Installation and post installation

From openSUSE

Installation of a modern Linux distribution like openSUSE 10.2 is a very simple task. However this process installs not only the Operating System, but also most of the application one needs to make a basic desktop work.

So it needs some tweaking that can be much longer than the install itself, still being very important and usefull

Be aware of these problems - see also

The basic install

This is described elsewhere and don't show any real problem, for most users. For the others, the mailing lists are here to help :-).

There should be a list of options to try if there is trouble. This would include "nosmp"

However, one operation of the basic install can be very odd, that is the internet test and subscribtion. There is nothing wrong in it but the time it uses. Typical basic install (Kde or Gnome) lasts less than one hour, half this time on powerfull configuration. All the internet stuff can last hours.

These operation can easily be deported to more relaxed period, may be at night, so skip this at first. But don't forget to come there after, part of them are very important.

Updates

If you don't have any internet connection or very small (according to speed), you have probably little use of most security updates. Any non connected computer is perfectly internet safe :-).

In any other case, you must update your computer very soon. Immediately is this specific machine is permanently exposed to the net.

But you can as well wait having accomplished the next step before updating.

Setting standard update sources

Open YaST, gives the root passwd and go to the "Online update configuration". Go through all the steps, wait the necessary time (may be very long, wait next day before thinking your computer is stuck).

After that you will have an update source ready to use, located not too far from your computer.

Some time, this source can prove not to be reliable (mirrors are not always very well managed) and you may need to go to the installtion sources menu, delete the one here and do again, but most users don't have ever to mind for this.

Setting secondary sources

Two non Novell sources are nearly mandatory sources, namely Packman and Guru. These repositories hold things that for important reasons Novells mirrors can't hold. This given these two sources are perfectly liable and trustable, don't worry.

For the two one, the operation is the same (here explanations are given for 10.2, may differ for other versions).

Go to YaST, software, installation sources, add, specify URL.

Open an other browser window and find on Additional_YaST_Package_Repositories#Packman this page (for Packman) the URL of the better mirror. Copy this URL and paste it onto YaST.

Go next, don't worry about PGP key missing, accept to add it and wait for the repository to be added.

Do this again for ((Additional_YaST_Package_Repositories#Guru Guru]]

If you want to use Zen-updater (default in 10.2, so the answer is probably yes), check the "Synchronize changes with Zenworks" button and finish.

Zen-updater is perfectly fine, it has only one drawback: it's extremely slow and CPU eater when it works. Most people don't bother, but if you do, you must know that there are alternate solutions, very well explained elsewhere on the wiki.

Making the actual update

Until now you have only prepared the update :-). Now go to YaST online update, wait, wait, until a screen shows proposing some updates.

The mandatory updates are already selected, you have only to clic on "accept". after that you have to wait, sometimes very long... but you don't have to stay in front of YaST, you can make your work, even on the openSUSE. Only the kernel updates may need a shutdown of the computer.

Subsequent updates

Zen-updater users will see a small icon in the right taskbar. It becomes yellox with an exclamation mark when updates are available (and this is quite often). Clic on it, say "update". The very first time zen will ask to create an autorisez user (you are not logged as root, isn't it?), accept it if you want :-).

It's a good idea to do such operation from a separate virtual desktop to give it the time it needs without bothering.

Manual updates

You may have to go in YaST, software, select packman or guru repository and select your prefered multimedia application to have all the functionalities.

the end :-)