Installing SUSE Linux - full tutorial

Discussion in 'all things UNIX' started by Mrkvonic, Jul 14, 2006.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
    yeap, i agree. all i said was follow up to where it says Install xgl and compiz, not beyond.
     
  2. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

    Joined:
    May 9, 2005
    Posts:
    10,215
    Hello,
    Sorry ... :)
    Mrk
     
  3. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
    no problem.

    i just remembered i did this to help secure suse -

    open a root terminal -
    su

    open yast -
    yast2 &

    then selected Security and Users>Local Security

    and selected the configuration i have, i think i picked Home Workstation, but which ever you choose you can go through the settings and change them to what you want. you can Abort it too if you don't know what to pick!

    i disabled root logins too.

    here are all the channel mirrors -
    http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/stuntmanandy/all_channels.html
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2006
  4. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
    i just added all of them and went through the ones which were enabled, disabled some, and am doing an update now :D i'm not sure if anything will break when it's finished :ouch:

    EDIT in the end i broke mp3 support in bmp/xmms and browser plugin support in firefox. i fixed everything apart from being able to play mp3s inside firefox, that's not a big problem though. i did get newer versions for alot of things though this was only a probelm because i'd locked a mozilla lib from updating, after unlocking it every worked fine. adding repos can break lots of stuff though, so don't do it lol

    it tells you what to do somewhere on the second page here. i backed up all the smart stuff first though.
    http://www.suseforums.net/index.php?showtopic=24308

    i added this skin to bmp ;) Luna Element 5
    http://www.customize.org/details/44309
     
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2006
  5. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
    i added this repo to smart to install TOR, another version i had didn't work for me.

    http://software.opensuse.org/download/security:/privacy/SUSE_Linux_10.1/

    right now this is how to add it, when 10.2 comes out the url will change. in a root shell -
    Code:
    [b]smart channel -y --add [url]http://software.opensuse.org/download/security:/privacy/SUSE_Linux_10.1/security:privacy.repo[/url][/b]
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2006
  6. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
  7. Reposed

    Reposed Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2006
    Posts:
    62
    Location:
    Perth, Australia
    Easy enough installing and getting a basic configuration going. But try and install/configure a wireless pcmcia card with Linux as a new user!!! But I refuse to be discouraged.

    Many Linux distros appear to be becoming much more user friendly, but the so-called myths (especially about the requisite technical expertise required) are not altogether dispelled for me.
     
  8. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
    here's how to get conky setup -
    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=205865
    http://www.suseforums.net/index.php?showtopic=24669&pid=144272&st=0&#entry144272

    here are some fluxbox setup links -
    http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Fluxbox
    http://iphitus.loudas.com/fluxfaq.html

    i used the script at the bottom this page to startup programs which need to startup after fluxbox, like the stuff in the panel.
    http://fluxbox-wiki.org/index.php/Howto_edit_the_startup_file

    the wiki
    http://fluxbox-wiki.org/index.php/Fluxbox-wiki

    http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/38/conkyxo6.th.jpg

    when i configured the menu, mmaker missed out abit of the fluxbox menu so i made a backup of the original menu
    Code:
    cp /home/[b]USERNAME[/b]/.fluxbox/menu /home/[b]USERNAME[/b]/.fluxbox/menu.backup
    then added it back when mmaker finished making the new one :cool:
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2006
  9. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
    i used this to get the printscreen button to take a screenshot and put the date and time in the name, then put it on my desktop. i changed where the image is saved from ~/screenshots to my desktop, and put
    xmodmap -e "keycode 111 = F13"
    in my fluxbox startup script instead of .xinitrc
    http://gentoo-wiki.com/TIP_Make_a_Screenshot_with_PrintScreen_Key

    here's some more stuff i used for setting up fluxbox keys
    http://fluxbox-wiki.org/index.php/Howto_edit_the_keys_file
    http://darkshed.net/files/rcs/fluxbox/keys.html

    i should start a blog i suppose
     
  10. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
  11. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
    i just made this .bashrc file for my terminal. i installed lynx so the whatsmyip script works. i got the calculator and whatsmyip scripts from here -
    http://www.bashscripts.org/downloads/Scripts/crouse/

    Code:
    # There are 3 different types of shells in bash: the login shell, normal shell
    # and interactive shell. Login shells read ~/.profile and interactive shells
    # read ~/.bashrc; in our setup, /etc/profile sources ~/.bashrc - thus all
    # settings made here will also take effect in a login shell.
    #
    # NOTE: It is recommended to make language settings in ~/.profile rather than
    # here, since multilingual X sessions would not work properly if LANG is over-
    # ridden in every subshell.
    
    # Some applications read the EDITOR variable to determine your favourite text
    # editor. So uncomment the line below and enter the editor of your choice :-)
    #export EDITOR=/usr/bin/vim
    #export EDITOR=/usr/bin/mcedit
    
    #############################################################################################
    ######################  STUFF I ADDED BELOW  ##################################################
    #############################################################################################
    
    # check the window size after each command and, if necessary,
    # update the values of LINES and COLUMNS.
    shopt -s checkwinsize
    
    # make less more friendly for non-text input files, see lesspipe(1)
    [ -x /usr/bin/lesspipe ] && eval "$(lesspipe)"
    
    
    ###############
    ### aliases ###
    ###############
    
    alias df='df -h'
    alias h='history'
    alias d='cd /home/iceni60/Desktop'
    alias duck='du -skc * | sort -rn'
    alias cpuu="ps -e -o pcpu,cpu,nice,state,cputime,args --sort pcpu | sed '/^ 0.0 /d'"
    alias memu='ps -e -o rss=,args= | sort -b -k1,1n | pr -TW$COLUMNS'
    alias pg='ps aux | grep'  #requires an argument
    
    # apt
    #alias search='apt-cache search'
    #alias agi='sudo apt-get install'
    #alias agr='sudo apt-get remove'
    #alias agu='sudo apt-get update'
    #alias agg='sudo apt-get upgrade'
    #alias sources='gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list'
    
    # interactive
    alias cp='cp -i'
    alias mv='mv -i'
    alias rm='mv --target-directory=$HOME/.Trash/'
    
    # Directory navigation aliases
    alias ..='cd ..'
    alias ...='cd ../..'
    alias ....='cd ../../..'
    alias .....='cd ../../../..'
    
    # Unpacking aliases
    alias untarbz2='tar -xvfj'
    alias untargz='tar -xvfz'
    
    # display facts of the day
    alias today='grep -h -d skip `date +%m/%d` /usr/share/calendar/*'
    
    # network
    alias net1='watch --interval=2 "sudo netstat -apn -l -A inet"'
    alias net2='watch --interval=2 "sudo netstat -an --inet --inet6"'  
    alias net3='sudo lsof -i'
    alias net4='sudo netstat -ano -l -A inet'
    alias net5='watch --interval=2 "sudo netstat -tulpan"'
    alias net6='sudo netstat -tulpan'
    alias net7='watch --interval=2 "sudo netstat -utapen"'
    alias ping='ping -c 10'
    
    # listings
    alias ls='ls --color=auto'
    alias lls='ls -l -h -g -F --color=auto'
    alias lc='ls -CF'
    alias ll='ls -l'
    alias lsp='ls -p'
    alias lss='ls -shax'
    alias lsss='ls -shax | sort -rn'
    alias lst='ls -alt'
    alias lst20='ls -alt | head -20'
    
    # scripts
    alias calc='sh /home/iceni60/scripts/calc.sh'
    alias whatsmyip='/home/iceni60/scripts/whatsmyip.sh'
    
    # chmod commands
    alias mx='chmod a+x'
    alias 000='chmod 000'
    alias 644='chmod 644'
    alias 755='chmod 755'
    
    # lynx web browser
    alias bbc='lynx -term=vt100 http://news.bbc.co.uk/text_only.stm'
    alias nytimes='lynx -term=vt100 http://nytimes.com'
    alias google='lynx -term=vt100 http://google.co.uk'
    
    # WELCOME SCREEN
    #######################################################
    
    clear
    
    echo -ne "Hello, $USER. today is "; date
    echo -e "${WHITE}"; cal ; echo ""; 
    echo -ne "${CYAN}";echo ""
    echo -ne "${LIGHTBLUE}Uptime for this computer is ";uptime | awk /'up/ {print $3,$4}'
    
    
    # NOTES
    #######################################################
    
    # To temporarily bypass an alias, we preceed the command with a \  
    # EG:  the ls command is aliased, but to use the normal ls command you would 
    # type \ls 
    
    #################
    ### FUNCTIONS ###
    #################
    
    function    ff               { find . -name $@ -print; }
    
    function    rmd              { rm -fr $@; }
    
    function    osr              { shutdown -r now; }
    function    osh              { shutdown -h now; }
    
    function    mfloppy          { mount /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy; }
    function    umfloppy         { umount /mnt/floppy; }
    
    function    mdvd             { mount -t iso9660 -o ro /dev/dvd /mnt/dvd; }
    function    umdvd            { umount /mnt/dvd; }
    
    function    mcdrom           { mount -t iso9660 -o ro /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom; }
    function    umcdrom          { umount /mnt/cdrom; }
    
    function    psa              { ps aux $@; }
    function    psu              { ps  ux $@; }
    function    lpsa             { ps aux $@ | p; }
    function    lpsu             { ps  ux $@ | p; }
    
    function    dub              { du -sclb $@; }
    function    duk              { du -sclk $@; }
    function    dum              { du -sclm $@; }
    
    function    dfk              { df -PTak $@; }
    function    dfm              { df -PTam $@; }
    function    dfh              { df -PTah $@; }
    function    dfi              { df -PTai $@; }
    
    function    dmsg             { dmesg | p; }
    
    #####################################
    # ##### ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES ##### #
    #####################################
    
    declare -x HISTFILE=~/.bash_history
    declare -x HISTCONTROL=ignoreboth
    declare -x HISTFILESIZE=50000
    declare -x HISTSIZE=50000
    
    
    
    
    ############################## ##################################
    # ##### PROMPT SECTION ##### ####################################
    ############################## ##################################
    
    ##PS1="\[\]\u:\w > \[\]"
    ##PS1="\[\][\[\]\u\[\]]\[\]\w > \[\]"
    #PS1="\[\][\[\]\u\[\]]\[\]\w > \[\]"
    #PS1="\[\][\[\]\[\]\u\[\]\[\]]\[\]\w > \[\]"
    ##PS1="\[\][\[\]\u\[\]]\[\]\w > \[\]"
    
    ###################### the above are a separate prompts which can be used instead of all below. NOTE: only ONE line at a time should be uncommented. so there are 5 different prompts above!!!!!
    
    # color_name='\[\033[ color_code m\]'
    
    rgb_restore='\[\033[00m\]'
    rgb_black='\[\033[00;30m\]'
    rgb_firebrick='\[\033[00;31m\]'
    rgb_red='\[\033[01;31m\]'
    rgb_forest='\[\033[00;32m\]'
    rgb_green='\[\033[01;32m\]'
    rgb_brown='\[\033[00;33m\]'
    rgb_yellow='\[\033[01;33m\]'
    rgb_navy='\[\033[00;34m\]'
    rgb_blue='\[\033[01;34m\]'
    rgb_purple='\[\033[00;35m\]'
    rgb_magenta='\[\033[01;35m\]'
    rgb_cadet='\[\033[00;36m\]'
    rgb_cyan='\[\033[01;36m\]'
    rgb_gray='\[\033[00;37m\]'
    rgb_white='\[\033[01;37m\]'
    
    rgb_std="${rgb_white}"
    
    if [ `id -u` -eq 0 ]
    then
        rgb_usr="${rgb_red}"
    else
        rgb_usr="${rgb_green}"
    fi
    
    [ -n "$PS1" ] && PS1="${rgb_usr}`whoami`${rgb_std} \W ${rgb_usr}\\\$${rgb_restore} "
    
    unset   rgb_restore   \
            rgb_black     \
            rgb_firebrick \
            rgb_red       \
            rgb_forest    \
            rgb_green     \
            rgb_brown     \
            rgb_yellow    \
            rgb_navy      \
            rgb_blue      \
            rgb_purple    \
            rgb_magenta   \
            rgb_cadet     \
            rgb_cyan      \
            rgb_gray      \
            rgb_white     \
            rgb_std       \
            rgb_usr
    
    i'm not sure if there are many mistakes in it o_O i really like it though because it does so much stuff :cool: this is how it looks when it starts up :eek:
     

    Attached Files:

  12. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
    i just setup aide, the IDS, like this -
    Code:
    in a root shell run this -
    # aide --init
    
    that will create the databse.
    
    then move that new database and make it the default database -
    cd /var/lib/aide/
     mv aide.db.new aide.db
    
    the rules governing what and how things are checked are kept here -
    /etc/aide.conf
    
    to re-run and check for any changes run this from a root shell -
    # aide --check -V2
    i installed rkhunter too. i got these warnings after i updated it -
    Code:
     Check: SSH
       Searching for sshd_config... 
       Found /etc/ssh/sshd_config
    Watch out Root login possible. Possible risk!...
     [ Warning (SSH v1 allowed) ]
    this is how i fixed it -
    Code:
    # gedit /etc/ssh/sshd_config
    then changed this line -
    #   Protocol 2,1
    to this -
    #   Protocol 2
    
    and i changed  -
    #   PermitRootLogin yes
     to 
    PermitRootLogin no
    i'd already disabled sshd in yast though.

    NOTE MAKE SURE TO EDIT THIS FILE - /etc/ssh/sshd_config and not this one - /etc/ssh/ssh_config (sshd, not ssh) first time round that's what i did and only noticed when i still got the same warning when i re-ran rkhunter.

    this is how to make the whole sentece hilight when your nick is mentioned in irssi -
    Code:
    /hilight -line nickname
    you might need to run this too -
    Code:
    /toggle hilight_nick_matches
    earlier today my theme manager tried to use a cursor theme for an icon theme :rolleyes: i fixed it by running these commands -
    Code:
    gconftool-2 --unset /desktop/gnome/interface/gtk_theme
    Code:
    gconftool-2 --unset /desktop/gnome/interface/icon_theme
    Code:
    gconftool-2 --unset /apps/metacity/general/theme
    i wanted to put it here incase i ever need it again.
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2007
  13. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
    i noticed i forgot some colour values when i looked through it. i wish i could just edit the post, but here is the file with some added colour variables -

    i've added .txt to the end.
     

    Attached Files:

  14. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
    i broke x i think because im abit lazy and didn't follow instructions. x broke when i did a kernel upgrade and the nvidia driver was being installed in the worng place. i fixed it by installing the lastest driver like this -
    Code:
    sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-xxxx-pkg1.run --x-module-path=/usr/lib/xorg/modules
    :cool:
     
  15. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2007
  16. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

    Joined:
    May 9, 2005
    Posts:
    10,215
    Hello guys and girls,

    I have updated and improved the article, so it better reflects the changes since it was first posted, as well added some improvements to a number of sections, clarified a few things, added extra links and sources.

    Here's the full changelog of all the changes added:

    http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/install_suse_changelog_1.html

    - Added explanation regarding article's validity over time
    - Added mini table of contents with links to major chapters in the article
    - Added sub-titles for major chapters in the article
    - Added links to GRUB site and manual
    - Added link to Introduction to KDE article
    - Added links to some of my other Linux articles (including Kubuntu, PPTP and command line tutorials)
    - Added chapter about most common KDE applications, with brief introduction to the most popular ones
    - Added how to replace YaST with SMART

    - Changed parts of the Partitioning chapter to make it more clear

    - Fixed minor spelling mistakes
    - Fixed minor phrasing and semantics errors

    http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/install_suse.html

    I hope this helps.

    Enjoy,
    Mrk
     
  17. wilbertnl

    wilbertnl Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2004
    Posts:
    1,850
    Location:
    Tulsa, Oklahoma
    Since openSUSE offers an Internet Installation release, I think that you are able to start the installation from a tinyl ISO and download most of your software selections from the internet.
     
  18. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

    Joined:
    May 9, 2005
    Posts:
    10,215
    That would work:

    Provided you can connect to the net before that.
    You know what you're doing and what packages to download.
    How to solve some of the possible dependencies.

    Ergo, if you can achieve these, you definitely do not need a tutorial to install an OS ...

    Cheers,
    Mrk
     
  19. wilbertnl

    wilbertnl Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2004
    Posts:
    1,850
    Location:
    Tulsa, Oklahoma
    Mrk,

    I notice in your fine print OpenSUSE and Ubuntu.
    Recently I spent some time with freeBSD 6.2, Sun Solaris 5.10/5.11, Xandros 4, Mandriva Discovery Spring 2007, Ubuntu/Xubuntu 7.04.

    Besides the different desktops (KDE/Gnome/Xfce), how would you compare SUSE and Ubuntu?
     
  20. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
    1, ubuntu just installs one program for each function whereas suse installs 3 or 4.
    2, suse uses both KDE and gnome libs whereas ubuntu just uses gnome stuff (which i think is better)
    3, the way they deal with their packages is different. ubuntu freezes all it's programs and will only update them if there's a security update - suse updates programs as new releases come out.

    i think ubuntu does 1 and 2 better and suse does 3 best.

    suse/novell also delevops just about everything included in the distro, ubuntu just uses other peoples stuff mainly.
     
  21. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

    Joined:
    May 9, 2005
    Posts:
    10,215
    Hello,

    wilbert, technical aspects aside, here's my impression so far:

    SUSE with KDE, Ubuntu with GNOME:

    SUSE is more robust and less prone to tiny errors here and there.
    Ubuntu has a far friendlier package manager (Synaptic), apt-get is simply genious.
    Performance and stability is roughly the same.
    SUSE has better integration for drivers.
    Ubuntu has better integration into networking with Windows.
    SUSE is more detailed-oriented, more work-oriented.
    Ubuntu is softer and more community-based.
    Ubuntu forums are much richer.

    That's it. I love them both. Love for Ubuntu is growing considerably though, and it's threatening to become my sweet cookie no. 1.

    Mrk
     
  22. NGRhodes

    NGRhodes Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2003
    Posts:
    2,381
    Location:
    West Yorkshire, UK
    KDE or gnome is a personal choice - IMHO Suse is a better distro for KDE and Ubuntu (vs Kubuntu which is the kde version of Ubuntu) is the better for gnome.

    Ubuntu sticks to one version of stuff to fit onto 1 cd, though you can usually install as many versions of stuff as Suse.

    I always thought Suse was release based like Ubuntu, do they split updates to the core system from software updates ?

    I've only ever used Ubuntu as a live CD, which i think its great for, I prefer Debian (the testing branch (which is usually not as up todate as ubuntu !)).

    PS I own a copy of Suse 6 !!
     
  23. iceni60

    iceni60 ( ^o^)

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2004
    Posts:
    5,116
    i think so, at least that's how it is if you use the recommended repos, but it could be third party repos that do all the software updates i haven't checked.

    arch does a rolling release i think where you just update the whole thing as you go. i don't know how good that is though because i've heard some people say they've had problems with arch stability. but, arch is the fastest OS i've ever used by a long way, and i really liked most things about it. you do a lot of stuff manually rather then use some GUI tool, that way you know how linux really works.
     
  24. Alphalutra1

    Alphalutra1 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2005
    Posts:
    1,160
    Location:
    127.0.0.0/255.0.0.0
    The only stability problems I had were during large changes in which I failed to read the messages telling me what to change in order to get it to work, which left my system unbootable once :p . However, if you pay attention to the warning messages, then everything is alright.
    Crux I manages to beat it in my experience, however it is much more difficult and do it yourself then arch by a long way.

    I actually love the rolling release system, but set releases are nice as well if the upgrading procedure is very smooth (such as OpenBSD's).

    Cheers,

    Alphalutra1
     
  25. NGRhodes

    NGRhodes Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2003
    Posts:
    2,381
    Location:
    West Yorkshire, UK
    I was running an install of Arch upto last week.
    Really liked it.
    Loved the simplicity of it.
    Minor things break, like most recently a boost library update caused a few things to break that were dependant on the older version.
    A smart enough admin can fix these issues without major hickup (you do test things after updating dont ya ?)

    I had less problems with Arch Linux than I did with Mandriva.

    Dont forget when they say bleed edge, they are talking bleeding edge of stable releases, not beta software.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.