Installing openSUSE in the University of Cambridge

The current version of openSUSE is 11.2 and we strongly recommend you use that for all new installs.

The below instructions assume you will be installing 10.3 so they will need modifying if you want to install an older/newer version. The installation instructions will be updated to the latest version of OpenSUSE when time permits.

Beginning the Installation Using CD/DVD Media

Unsurprisingly, you will need the CD or DVD media.

If you do not have them already, you can download the openSUSE .iso images which you then need to burn to writable CD or DVD disk(s).

• Note the CDs do not include all of the packages included with the DVD.

You can then boot the computer you are going to install openSUSE on using the first CD or the DVD.

At the SUSE Linux boot menu that appears move down to Installation and press enter to begin the installation.

Before pressing enter to begin the installation you may also wish to press F2 to select English (UK) rather than the default English (US) as the language and also you may wish to press F3 to choose the best fitting screen resolution to use rather than the default.

Installation setup will now begin so please move onto the Performing the Installation section.

Beginning the Installation Over the Network

You will need either the first installation CD, the DVD, or the mini installation CD to begin the installation over the network. Note we recommend that you use the mini installation CD as that is the smallest and hence fastest download. You can download the desired openSUSE .iso image if you do not have it already which you then need to burn to a writable CD or DVD disk.

You can then boot the computer you are going to install openSUSE on using the CD or DVD.

At the SUSE Linux boot menu that appears move down to Installation and proceed as follows:

Press F4 ('Source') and choose HTTP. For the server type in 131.111.8.10 and for the directory type in /pub/linux/opensuse/10.3/repo/oss. Press enter to return to the boot menu. Alternatively you can use NFS. The server remains the same but the directory loses the starting pub/ bit.

You may also wish to press F2 to select English (UK) rather than the default English (US) as the language and also you may wish to press F3 to choose the best fitting screen resolution to use rather than the default.

Select Installation from the boot menu (do NOT press enter yet).

If your computer obtains its IP address by DHCP you can skip this step. If you have a static IP address type in (it will appear in the boot options) hostip=IPADDRESS netmask=NETMASK gateway=GATEWAY netwait=30 where IPADDRESS needs to be the IP address of the computer you are installing onto, NETMASK is its netmask and GATEWAY is the gateway to the internet.

Finally press enter to begin the installation.

At this stage you may see an error message 'Could not find the openSUSE repository. Activating manual setup program.'; select OK. Now follow the menus as is appropriate for your installation. If you have not entered your static IP address (if not using DHCP), netmask, gateway, and DNS Server you should do so at this point. The DNS server IP address is 131.111.8.42. Select No when asked whether to use a HTTP proxy then check the settings are correct. Press Enter.

Installation setup will now begin so please move onto the Performing the Installation section.

Performing the Installation

Once you have selected Installation from the openSUSE boot menu and have pressed enter the computer will boot into the installer.

Follow the on-screen menus selecting your system language and agreeing to the terms and conditions of use for software when prompted. openSUSE will now run some system analysis. You may be asked to agree to activation of various drivers during this phase.

At the next menu make sure New Installation or Update if you are updating an existing openSUSE installation is selected. Also ensure you have selected the 'Include Add-On Products from Separate Media' option and press enter or click Next.

For an update install you will be asked to select which installation of Linux on your hard drive you want to update so choose it and then you will be shown a list of previously used repositories where you need to ensure that they are all disabled.

You will then be shown the 'Add-On Products' screen where you want to add a HTTP installation source as follows:

Repository Name: non-oss
Protocol: HTTP
Server Name: 131.111.8.10
Directory on Server: /pub/linux/opensuse/10.3/repo/non-oss

Then click OK or press enter to confirm and then click Next or press enter again to continue with the installation.

You will be asked to verify various system settings such as the date and time, desktop environment and partitioning of the hard-disk (what exactly you will be asked depends on whether you are performing a new install or updating an existing one). Make sure these settings are correct. You will need to agree to the software licensing terms and conditions; then installation will begin. This may take some time and progress is indicated by a blue bar on the right-hand edge of the screen. Now would be a good time to get a coffee!

The installer will now ask you for various network information; follow the instructions as is appropriate for your computer. When the installer comes to detecting your network card you will be asked for your Hostname (the name of the computer you are installing openSUSE onto) and Domain name (e.g. hist.cam.ac.uk). If your network does not use DHCP (i.e. you have a static IP address) then deselect Change hostname via DHCP.

Now follow the on-screen prompts as the installer attempts to detect your hardware devices; check the listed settings at the end of this process.

You will now be asked for information to set up users on the computer. If you wish to set up more users or groups then select User Management during this phase. Alternatively setting up other users and groups can be done at a later time once openSUSE is installed.

Remember the password you choose for your user!

The installer will now write the system configuration to disk.

The Release Notes will be shown on screen followed by the various settings, check these are correct before pressing Next. You can use the Back button to make changes if necessary. The settings will now be saved.

You should now see an Installation Complete message.

For further details you can also refer to the detailed installation documentation on the openSUSE web site if you want more detailed documentation including screenshots, etc.

Keeping the System Up-to-date

See the openSUSE Update section of our web site.