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Exactly What Is OpenSUSE? What makes openSUSE different? What You Need to Know About Installing openSUSE.
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A Hands-on Experience with an openSUSE PC.
OpenSUSE is a name you may have heard in recent years. You may even be familiar with its green reptilian logo. Take a closer look at this Linux distribution.
What is openSUSE exactly? What is openSUSE? OpenSUSE is a Linux distribution, sometimes called a distro, that can be used as an alternative for Windows, macOS or ChromeOS. The GNU General Public License makes it free to use and download. Its code is also open-source, so anyone can contribute or review it. OpenSUSE’s appearance can differ depending on the desktop environment that you select, but they all have the same distinctive logo of a chameleon and green colors. OpenSUSE can be installed without any desktop and used as a server. OpenSUSE is a very old distro. It’s actually one of the oldest Linux distributions, dating back as far as 1994. Red Hat Enterprise Linux was not the first Linux distribution to target enterprises. It is one of the oldest. SUSE Linux Enterprise is a sister distribution of openSUSE that’s sold only to companies. The name openSUSE comes from SUSE S.A., the German sponsor of this project. SUSE is an acronym that is said “soo-suh,” and stands for “Software und System-Entwicklung” in German. The company can fund the development of openSUSE partly by selling SLE.
What makes openSUSE different? You might wonder how openSUSE differs from other Linux distributions. There are some similarities to other Linux distros you may be familiar with. Like Fedora Linux, it uses primarily the RPM package system. Its diversity is one way that it sets itself apart. Three different distributions of openSUSE are available. Most of the differences are in their package repositories. This is where you will find most of the openSUSE software.
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OpenSUSE Leap : The packages for Leap have been thoroughly tested before they are released. It is very similar to Ubuntu Linux, where major releases are made once per year.
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OpenSUSE Tumbleweed : A rolling release cycle similar to Arch Linux. Package updates are faster and less testing is required. Tumbleweed is more attractive to those who want the latest software but don’t care about the instability of the operating system.
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OpenSUSE MicroOS A distro that cannot be permanently changed, updates are made as part of the system image, not individual packages. OpenSUSE is also distinguished by its YaST collection of management tools. These tools allow you to easily configure any computer aspect. Both graphical and command-line tools are available. YaST is one of the most mature and versatile system utilities available for Linux. OpenSUSE, along with Arch Linux and Ubuntu is a distribution that offers extensive documentation. You can find comprehensive instructions for everything, from troubleshooting problems with the bootloader to adding a new printer.
The easiest way to install openSUSE, like most Linux distributions is to download an ISO file, write it onto a USB drive, then boot.
Go to the openSUSE official website, and then click on the “Install” for the openSUSE version you desire, such as Tumbleweed, Leap, microOS. You’ll find several options for downloading in the tab Download. You can choose x86_64 if you’re not sure. You can choose between “Offline” and “Network” . Both will take you to the same destination. I chose to download using Network so my first time takes less. The ISO file will need to be made into a bootable disk. Connect the USB bootable drive to your BIOS boot menu and select it. The openSUSE menu should appear. OpenSUSE will then scan your hardware. This may take some time. OpenSUSE will then know what drivers to install based on how you plan to interact with the system. It’s now time to install.
Once all of your hardware has been detected, you can proceed. The installation will allow you to choose your keyboard layout and language. You can also test the layout in order to ensure that you are able to enter everything. The software license must also be reviewed and accepted. You can follow the instructions to partition your drive, set the timezone and create your user name and password. The default partition layout should work fine if your needs are very simple. But I did have to tweak it because my dual boot configuration is complex. You can now review your options before you take the plunge. At this stage, you should be absolutely certain that you are not erasing any data important to you. The installation process will begin. It may take some time, depending on the resources of your computer. After the installation is complete, you should be able to reboot your computer into openSUSE.
OpenSUSE Tumbleweed: A Hands-on Experience
I’ve been running the KDE Plasma Desktop on an openSUSE Tumbleweed for several weeks, so you can get a feel of what openSUSE is like. OpenSUSE has a collection of tools for system management called YaST. OpenSUSE’s YaST toolkit can be used to configure mail servers, find software or create virtual machines. YaST can be used via either graphical windows, or the Terminal. It’s up to you what works best for your preferences and needs. It was a powerful user’s paradise. The openSUSE environment can be a bit confusing for this reason. There are several different software management interfaces, so I was sometimes confused about which I should use, or if that mattered. Using KDE Plasma’s software manager, it would sometimes throw weird errors, when trying to update or install software.
I learned openSUSE only recommends the use of the commands to update Tumbleweed Edition in the Terminal. This made updating software easier, but many people won’t be comfortable with using the terminal.
I’m impressed by how easily I found answers to my questions, due to the fact that openSUSE has a solid reputation as a distribution. Finding answers was easy. It’s not important to know if your issue is with openSUSE or the original distro.
What Should You Know About openSUSE
From my own experience, I would recommend openSUSE to power users who are looking for an advanced Linux distribution with comprehensive documentation and a well-established community. You can be sure that openSUSE will not disappoint you. Its corporate support and long-standing history means there are few surprises. However, the multiple versions of openSUSE allow you to choose from a variety of systems and release cycles. You can change ecosystems without having to completely switch if you are tired of the one you’re using. OpenSUSE
is a Linux distribution for PC enthusiasts who are either very knowledgeable about what they need or enjoy exploring and experimenting with a powerful OS. You might want to try another Linux distro if you are just getting started with Linux and your relationship with PC is casual. It might be better to try Linux Mint, or even elementary OS.
- OpenSUSE Leap : The packages for Leap have been thoroughly tested before they are released. It is very similar to Ubuntu Linux, where major releases are made once per year.
- OpenSUSE Tumbleweed : A rolling release cycle similar to Arch Linux. Package updates are faster and less testing is required. Tumbleweed is more attractive to those who want the latest software but don’t care about the instability of the operating system.
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OpenSUSE MicroOS A distro that cannot be permanently changed, updates are made as part of the system image, not individual packages. OpenSUSE is also distinguished by its YaST collection of management tools. These tools allow you to easily configure any computer aspect. Both graphical and command-line tools are available. YaST is one of the most mature and versatile system utilities available for Linux. OpenSUSE, along with Arch Linux and Ubuntu is a distribution that offers extensive documentation. You can find comprehensive instructions for everything, from troubleshooting problems with the bootloader to adding a new printer.
The easiest way to install openSUSE, like most Linux distributions is to download an ISO file, write it onto a USB drive, then boot.
Go to the openSUSE official website, and then click on the “Install” for the openSUSE version you desire, such as Tumbleweed, Leap, microOS. You’ll find several options for downloading in the tab Download. You can choose x86_64 if you’re not sure. You can choose between “Offline” and “Network” . Both will take you to the same destination. I chose to download using Network so my first time takes less. The ISO file will need to be made into a bootable disk. Connect the USB bootable drive to your BIOS boot menu and select it. The openSUSE menu should appear. OpenSUSE will then scan your hardware. This may take some time. OpenSUSE will then know what drivers to install based on how you plan to interact with the system. It’s now time to install.
Once all of your hardware has been detected, you can proceed. The installation will allow you to choose your keyboard layout and language. You can also test the layout in order to ensure that you are able to enter everything. The software license must also be reviewed and accepted. You can follow the instructions to partition your drive, set the timezone and create your user name and password. The default partition layout should work fine if your needs are very simple. But I did have to tweak it because my dual boot configuration is complex. You can now review your options before you take the plunge. At this stage, you should be absolutely certain that you are not erasing any data important to you. The installation process will begin. It may take some time, depending on the resources of your computer. After the installation is complete, you should be able to reboot your computer into openSUSE.
OpenSUSE Tumbleweed: A Hands-on Experience
I’ve been running the KDE Plasma Desktop on an openSUSE Tumbleweed for several weeks, so you can get a feel of what openSUSE is like. OpenSUSE has a collection of tools for system management called YaST. OpenSUSE’s YaST toolkit can be used to configure mail servers, find software or create virtual machines. YaST can be used via either graphical windows, or the Terminal. It’s up to you what works best for your preferences and needs. It was a powerful user’s paradise. The openSUSE environment can be a bit confusing for this reason. There are several different software management interfaces, so I was sometimes confused about which I should use, or if that mattered. Using KDE Plasma’s software manager, it would sometimes throw weird errors, when trying to update or install software.
I learned openSUSE only recommends the use of the commands to update Tumbleweed Edition in the Terminal. This made updating software easier, but many people won’t be comfortable with using the terminal.
I’m impressed by how easily I found answers to my questions, due to the fact that openSUSE has a solid reputation as a distribution. Finding answers was easy. It’s not important to know if your issue is with openSUSE or the original distro.
What Should You Know About openSUSE
From my own experience, I would recommend openSUSE to power users who are looking for an advanced Linux distribution with comprehensive documentation and a well-established community. You can be sure that openSUSE will not disappoint you. Its corporate support and long-standing history means there are few surprises. However, the multiple versions of openSUSE allow you to choose from a variety of systems and release cycles. You can change ecosystems without having to completely switch if you are tired of the one you’re using. OpenSUSE
is a Linux distribution for PC enthusiasts who are either very knowledgeable about what they need or enjoy exploring and experimenting with a powerful OS. You might want to try another Linux distro if you are just getting started with Linux and your relationship with PC is casual. It might be better to try Linux Mint, or even elementary OS.