SuSE FTP Net Install with screenshots

From openSUSE

Hi, I ran into a problem with the Suse 10.3 installation via DVD which prevented me being able to create the Suse Repositories on my computer, and this also prevented me from being able to install Suse on my PC. I looked for the installation CD, and unfortunately I misread the mirrors list (The page wasn't organized as clearly as the present webpage). I only found the net install CD, and overlooked the regular installation CD. I downloaded the net install CD after researching how to install Suse via ftp net-install. It worked pretty well, and is fairly easy to do. But when I have tried to describe how to do this by writing instructions on the Suseforums, I have scared people off from trying it. I have decided to make a howto for this process with screenshot graphics in order to make the process easier to understand for those who might try it for the first time.

Preparation Of course, you must download and burn the Net Install CD image on CD. Go to www.opensuse.org and click on the download icon. Read down through the Download webpage and and select net installation, and then click on the mini CD hyperlink to start the download of the cd image.

Next, look on the left side of the webpage at the Mirror List hyperlink and click on it.

It will bring you to this next page:

Find a mirror site near you, and click on the hyperlink. I clicked on USA, and that brought me to this page on which I scrolled down to Madison, Wisconsin. I looked for the link for the Oss Install source, and then placed my cursor over that hyperlink to bring up a tip window with the full url address of the server. Write that down, you will use it later. Here is a picture of that screen:

The Installation It is standard to begin an installation by resetting the BIOS boot order for DVD or CD installation, by pressing F2 to enter setup when the computer boots (your computer may use a different key, there usually is a prompt for the correct key on the boot-screen). Set the boot order as follows:

Floppy

CD Rom/DVD

Internal Hard drive

Save the changes and reboot the pc with the Installation CD in the drive. The first screen that you come to will look like this, highlight Installation and hit enter.

The next screen is the language screen, choose your language and hit enter:

The next screen is the keyboard map screen, choose the one for your situation:

The next screen will present like this, so go ahead and hit enter:

Choose installation on the next screen, hit enter:

Again, choose installation in the next screen:

Choose network as the media, hit enter:

Choose ftp as the network protocol in the next screen, hit enter:

I have a DSL Internet provider, so I use DHCP. I made that choice. If you don't use DHCP and choose no, a window will pop up which will allow you to insert your IP address.

Remember the address we wrote down from the tip window? It was

ftp://suse.mirrors.tds.net/pub/opensuse/distribution/10.3/repo/oss/

the ftp://suse.mirrors.tds.net part of that is the server address. The remainder of the address is the directory on the server for the operating system.

In this next window, type in the ftp server's address which you wrote down earlier. You will type in suse.mirrors.tds.net

Hit enter, and a box will pop up directing you to enter the directory on the server. So now type in the remainder of the address to enter the directory. You will type in:

/pub/opensuse/distribution/10.3/repo/oss/

Here is a screenshot of that window:

Hit enter, and the installation will begin. It will shortly transition to the yast graphic installation format that is the same as the familiar installation process via DVD, and you will be well on your way to a successful Opensuse installation. When it is complete don't forget to reset the bios boot order to:

Floppy

Internal Harddrive

CD Rom/DVD

Not so hard really, just a bunch of little steps to accomplish.