computer. The machine may reboot after the install is complete, approx 30-min. It will continue finishing the [Automatic Configuration] for a few minutes and then prompt for a login.
14. Please login, either as your secondary user or as ‘root’ and make sure to enter the appropriate password. Click CLOSE on the [Intro Screen]. We will drag some common applications to the desktop (“shortcuts”) to make things a little easier to use. At the bottom-left of the screen, please click on COMPUTER, and then select MORE APPLICATIONS.

    Please find and drag these items (or any other item you wish to use) to the Desktop: Firefox (web browser), K3B (CD/DVD burner), GNOME Terminal (to access the command line), YaST (administration tool), Kate (text editor), and Gnome FTP (for FTP file transfers). Close this screen when you are done.

15. Let’s change the Background or Desktop to personalize your new installation. Please bring up Firefox and go to the Internet. Search for and download a new wallpaper; close Firefox when finished. RIGHT-CLICK on the Desktop, Select CHANGE DESKTOP BACKGROUND and change to your new picture. It will resize and center the picture automatically.
16. A Repository is a software collection where the user or system administrator can control the applications installed on the machine. SuSE will access the Internet and automatically add other online repositories. You will now have other options of downloading or updating your new SuSE installation.

Conclusion

I hope you have found this tutorial to be helpful when installing the latest version of openSuSE 11.1. This will basically give you a power user’s requirements with the extra items needed. I trust you will find this latest offering powerful and easy to use.