Anyone a SLES (SuSE Linux Enterprise) guru?

Wycke · 04-16-2007, 04:49 PM

OK, I'm taking this Linux class. It's the 2nd in a 3-part course. When I took the first one (about 18 months ago), we used Fedora 4, which was OK. A co-worker just took the first class last term and they used Ubuntu, which I've found to be much more flexible and easier to use than Fedora. Now, they brought in someone new this term and he's decided that he wants to use Novell's SLES 9 (the version that comes with the Novell-authored textbook we're using).

Frankly, it sucks. I've gotten it to install on exactly one computer out of the 4 I tried it on. Ironically, that one machine is a Sony laptop (which are not well-known for being Linux-friendly). So, now, it's install and running OK, but I'm trying to install software. It'll work with RPMs and source-code installs just like many other flavors out there, but it doesn't seem to want to connect to any repositories. I've used yum and apt (or is it aptget?) in the past and got very comfortable with them. This damn thing doesn't seem to like either, and another colleague says he gave up after several weeks of trying to get them to work (and he's our senior Unix admin - so I know it's not him).

I used to like Novell. I was one test away from a CNE (granted, it would have been a Netware 4.11 CNE, which had been phased out 6 months prior). Now, seeing how convoluted and painful they've made the Linux experience, I'm a bit perturbed. Trying to get SLES to install from any media other than the supplied DVD seems nigh impossible. The damn thing won't even connect to Novell's repository with the included "evaluation" license (and I'm not about to spend any more than the $120 the textbook cost me). It actually seems like it wants to, but it needs the DVD in the drive (which is an issue because the DVD drive is in the docking station sitting at home).

ScrapIron · 04-16-2007, 05:01 PM

Forwarding your question to my buddy, Hutch.

Hutch · 04-16-2007, 06:43 PM

on one hand, SUSE/Novell is a pretty rounded system which can be tweaked to fit just about any need.
on the other, I can't stand it some days.

.. that said, I use suse on my laptop and on a server and I use fc6 on a game machine and periodically I play with gentoo and knoppix and ubuntu... but since you asked:

I can generally connect to other repositories without much work, novell's 'yast' configuration system is pretty comprehensive and reasonable to work with. I can safely say I like it better than most of the others.
novell more or less forced the switch to 'zenworks' for their updater a while ago which complicated a few things. you can still use the command line to get packages (zen-installer %1), but I'd use yast to change the repositories.

as far as the cd thing goes: yes, it's bleeding stupid. you have to change the package settings to delete the cd/dvd as a source before it'll do anything useful and periodically I swear it re-adds it. the other option there is to download the sources to the drive and then change the dev so it points at the new location, but I never saw a reason to use old packages.

I can't say much for your source dvd.. if you aren't using some really specific software off it, just download opensuse 10.2 and install it on pretty much any machine you want. out of a dozenish machines I've tried it on at various points in the last year, I've only encountered serious problems on one I knew had a suicidal optical drive. even if you ARE using something specific off the SLES, you can probably get the package for opensuse, maybe even right off the disc.

as a side note: I liked playing in ubuntu right up until I needed to compile something.. that was a nightmare.

ScrapIron · 04-17-2007, 10:27 AM

Welcome to the MCarterBrown Community Hutch.

Wycke · 04-17-2007, 10:49 AM

Yes, welcome Hutch, and thanks for the info. After the headaches I had with SLES 9, I figured the same thing: "just download the latest build of OpenSuSE". However, that pretty much got me nowhere. I downloaded the i386 DVD iso from both Novell and the OpenSuSE site and burned them to a disk. I can boot to the disk, but when it gets to the point where one would select the packages to install, it bombs out because it can't locate them on the disk. As near as I can tell, the DVD actually has the individual CD isos on it and needs to mount them in order to access the software, but it's not mounting them. I tried on numerous machines, thinking it might be a memory issue (ie: not enough space in RAM to mount the images), but still a no-go. I also tried downloading the AMD-64-based iso and had the same results on the two AMD-64 machines I have.

Is there some trick to making that install DVD work, or should I just d/l and burn the individual CD images and use those? I guess with all the time I've wasted, I should have just done that from the get-go and I wouldn't be stuck where I am, but, what can I say, I like complaining!

Hutch · 04-17-2007, 01:01 PM

I've only had a problem mounting the dvd on a machine with 256M and no swap partition. I've never had a problem with the cds.

package selection is a mess as usual.. I never trust the default packages so I always end up spending 40 minutes going through each one.

depending on your timezone and connection, you may have already managed to get the cd's down. I'm curious if they behave better for you.

did you check hashes/do the automated verification in the installer?

I blame scrapiron for 13% of my outlandish ideas.

incynr8 · 04-17-2007, 11:16 PM

opensuse 10.2 has issues with older hardware using the IDE interfaces.
try booting with
insmod=ide-generic boot option by passing it to the kernel.
If it bombs right after selecting english, thats often the ticket. When that fails I do network installs.

It is less likely to happen with multicd installs.

So far I am between Suse and a return to slack64, but the compilation work makes me tires handbuilding slackboxes anymore.

I use Yast for package management, I no longer use Yum, and add the guru and packman repos to get more good packages.

konvienentsuse is a good tool, but wont work well on 64 bit systems.

You have to compile Blackdown java to get 64 bit java under Firefox on a 64 bit machine, and manually install ndswrapper to use flash9. 32 bit is no problems.

so far I am converted from fedora 6, but still have lots of redhat boxes around. I am still angry over the /etc non conventions in redhat actually.

Wycke · 04-18-2007, 09:35 AM

Well, I gave in & downloaded the CD isos yesterday afternoon and got 10.2 installed on the same machine last night. Ironically, SLES 9 detected my D-Link wireless card (though gave me no way to configure it), while OpenSuSE 10.2 doesn't recognize it. There are a few other bits that don't make much sense to me - things that were there in the "older" version, but not in the "newer" one - but I'll learn to live with it.

incynr8 · 04-18-2007, 09:45 AM

What things are you missing that you need? Alot are in the guru and packman repositories, either packages to replace 'stock' ones, or the ones you perhaps are needing.
The card can be found and configured, freedom is usually only a text file edit away.

Lrrpie-CT · 04-18-2007, 01:28 PM

You guys crack me up. The lingo in this thread reminds me of people who cobble together and drive old Microbusses. Oh, wait... nevermind.

04-16-2007, 04:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Wycke Supernatural Anaesthetist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The Plaines of Celestia	Anyone a SLES (SuSE Linux Enterprise) guru? OK, I'm taking this Linux class. It's the 2nd in a 3-part course. When I took the first one (about 18 months ago), we used Fedora 4, which was OK. A co-worker just took the first class last term and they used Ubuntu, which I've found to be much more flexible and easier to use than Fedora. Now, they brought in someone new this term and he's decided that he wants to use Novell's SLES 9 (the version that comes with the Novell-authored textbook we're using). Frankly, it sucks. I've gotten it to install on exactly one computer out of the 4 I tried it on. Ironically, that one machine is a Sony laptop (which are not well-known for being Linux-friendly). So, now, it's install and running OK, but I'm trying to install software. It'll work with RPMs and source-code installs just like many other flavors out there, but it doesn't seem to want to connect to any repositories. I've used yum and apt (or is it aptget?) in the past and got very comfortable with them. This damn thing doesn't seem to like either, and another colleague says he gave up after several weeks of trying to get them to work (and he's our senior Unix admin - so I know it's not him). I used to like Novell. I was one test away from a CNE (granted, it would have been a Netware 4.11 CNE, which had been phased out 6 months prior). Now, seeing how convoluted and painful they've made the Linux experience, I'm a bit perturbed. Trying to get SLES to install from any media other than the supplied DVD seems nigh impossible. The damn thing won't even connect to Novell's repository with the included "evaluation" license (and I'm not about to spend any more than the $120 the textbook cost me). It actually seems like it wants to, but it needs the DVD in the drive (which is an issue because the DVD drive is in the docking station sitting at home). __________________ Porch Monkey 4 Life! s'ok...I'm takin' it back... My Feedback Thread

04-16-2007, 05:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
ScrapIron Cobra Paintball Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central Iowa	Forwarding your question to my buddy, Hutch. __________________ Shoot first, check armband tape later. Proud to play Lucky 7 and Fledgling scenario games. member #190 of LPPC, Cobra Paintball Fanatic & Purple Foot Indian Tribe My Feedback

04-17-2007, 10:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
ScrapIron Cobra Paintball Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central Iowa	Welcome to the MCarterBrown Community Hutch. __________________ Shoot first, check armband tape later. Proud to play Lucky 7 and Fledgling scenario games. member #190 of LPPC, Cobra Paintball Fanatic & Purple Foot Indian Tribe My Feedback

04-17-2007, 10:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
Wycke Supernatural Anaesthetist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The Plaines of Celestia	Yes, welcome Hutch, and thanks for the info. After the headaches I had with SLES 9, I figured the same thing: "just download the latest build of OpenSuSE". However, that pretty much got me nowhere. I downloaded the i386 DVD iso from both Novell and the OpenSuSE site and burned them to a disk. I can boot to the disk, but when it gets to the point where one would select the packages to install, it bombs out because it can't locate them on the disk. As near as I can tell, the DVD actually has the individual CD isos on it and needs to mount them in order to access the software, but it's not mounting them. I tried on numerous machines, thinking it might be a memory issue (ie: not enough space in RAM to mount the images), but still a no-go. I also tried downloading the AMD-64-based iso and had the same results on the two AMD-64 machines I have. Is there some trick to making that install DVD work, or should I just d/l and burn the individual CD images and use those? I guess with all the time I've wasted, I should have just done that from the get-go and I wouldn't be stuck where I am, but, what can I say, I like complaining! __________________ Porch Monkey 4 Life! s'ok...I'm takin' it back... My Feedback Thread

04-17-2007, 11:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
incynr8 .:\|Purification Admin\|:. Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: PA	opensuse 10.2 has issues with older hardware using the IDE interfaces. try booting with insmod=ide-generic boot option by passing it to the kernel. If it bombs right after selecting english, thats often the ticket. When that fails I do network installs. It is less likely to happen with multicd installs. So far I am between Suse and a return to slack64, but the compilation work makes me tires handbuilding slackboxes anymore. I use Yast for package management, I no longer use Yum, and add the guru and packman repos to get more good packages. konvienentsuse is a good tool, but wont work well on 64 bit systems. You have to compile Blackdown java to get 64 bit java under Firefox on a 64 bit machine, and manually install ndswrapper to use flash9. 32 bit is no problems. so far I am converted from fedora 6, but still have lots of redhat boxes around. I am still angry over the /etc non conventions in redhat actually. __________________ Advertise on MCB That's two-ing thirteen while she's eleven-ing your five........ PPS4LIFE "If a man neglects to enforce his rights, he cannot complain if, after a while, the law follows his example."

04-16-2007, 06:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hutch Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007	on one hand, SUSE/Novell is a pretty rounded system which can be tweaked to fit just about any need. on the other, I can't stand it some days. .. that said, I use suse on my laptop and on a server and I use fc6 on a game machine and periodically I play with gentoo and knoppix and ubuntu... but since you asked: I can generally connect to other repositories without much work, novell's 'yast' configuration system is pretty comprehensive and reasonable to work with. I can safely say I like it better than most of the others. novell more or less forced the switch to 'zenworks' for their updater a while ago which complicated a few things. you can still use the command line to get packages (zen-installer %1), but I'd use yast to change the repositories. as far as the cd thing goes: yes, it's bleeding stupid. you have to change the package settings to delete the cd/dvd as a source before it'll do anything useful and periodically I swear it re-adds it. the other option there is to download the sources to the drive and then change the dev so it points at the new location, but I never saw a reason to use old packages. I can't say much for your source dvd.. if you aren't using some really specific software off it, just download opensuse 10.2 and install it on pretty much any machine you want. out of a dozenish machines I've tried it on at various points in the last year, I've only encountered serious problems on one I knew had a suicidal optical drive. even if you ARE using something specific off the SLES, you can probably get the package for opensuse, maybe even right off the disc. as a side note: I liked playing in ubuntu right up until I needed to compile something.. that was a nightmare.

04-17-2007, 01:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Hutch Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007	I've only had a problem mounting the dvd on a machine with 256M and no swap partition. I've never had a problem with the cds. package selection is a mess as usual.. I never trust the default packages so I always end up spending 40 minutes going through each one. depending on your timezone and connection, you may have already managed to get the cd's down. I'm curious if they behave better for you. did you check hashes/do the automated verification in the installer? I blame scrapiron for 13% of my outlandish ideas.

04-18-2007, 09:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
Wycke Supernatural Anaesthetist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The Plaines of Celestia	Well, I gave in & downloaded the CD isos yesterday afternoon and got 10.2 installed on the same machine last night. Ironically, SLES 9 detected my D-Link wireless card (though gave me no way to configure it), while OpenSuSE 10.2 doesn't recognize it. There are a few other bits that don't make much sense to me - things that were there in the "older" version, but not in the "newer" one - but I'll learn to live with it. __________________ Porch Monkey 4 Life! s'ok...I'm takin' it back... My Feedback Thread

04-18-2007, 09:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
incynr8 .:\|Purification Admin\|:. Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: PA	What things are you missing that you need? Alot are in the guru and packman repositories, either packages to replace 'stock' ones, or the ones you perhaps are needing. The card can be found and configured, freedom is usually only a text file edit away. __________________ Advertise on MCB That's two-ing thirteen while she's eleven-ing your five........ PPS4LIFE "If a man neglects to enforce his rights, he cannot complain if, after a while, the law follows his example."

04-18-2007, 01:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
Lrrpie-CT See Matt Mod. Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethlehem CT	You guys crack me up. The lingo in this thread reminds me of people who cobble together and drive old Microbusses. Oh, wait... nevermind.