What are the different installation methods?

Version: 11.0

The information below is for openSUSE 11.0

• Live CD -- in x86 and x86_64 editions. 1 CD is available for each desktop environment (KDE and GNOME), with ability to connect to Internet to install additional software after the installation 1 CD install is English only.
• Non-OSS Add On CD -- one BiArch (x86/x86_64). The Non-OSS Add On CD contains packages with closed source or not OSI-compliant license.
• Language Add On CD -- in x86, x86_64 and PPC versions. Contains extra language packs for other languages. These are af, ar, az, bg, bn, br, bs, ca, cy, el, eo, et, eu, fa, fy, ga, gl, he, hi, hr, is, kk, ko, lt, lv, mk, mn, ms, nds, nn, pa, ro, ru, rw, se, sk, sl, sr, srLatn, ss, sv, ta, tg, tr, uz, vi.
• 1 DVD -- in x86, x86_64 and PPC versions. The DVD contains more packages than the 1 CD, and the Non-OSS Add On CD, with both KDE and GNOME.
• Retail Box DVD -- in x86, x86_64, and PPC versions. 1 double-layer DVD included in the box.

rsions. Live CD contains same software as 1 CD edition, but allows you to try openSUSE before installing.

• 1 CD Mini-ISO -- in x86, x86_64 and PPC and versions. This is a small, roughly 50 Megabyte ISO which can be used for a netinstall. There's more info on this at INSTALL_Internet
• Installation without a CD. This installation method doesn't require a CD or DVD, but relies on you mounting the ISO and then booting to it. Some great instructions for this are available at Installation_without_CD , it will of course help that you have a fast connection here.

All the ISOs are downloadable from Download and the Retail DVD is available from Buy openSUSE.

Package Sources/Repositories

Where are the package repositories

To make use of the standard package repositories, see http://en.opensuse.org/Package_Repositories. For information on additional repositories, see http://en.opensuse.org/Additional_YaST_Package_Repositories, or use the Community Repositories module in YaST (10.3 only).

What other package sources can I enable and add?

As well as the online openSUSE package source, you might consider adding the Packman source, as well as the Guru source. For more information on these and a quick howto, see http://opensuse-community.org/Package_Sources.

ZMD is mucked up! What should I do?

On 10.1 you can disable ZMD and simply either use Smart or the openSUSE Software Management module (which doesn't use ZMD). On 10.2, you can completely remove ZMD and use the openSUSE Software Management pattern. For more information on both of these, see http://opensuse-community.org/Package_Sources. 10.3 and later don't contain ZMD anymore.

So what is the problem with ZMD? ZMD itself might be good enough for enterprise setup, but for an average desktop-user setup it's quite heavy, and you almost certainly won't require all the features that it needs.

"A ZYpp transaction is already in progress"

If you get this error at any time, make sure that all programs that might be using the package management system have been closed down. This includes Zypper, Smart, and most YaST processes. If you are sure that none of these are running, then one of them might be misbehaving. To kill the offending process, execute:

su -c "kill -9 $(lsof -t /usr/lib/libzypp*)"

That works if it's zypper, but yast can be running and tying up the lock, and it won't show up with the lsof. Instead, try looking at the same thing zypper is looking at when it gives you the error:

 cat /var/run/zypp.pid

/var/run/zypp.pid is the lock file for zypper. If it exists, it contains the pid of the process holding the lock. Use ps to check for what program it is like:

 ps `cat /var/run/zypp.pid`

Then kill it if it makes sense to do it. If, as is possible, that process doesn't exist, then

 su rm /var/run/zypp.pid

will fix the problem. Phorgan1 20:21, 30 September 2008 (UTC)

Why isn't MPEG-4/Encrypted DVDs/Quicktime etc. support available?

Legal restrictions prevent various packages and formats openSUSE users frequently request to be included in openSUSE from being distributed. See Restricted Formats for more specific information.

Upgrading to the Latest KDE

openSUSE always provides the latest version of KDE, should you want it. There's a wonderful guide for setting this up at KDE/Upgrade

Are packages X, Y, Z available anywhere? How can I search for packages?

The vast majority of packages will be available in the standard recommended repositories, which we have a tutorial for adding (here: http://opensuse-community.org/Package_Sources). However, there are hundreds of other packages available through the Build Service as well. There is a package search which will search the standard online repository, Guru, Packman, as well as the Build Service, here: http://packages.opensuse-community.org

Xgl / Composite Manager (Compiz/Compiz-Fusion)

Can I get Beryl or Compiz running on openSUSE?

Sure. Beryl is available in the Build Service, Beryl plugins and settings tools are re-based on compiz core is now called Compiz-Fusion; for a guide on setting Beryl up, see Beryl. Compiz is available on the openSUSE CDs, even, recent releases can be found on Build Service repositories; there's a guide and more information on Compiz available at Compiz

Can I find a list of supported hardware around?

There is a nice Hardware Compatibility List available. This list is certainly not exhaustive, but it contains a lot of information which may be of help.

Communicate

My question isn't answered here or I'd like more help.

There are several methods for you to get more support, or just discuss a little more with the openSUSE community. This includes:

• Mailing lists
• IRC: #suse on [irc.freenode.net Freenode] (irc.freenode.net)
• Forums
• Usenet discussion groups

Join us! See Communicate page.