Changing the Installation Source

In the YaST Control Center, click Software > Change Source of Installation.

The installation source is the medium containing the software to install. Install from CD or DVD (the usual approach), from a network server, or from the hard disk. Refer to the detailed YaST help text for more information.

When you exit with Save and Exit, the settings are saved and applied to the Install and Remove Software, Boot and Kernel Configuration, and System Update configuration module. However, this module also offers the possibility to continue with Install to install or remove packages.

Installing Patches from CD to Update Your Current Installation

In the YaST Control Center, click Software > Patch CD Update.

Patches are installed from a CD. Updating with the CD is pretty faster. When you insert the patch CD, all patches available on the CD are displayed in the dialog of this YaST module. Select packages for installation from the patch list. If an alert is displayed about a missing CD, insert the CD and restart the patch CD update.

Installing and Removing Software

In the YaST Control Center, click Software > Install and Remove Software.

Use this module to install, update, or remove software. To install from CD, insert the first CD in the drive.

Installing the System into a Directory

In the YaST Control Center, click Software > Installation into Directory.

Use this option to install the Novell Linux Desktop system into a directory of your choice.

Updating the System

In the YaST Control Center, click Software > System Update.

This module let you update your system. The process consists of several steps. YaST checks which packages to update. If desired, decide individually for each package whether to perform an update. This approach cannot be used for the base system, which requires a boot from the installation medium, such as from CD.

Configuring the CD/DVD Drives in Your System

In the YaST Control Center, click Hardware > CD-ROM Drives.

Within the scope of the installation, all detected CD-ROM drives are integrated in the installed system by means of entries in the /etc/fstab file. The respective subdirectories are created in /media. Use the Add and Remove buttons to change the state of integration for an entry in the list.

When the module is started, a list of all detected drives is displayed. Mark any new drives using the check boxes at the beginning of the lines and complete the integration by clicking Finish. The new drives are then integrated in the system.

Configuring the Graphics Card and Monitor

In the YaST Control Center, click Hardware > Graphics Card and Monitor.

The graphical user interface or X server handles the communication between hardware and software. Desktops, like KDE and GNOME, use the X server for interaction with the user.

The graphical user interface is initially configured during installation. To change the settings later, run this YaST module. In the Desktop Settings dialog, choose between Text Mode Only (no graphical desktop) and Graphical Desktop Environment. The current settings are saved and you can restore them anytime. The current values are displayed and offered for modification, such as the screen resolution, the color depth, the refresh rate, and the vendor and type of your monitor (if it was autodetected). If you have just installed a new graphics card and you want to initialize it, a small dialog appears asking if you want to activate 3D acceleration for your graphics card.

Click Change to open SaX2, the configuration tool for input and display devices.

Figure A-2 SaX2 Main Window

In the left frame, there are four components displayed:

Desktop

Configures your monitor, graphics card, color depth, resolution, and the position and size of the screen.

Multihead

Configures multiple screens.

Input Devices

Configures a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen monitor, and graphics tablet.

AccessX

Controls the mouse pointer with the number pad.

Select your monitor and graphics card. Usually, the monitor and graphics card are autodetected by the system. In this case, no manual settings are required. If your monitor is not autodetected, automatically proceed to the monitor selection dialog. Select your monitor from the extensive list of vendors and devices, or manually enter the monitor values specified in the monitor manual. Alternatively, select one of the preconfigured VESA modes.

Click Finish in the main window following the completion of the settings for your monitor and your graphics card, then test your settings. This ensures that your configuration is suitable for your devices. If the image is not steady, terminate the test immediately by pressing Esc and reduce the refresh rate or the resolution and color depth. Regardless of whether you run a test, all modifications are activated only after you restart the X server.

Desktop

Use the Desktop dialogs to configure your monitor, graphics card, color depth, resolution, and the position and size of the screen.

Monitor

Click Properties to configure your monitor. A dialog with Monitor-Model, Frequencies, and Expert tabs opens.

Figure A-3 Monitor Selection

In the left part of the Monitor-Model tabbed page, select the vendor. In the right part, select your model. If you have floppy disks with Linux drivers for your monitor, click Manufacturer Disk to install these.

On the Frequencies tabbed page, specify the horizontal and vertical frequencies for your screen. The vertical frequency is another designation for the image refresh rate. Normally, the acceptable value ranges are read from the model and noted here. Usually, they do not need to be changed.

WARNING:There are safety mechanisms, but you should still be very careful when manually changing the allowed frequencies. False values might destroy your monitor. If in doubt, refer to the manual for the monitor.

On the Expert tabbed page, specify options for your screen. In the upper selection field, define the method to use for the calculation of the screen resolution and screen geometry. Do not change anything unless the monitor is addressed incorrectly and the display is not stable. You can also change the size of the displayed image and activate the DPMS power saving mode.

Graphics Card

Click Add New Card to add a new graphics card, or click Properties to configure an existing graphics card. In both cases, a dialog with a General and an Expert tab opens.

Figure A-4 Graphics Card Selection Dialog

In the left part of the General tabbed page, select the vendor of your graphics card. In the right part, select your model.

On the Expert tabbed page, specify advanced configuration options for your screen. On the right side, you can turn your screen to the left or to a vertical position, which is useful for some turnable TFT screens. The entries for the BusID are relevant only if you operate several screens. Normally, nothing needs to be changed here. You should not modify the card options unless you have experience in this field and know what the options mean. If necessary, check the documentation for your graphics card.

Colors and Resolutions

Click Properties to change the color depth and resolution displayed on your screen.

Figure A-5 Color and Resolution Dialog

Depending on the hardware used, select a color depth of 16, 256, 32768, 65536, or 16.7 million colors (4, 8, 15, 16, or 24 bit). For a reasonable display quality, set at least 256 colors.

When the hardware is detected, the resolution is queried. Therefore, the module usually offers only resolution and color depth combinations that your hardware can display correctly. This keeps the danger of damaging your hardware with incorrect settings very low. If you change the resolution manually, consult the documentation for your hardware to make sure the value you set can be displayed.

The Expert tabbed page lets you add your own resolutions, which are subsequently included for selection on the Resolution tabbed page.

Virtual Resolution

Every desktop has a certain resolution that is displayed over the full screen of the monitor. However, it is possible to set the resolution larger than the visible area of the screen. If you move the mouse beyond the margins of the desktop, the virtual part of the desktop is displayed on screen. This increases the available work space.

Figure A-6 Virtual Resolution Dialog

The virtual resolution can be set in two ways:

• Move the mouse pointer over the monitor image so the pointer turns into crosshairs. While pressing the left mouse button, move the mouse to enlarge the raster image, which corresponds with the virtual resolution.This method is best if you are not quite sure how much virtual space you want on your desktop.
• The pop-up menu in the middle of the raster image displays the currently used virtual resolution. To use one of the default virtual resolutions, select one from the menu.

Geometry

You can use the Geometry option to precisely adjust the size and the position of the image with the arrows.

Figure A-7 Image Geometry Dialog

If you have a multihead environment (more than one screen), click Next Screen to switch to the other monitors to adjust their size and position. Click Save to save your settings.

Activating or Deactivating the DMA Mode for IDE Hard Disks and CD/DVE Drives

In the YaST Control Center, click Hardware > IDE DMA Mode.

This module enables you to activate and deactivate the DMA mode for the IDE hard disks and IDE CD/DVD drives in the installed system. DMA (Direct Memory Access) enables drives to transmit data directly to the RAM without the detour through the processor control.

This module does not have any function for SCSI devices. DMA modes can substantially increase the performance and data transfer speed in your system. During the installation, the current SUSE® LINUX kernel automatically activates DMA for hard disks but not for CD drives, because default DMA activation for all drives often causes problems with CD drives. Use the DMA module to decide whether to activate DMA for your drives. If the drive supports the DMA mode smoothly, the data transfer rate of your CD drive can be increased by activating DMA.

Configuring Your Printer

This section covers printer configuration with YaST. For more information on printing in Linux, see “Chapter 13: Printer Operation” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide.

Manual Configuration

If one of the requirements for automatic configuration is not met or if you want a custom setup, you can configure the printer manually.

Depending on how successful the autodetection is and how much information about the printer model is found in the database, YaST might be able to determine the right settings automatically, or at least make a reasonable preselection. The following parameters must be configured.

Hardware Connection (Port)

The configuration of the hardware connection depends on whether YaST has been able to find the printer during hardware autodetection.

• If YaST is able to detect the printer model automatically, you can assume that the printer connection works on the hardware level and no settings need to be changed in this respect.
• If YaST is unable to autodetect the printer model, this might indicate that the printer connection on the hardware level must be configured manually. See “Chapter 13: Printer Operation” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide for more information.

Name of the Queue:

The queue name is used when issuing print commands. The name should be relatively short and consist of lowercase letters and numbers only.

Ghostscript Driver or Printer Language (Printer Model):

The Ghostscript driver and the printer language depend on your printer model. YaST lets you select a predefined configuration suitable for the model. Selecting a manufacturer and a model basically means selecting a printer language and a Ghostscript driver suitable for this language with some default settings for the driver. These settings can be changed in an additional dialog as needed.

Figure A-8 Selecting the Printer

For non-PostScript* models, all printer-specific data is produced by the Ghostscript driver. The driver configuration (both the right driver and the correct options for it) is the single most important factor determining the output quality. The settings made at this point affect the printout on a queue-by-queue basis.

If your printer was autodetected (using the printer database) or if you selected the model manually, YaST presents a choice of suitable Ghostscript drivers, usually with a number of predefined configurations for each of them. For example:

• monochrome
• color 300 dpi
• photo 600 dpi

A predefined configuration includes a suitable Ghostscript driver and, if available, a set of options for the driver related to output quality. Not all selectable combinations of driver settings work with every printer model. This is especially true for higher resolutions.

Always check to make sure your settings work as expected by printing the test page. If the output is garbled, for example, with several almost empty pages, stop the printer by first removing all paper and then stopping the print test from YaST. However, in some cases the printer will refuse to resume work if you do so. It might then be better to stop the print test first and wait for the printer to eject all pages by itself.

If the printer model is not listed in the printer database, YaST offers a selection of standard drivers for the standard printer languages.

Advanced Settings

Includes the hardware-dependent (driver-specific) and hardware-independent settings. You can specify special settings for the queues and restrict the access to the printer. However, there is normally no need to modify these settings.

Using the CUPS Printing System

For information on printing with CUPS, see “Chapter 13: Printer Operation” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide.

Changing the Mouse Model

Configuring Disk Controllers

In the YaST Control Center, click Hardware > Disk Controller.

Normally, YaST configures the hard disk controller of your system during the installation. If you add controllers, use this module to integrate these into the system. You can also modify the existing configuration, but this is generally not necessary.

The Disk Controller Configuration dialog presents a list of detected hard disk controllers and enables assignment of the suitable kernel module with specific parameters. Click Test Loading of Module to determine if the current settings work before they are saved permanently in the system.

Displaying Hardware Information

In the YaST Control Center, click Hardware > Hardware Information.

YaST performs a hardware detection for the configuration of hardware components. The detected technical data is displayed in this screen. This is especially useful if, for example, you want to submit a support request for which you need information about your hardware.

Figure A-9 Hardware Information

Configuring a Joystick

In the YaST Control Center, click Hardware > Joystick.

Use this module to configure your joystick by selecting the manufacturer and the model from the displayed list. Because joysticks are usually connected to the sound card, you can also access this module from the sound card configuration (see Configuring Sound Cards).

Configuring a Scanner

In the YaST Control Center, click Hardware > Scanner.

If your scanner is connected and switched on, it should be detected automatically when this YaST module is started. In this case, the dialog for the installation of the scanner appears. If no scanner is detected, the Manual Scanner Configuration dialog appears. If you have already installed one or more scanners, a table listing existing scanners that can be modified or deleted appears. Click Add to configure a new device.

Next, an installation is performed with default settings. If the installation is successful, a corresponding message appears. Test your scanner by inserting a document and clicking Test.

Configuring Sound Cards

In the YaST Control Center, click Hardware > Sound.

When the sound configuration tool is started, YaST tries to autodetect your sound cards. You can configure one or more sound cards. Click Finish to save the current settings and complete the sound configuration. If YaST is unable to autodetect your sound card, click Add Sound Card to open a dialog where you can select a sound card and module.

Changing the Settings in the /etc/sysconfig File

In the YaST Control Center, click System > /etc/sysconfig Editor.

The /etc/sysconfig directory contains the files with the most important settings for Novell Linux Desktop. The sysconfig editor displays all settings in a well arranged form. The values can be modified and saved to the individual configuration files. Generally, manual editing is not necessary, because the files are automatically adapted when a package is installed or a service is configured.

For more information on /etc/sysconfig/, see “Section 11.6: SuSEconfig and /etc/sysconfig” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide.

Changing the System's Language

In the YaST Control Center, click System > Choose Language.

Use this module to select the language for your Novell Linux Desktop system. The language can be changed at any time. The language selected in YaST applies to the entire system, including YaST and the desktop environment (GNOME or KDE).

Changing the Date and Time

In the YaST Control Center, click System > Date and Time.

The time zone was already set during the installation, but you can make changes here. Select your country or region from the list on the left, then select Local Time or UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) from the Hardware Clock Set To drop-down list. Machines with additional operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, mostly use local time. Machines that have only Linux installed should be set to UTC.

Partitioning a Hard Disk

In the YaST Control Center, click System > Partitioner.

Although it is possible to modify the partitions in the installed system, this should be handled by experts who know exactly what they are doing, because the risk of losing data is very high. If you decide to use this tool, see Partitioning. The partitioning tool used during the installation is the same as in the installed system.

Configuring Powertweak Settings

In the YaST Control Center, click System > Powertweak Configuration.

Use this module to tune the kernel, hardware, networking, VFS subsystem, and virtual memory options. Select the item you want to tune from the expandable list of the left, then make the changes you want in the panel on the right.

Figure A-10 Powertweak Configuration

Restoring Files from Backup Archives

In the YaST Control Center, click System > Restore System.

The restore module enables restoration of your system from a backup archive. Follow the instructions in YaST. Click Next to proceed to the individual dialogs. First, specify where the archives are located (removable media, local hard disks, or network file systems). A description and the contents of the individual archives are displayed, letting you decide what to restore from the archives.

Figure A-11 Start Window of the Restore Module

Additionally, there are two dialogs for uninstalling packages that were added since the last backup and for the reinstallation of packages that were deleted since the last backup. These two steps let you restore the exact system state at the time of the last backup.

Selecting a Keyboard Layout

In the YaST Control Center, click System > Select Keyboard Layout.

Use this module only if you work on a system without the X Window System and a graphical user interface. If you use a graphical system (such as GNOME or KDE), set up the keyboard with the Display and Input Devices module.The desired keyboard layout usually matches the selected language. Use the test field to see if special characters, such as the pipe symbol ( | ), are displayed correctly.

Changing Boot Loader Settings

In the YaST Control Center, click System > Boot Loader Configuration.

This YaST module simplifies the configuration of the boot loader, which is the first software program that runs when a computer starts. It is responsible for loading and transferring control to the operating system kernel software. The kernel, in turn, initializes the rest of the operating system. You should not experiment with this module unless you understand the concepts behind it. The following discussion mainly covers the default boot loader GRUB.

The Main Window

The current boot loader configuration of your system is displayed in the main window, where you can make any needed changes.

Figure A-12 Boot Loader Setup Main Window

The table listing the configuration data consists of three columns. Under Ch. (Changed) on the left, flags mark the changed options listed in the Options column (in the center). To add an option, click Add. To change the value of an existing option, click Edit. If you do not want to use an existing option at all, select it and then click Delete.Click Reset for the following options:

Table A-2 Boot Loader Reset Options

Option	Description
Propose New Configuration	Generates a new configuration suggestion. Older Linux versions or other operating systems found on other partitions are included in the boot menu, letting you boot Linux or its old boot loader. The latter takes you to a second boot menu.
Start from Scratch	Lets you create the entire configuration from scratch. No suggestions are generated.
Reread Configuration from Disk	If you already made some changes and are not satisfied with the result, use this option to reload your current configuration.
Propose and Merge with Existing GRUB Menus	If another operating system and an older Linux version are installed in other partitions, the menu is generated from an entry for the new Novell Linux Desktop, an entry for the other system, and all entries of the old boot loader menu. This procedure might take some time. This is not possible if LILO is used.
Restore MBR of Hard Disk	Restores the backup master boot record (MBR) saved on the hard disk.

To edit the relevant configuration files in an editor, click Edit Configuration Files. To edit a file, load it by means of the selection field and then click OK to save your changes. To exit the boot loader configuration, click Cancel. To return to the main window, click Back.

IMPORTANT:The sequence of the options or commands is very important in GRUB. If the specified sequence is not followed, the machine might not boot.

Creating a Boot, Rescue, or Module Disk

In the YaST Control Center, click System > Create a Boot, Rescue, or Module Floppy.

Use this module to create boot disks, rescue disks, and module disks. These floppy disks are helpful if the boot configuration of your system is damaged. The rescue disk is especially necessary if the file system of the root partition is damaged. In this case, you might also need the module disk with various drivers to be able to access the system (for example, to access a RAID system).

Figure A-13 Creating a Boot, Rescue, or Module Disk

You can create the following types of disks:

Standard Boot Floppy 1, 2, or 3

Use these options to create standard boot disks to boot an installed system with. These disks are also needed to start the rescue system.

Rescue Floppy

This disk contains a special environment that allows you to perform maintenance tasks in your installed system, such as checking and repairing the file system and updating the boot loader.

To start the rescue system, boot with the standard boot disk and then select Manual Installation > Start Installation or System > Rescue System. You are then prompted to insert the rescue disk. If your system was configured to use special drivers (such as RAID or USB), you might need to load the respective modules from a module disk.

Module Floppies

Module disks contain additional system drivers. The standard kernel supports only IDE drives. If the drives in your system are connected to special controllers (such as SCSI), load the needed drivers from a module disk. If you select this option and click Next, you are taken to a dialog for creating various module disks.

The following module disks are available:

USB Modules

This floppy disk contains the USB modules you might need if USB drives are connected.

IDE, RAID, and SCSI Modules

Because the standard kernel supports only normal IDE drives, you need this module disk if you use special IDE controllers. All RAID and SCSI modules are provided on this disk.

Network Modules

If you need access to a network, load the suitable driver module for your network card from this floppy disk.

PCMCIA, CD-ROM (non-ATAPI), FireWire, and File Systems

This floppy disk contains all PCMCIA modules used especially for laptop computers. The modules for FireWire and some less common file systems are also available here. Older CD-ROM drives that do not comply with the ATAPI standard can also be operated with drivers from this floppy disk.

To load drivers from a module disk to the rescue system, click Kernel Modules (hardware drivers) and the desired module category (SCSI, ethernet, etc.). You are prompted to insert the respective module disk and the contained modules are then listed. Select the desired module. Watch the system messages carefully. Loading module modulename failed indicates that the hardware could not be recognized by the module. Some older drivers require specific parameters to be able to address the hardware correctly. In this case, refer to your hardware documentation.

Custom Floppy

Use this option to write any existing floppy disk image from the hard disk to a floppy disk.

Download Floppy Image

Using this option, specify a URL and authentication data to download a floppy disk image from the Internet.

To create one of these floppy disks, select the corresponding option and then click Next. Insert a blank floppy disk when prompted. If you click Next again, the floppy disk is created.

Creating and Configuring Volume Groups

In the YaST Control Center, click System > LVM.

The Logical Volume Manager (LVM) is a tool for custom partitioning of hard disks into logical drives. For information about LVM, see “Section 3.10: LVM Configuration” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide.

Configuring Power Management

In the YaST Control Center, click System > Power Management.

Use this module to configure power management functions such as standby, suspend, hibernation, battery monitor, automatic power off, shutdown of system components, and processor speed control. When starting the module from the YaST Control Center, the first dialog of the module is displayed. Here you can select the schemes to use for battery operation and AC operation. To add or modify the schemes, click Edit Schemes, which opens an overview of the existing schemes.

In the scheme overview, select the scheme to modify and then click Edit. To create a new scheme, click Add. The dialog that opens is the same in both cases.

First, enter a suitable name and description for the new or edited scheme. For the hard disk, define a Standby Policy for maximum performance or for energy saving. The Acoustic Policy controls the noise level of the hard disk. Click Next to open the CPU and Cooling Policy dialog. CPU contains the CPU Frequency Scaling and Throttling options. Use these options to define if and to what extent the CPU frequency can be throttled. The Cooling Policy determines the cooling method. Complete all settings for the scheme, then click OK to return to the start dialog. In the start dialog, assign the custom scheme to one of the two operating modes. To activate your settings, click OK.

Global power management settings can also be made from the initial dialog using Battery Warnings or ACPI Settings. Click Battery Warnings to view the battery charge level.

The BIOS of your system notifies the operating system whenever the charge level drops below certain configurable limits. In this dialog, there are three limits: Warning Capacity, Low Capacity, and Critical Capacity. Specific actions are triggered when the charge level drops below these limits. Usually, the first two levels merely trigger a notification to the user. The third critical level triggers a suspend, because the remaining energy is not sufficient for continued system operation. Select suitable charge levels and the respective actions, then click OK to return to the start dialog.

Click ACPI Settings to access the dialog for configuring the ACPI buttons. These settings determine how the system should respond to the activation of certain switches. Configure the system response to pressing the Power button, pressing the Sleep button, and then closing the laptop lid. Click OK to complete the configuration and return to the start dialog. Click OK again to exit the module and confirm your power management settings.

For more information, see “Chapter 17: Power Management” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide.

Configuring Profiles

In the YaST Control Center, click System > Profile Manager.

The SCPM (System Configuration Profile Management) module enables creating, managing, and switching between system configurations. This is especially useful for mobile computers that are used in different locations (in different networks) and by different users. However, this feature is useful even for stationary machines, because it enables the use of various hardware components or test configurations. For more information about SCPM basics and handling, see “Chapter 16: Linux on Mobile Devices” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide.

Configuring Runlevels

In the YaST Control Center, click System > Runlevel Editor.

Novell Linux Desktop can be operated in several runlevels. By default, the system boots to runlevel 5, which offers multiuser mode, network access, and the graphical user interface (X Window System). The other runlevels offer multiuser mode with network but without X (runlevel 3) and multiuser mode without network (runlevel 2).

The various runlevels are useful if problems are encountered in connection with a particular service (X or network) in a higher runlevel. In this case, the system can be booted to a lower runlevel to repair the service. Many servers operate without a graphical user interface and must be booted in a runlevel without X, such as runlevel 3.

Usually you need only the standard runlevel (5). However, if the graphical user interface freezes at any time, you can restart the X Window system by switching to a text console by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F1, logging in as root, and switching to runlevel 3 with the init 3 command. This shuts down your X Window System, leaving you with a text console. To restart the graphical system, enter the init 5 command.

In a default installation, runlevel 5 is selected. To start a different runlevel when the system is booted, change the default runlevel here. Click Expert Mode to see which services are started in which runlevel.

For more information on runlevels, see “Section 11.2: Runlevels” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide.

Backing Up Files and System Areas

In the YaST Control Center, click System > System Backup.

The YaST backup module lets you create a backup of your system. The backup created by the module does not comprise the entire system, but only saves information about changed packages and copies of critical storage areas and configuration files.

Define the kind of data to save in the backup. By default, the backup includes information about any packages changed since the last installation. In addition, it can include data that does not belong to packages themselves, such as many of the configuration files in /etc or the directories under /home. Apart from that, the backup can include important storage areas on your hard disk that might be crucial when trying to restore a system, such as the partition table or the master boot record (MBR).

Configuring a DSL Connection

In the YaST Control Center, click Network Devices > DSL.

This module consists of several dialogs where you can set the parameters of DSL links based on one of the following protocols:

The configuration of a DSL connection based on PPPoE or PPTP requires the corresponding network card to have already been set up in the correct way. If you have not done this, first configure the card by clicking Network Devices > Network Card in the YaST Control Center (see Configuring Network Cards for more information). In the case of a DSL link, addresses can be assigned automatically but not via DHCP, which is why you should not enable the Automatic Address Setup (via DHCP) option. Instead, type a static dummy address for the interface, such as 192.168.22.1. In Subnet Mask, specify 255.255.255.0. If you are configuring a standalone workstation, leave the Default Gateway field empty.

Figure A-14 DSL Configuration

To begin the DSL configuration, select the PPP mode and the Ethernet card that the DSL modem is connected to (in most cases, this is eth0). Then use Device Activation to specify whether the DSL link should be established during the boot process. The dialog also lets you select your country and choose from a number of ISPs operating in it. The details of any subsequent dialogs of the DSL configuration depend on the options set so far. For details on the available options, read the detailed help available in the dialogs boxes.

To use Dial on Demand on a standalone workstation, specify the name server (DNS server). Most ISPs support dynamic DNS. The IP address of a name server is sent by the ISP each time you connect. For a single workstation, however, provide a placeholder address such as 192.168.22.99. If your ISP does not support dynamic DNS, specify the name server IP address provided by your ISP.

The Idle Time-out (seconds) option defines a period of network inactivity after which the connection is automatically terminated. A reasonable timeout value is between 60 and 300 seconds.

If you enable Dial on Demand in addition to the option mentioned above, the connection will not be completely terminated after the timeout. Instead, the connection remains in a standby mode and is re-established automatically as soon as a program requests some kind of data traffic. If Dial on Demand is disabled, the connection is completely terminated and must by re-established manually when needed. It might then be useful to set the timeout to zero to prevent automatic hang-up.

The configuration of T-DSL is very similar to the DSL setup. Simply select TOnline as your provider and YaST will open the T-DSL configuration dialog. Here you can provide some additional information required for T-DSL, such as the line ID, the T-Online number, the user code, and your password. All of these should be included in the information you received after subscribing to T-DSL.

Configuring an ISDN Card

In the YaST Control Center, click Network Devices > ISDN.

Use this module to configure one or more ISDN cards for your system. If YaST did not autodetect your ISDN card, manually select it. Multiple interfaces are possible, but several ISPs can be configured for one interface. In the subsequent dialogs, set the ISDN options necessary for the proper functioning of the card.

In the next dialog, shown below, select the protocol to use.

Figure A-15 ISDN Configuration

The default is Euro-ISDN (EDSS1), but for older or larger exchanges, select 1TR6. If you are in the US, select NI1. Select your country in the relevant field. The corresponding country code then appears in the field next to it. Finally, provide your area code and the dial prefix (if necessary).

Start Mode defines how the ISDN interface should be started. OnBoot causes the ISDN driver to be initialized each time during the boot process. Manual requires you to load the ISDN driver as root with the rcisdn start command. Hot Plug, used for PCMCIA or USB devices, loads the driver after the device is plugged in. When you are finished with all these settings, click OK.

In the next dialog, specify the interface type for your ISDN card and add ISPs to an existing interface. Interfaces can be either the SyncPPP or the RawIP type, but most ISP operate in the SyncPPP mode, which is described below.

The number to specify for My Phone Number varies depending on your particular setup, as described in the following sections.

ISDN Card Directly Connected to Phone Outlet

A standard ISDN line provides three phone numbers (called multiple subscriber numbers, or MSNs). If the subscriber asked for more, there can be up to 10. One of these MSNs must be specified here, but without your area code. If you specify the wrong number, your phone operator automatically falls back to the first MSN assigned to your ISDN line.

Figure A-16 ISDN Interface Configuration

ISDN Card Connected to a Phone Exchange

The configuration can vary depending on the equipment installed:

For the connection to be terminated just before the next charge unit is due, enable ChargeHUP. However, this might not work with every ISP. You can also enable channel bundling (multilink PPP) by selecting the corresponding check box. Finally, you can enable SuSEfirewall2 for your link by clicking Activate Firewall.

Details opens a dialog where you can implement more complex connection schemes and then click Next.

In the next dialog, specify IP address settings. If you have not been given a static IP by your provider, click Dynamic IP Address. Otherwise, use the fields provided to specify your host’s local IP address and the remote IP address according to the specifications of your ISP. If the interface should be the default route to the Internet, click Default Route. Each host can have only one interface configured as the default route.

The next dialog let you set your country and select an ISP. The IPSs included in the list are call-by-call providers only. If your ISP is not in the list, click New. This opens the Provider Parameters dialog where you can specify all the details for your ISP. When typing the phone number, make sure you do not include any blanks or commas among the digits. Finally, type your login name and the password as provided by the ISP.

To use Dial on Demand on a standalone workstation, also specify the name server (DNS server). Most ISPs support dynamic DNS, which means the IP address of a name server is sent by the ISP each time you connect. For a single workstation, however, you still need to provide a placeholder address such as 192.168.22.99. If your ISP does not support dynamic DNS, specify the name server IP addresses of the ISP. If you want, specify a timeout for the connection, or the period of network inactivity (in seconds) after which the connection should be automatically terminated.

Configuring Network Cards

In the YaST Control Center, click Network Devices > Network Card.

After starting the module, YaST displays a general network configuration dialog. The upper part shows a list with all the network cards yet to be configured. Any card properly autodetected during the boot procedure is listed with its name. Devices that could not be detected are listed as Other (not detected). The lower part displays a list of the devices configured so far, with their network types and addresses. You can now configure a new network card or change an existing configuration.

Setting Up an ISDN Fax Device

This option sets up the fax system for one or more users. Each user must have at least one unique fax number configured.

Configuring a Modem

In the YaST Control Center, click Network Devices > Modem.

If your modem was not automatically detected, click Configure to open the dialog for manual configuration. Under Modem Device, specify the interface that the modem is connected to.

Figure A-17 Modem Configuration

If you are behind a private branch exchange (PBX), you might need to specify a dial prefix. This is often a 0. Consult the instructions that came with the PBX to find out. Also select whether to use tone or pulse dialing, whether the speaker should be on, and whether the modem should wait until it detects a dial tone. The latter option should not be enabled if the modem is connected to an exchange.

Under Details, set the baud rate and the modem initialization strings. Change these settings only if your modem was not autodetected or if it requires special settings for data transmission to work. This is mainly the case with ISDN terminal adapters.

In the next dialog, select the ISP (Internet service provider). To select from a predefined list of ISPs operating in your country, click Countries; or click New to open a dialog where you can provide the data for your own ISP. This includes a name for the dial-up connection and for the ISP and also the login and the password as provided by your ISP. Enable Always Ask for Password if you want to be prompted for the password each time you connect.

The final dialog allows specification of the following additional connection options:

Click Next to return to the original dialog, which displays a summary of the modem configuration. Then click Finish.

Setting Up a Phone Answering Machine

This option sets up an answering machine for one or more users. Each user must have at least one unique phone number configured.

Configuring Your Computers's Hostname and Domain Name

In the YaST Control Center, click Network Services > DNS and Host Name.

Use this module to configure your computer's hostname and domain name if these settings were not already been made while configuring the network devices.

Insert the hostname and domain name for your computer. Name Server List and Domain Search List are optional. A name server is a computer that translates hostnames into IP addresses. This value must be specified as an IP address (for example,10.10.0.1), not as a hostname.

Search domain is the domain name where hostname searching starts. The primary search domain is usually the same as the domain name of your computer (for example, novell.com). There might be additional search domains (for example, novell.de).

If you are using DHCP to get an IP address, specify whether to get a hostname via DHCP or to set name servers and searched domains via DHCP.

If you plan to use a dial-up Internet connection and have set up your connection to use dynamic DNS assignment, these values are temporarily disabled during the connection.

Configuring a Kerberos Client

In the YaST Control Center, click Network Services > Kerberos Client.

Kerberos provides an authentication method that a user must register with once and is then trusted in the complete network for the rest of the session.

To configure a Kerberos client, you need the pam_krb5 and heimdal-lib packages, available from the Novell Linux Desktop CD 1.

When the Kerberos Client Configuration dialog opens, click Use Kerberos. To set up a DNS-based client, it is sufficient to confirm the Basic Kerberos Settings as displayed. If your domain does not support this kind of configuration, provide the correct values for the Default Domain, the Default Realm, and the KDC Server Address. Clicking Advanced Settings opens another YaST dialog where you can modify options related to tickets, OpenSSH support, and time synchronization.

The dialog opened with Advanced Settings includes all the settings related to ticket attributes. To forward your complete identity to use your tickets on other hosts, click Tickets Are Forwardable. To enable the transfer of certain tickets only, click Tickets Are Proxiable. Tickets can be kept available by a PAM module even after a session has ended by enabling Retain Tickets. The Default Ticket Lifetime can be specified in days, hours, or minutes (using the units of measurement d, h, and m, with no space between the value and the unit). To enable Kerberos authentication support for your OpenSSH client, select the corresponding check box. The client then uses Kerberos tickets to authenticate with the SSH server. You exclude a range of user accounts from using Kerberos authentication by providing a value for the Minimum UID that a user of this feature must have. For instance, you might want to exclude the system administrator (root). Lastly, use Clock Skew to set a value for the allowable difference between the time stamps and your host’s system time.

To keep the system time in sync with an NTP server, you can also set up the host as an NTP client by selecting NTP Configuration. After finishing the configuration, YaST performs all the necessary changes and the Kerberos client is ready for use.

For more information, see “Chapter 25: Network Authentication - Kerberos” and “Chapter 26: Installing and Administering Kerberos” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide.

Configuring Mail Settings

In the YaST Control Center, click Network Services > Mail Transfer Agent.

This module lets you configure your mail settings if you send your e-mail with sendmail, postfix, or the SMTP server of your provider. You can retrieve mail via the fetchmail program, for which you can also specify the details of the POP3 server or IMAP server of your provider.

You can also use a mail program of your choice, such as KMail or Evolution, to set your POP and SMTP access data as usual (to receive mail with POP3 and send mail with SMTP). In this case, you do not need this module.

Configuring a NIS Client

In the YaST Control Center, click Network Services > NIS Client.

This module lets you configure the Network Information Service (NIS) client. When multiple Linux systems in a network want to access common resources, it becomes important that all user and group identities are the same for all machines in that network. The network should be transparent to users so that whatever machine users use, they always finds themselves in exactly the same environment. This is made possible by means of NIS and NFS services.

NIS can be described as a database-like service that provides access to the contents of /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, and /etc/group across networks. NIS can also be used for other purposes, such as to make available the contents of files like /etc/hosts or /etc/services.

After choosing to use NIS and, depending on the circumstances, the following dialog opens:

Figure A-18 Configuration of NIS Client

Select whether the host has a fixed IP address or receives one issued by DHCP. DHCP also provides the NIS domain and the NIS server. If a static IP address is used, specify the NIS domain (for example, foo.com) and the NIS server's address (for example, nis.foo.com or 10.20.1.1). Specify multiple servers by separating their addresses with spaces. The Broadcast option enables searching in the local network to find a server after the specified servers fail to respond. It is a security risk. Find makes YaST search for an active NIS server in your network.

If you are using DHCP and the server provides the NIS domain name or servers, you can enable their use here. DHCP itself can be set up in the network module. Automounter is a daemon that mounts directories (such as users’ home directories) automatically. It is assumed that its configuration files (auto.*) already exist, either locally or over NIS.

In addition, you can specify multiple domains with one default domain. Use Add to specify multiple servers including the broadcast function for the individual domains.

In the expert settings, click Answer to the Local Host Only if you do not want other hosts to be able to query which server your client is using. By clicking Broken Server, the client is enabled to receive replies from a server communicating through an unprivileged port. For more information, see man ypbind.

Configuring Network Services (inetd)

In the YaST Control Center, click Network Services > Network Services (inetd).

This module lets you determine which network services (such as telnet, finger, talk, or ftp) should start when Novell Linux Desktop boots. These services enable external hosts to connect to your computer. You can also configure various parameters for each service. By default, the master service that manages the individual services (inetd or xinetd) is not started. When this module starts, choose which of the two services to configure. The selected daemon can be started with a standard selection of network services.You can add, delete, or edit services to compose your own selection of services.

Figure A-19 Network Services Configuration

Network Services Configuration

Click Enable to enable network services managed by a super-server (inetd or xinetd—it depends on what you have installed) configuration. To stop the super-server, click Disable.

Service Status

All services marked with X in the Ch column were edited and will be changed in the system configuration. All services marked with a dash (—) are inactive (locked). All services marked with On are active (unlocked). All services marked with NI are not installed and cannot be configured.

To change the service status, select the service you want to enable or disable and then click Toggle Status (On or Off).

Setting Up Remote Administration

In the YaST Control Center, click Network Services > Remote Administration.

If this is enabled (Allow Remote Administration has been selected), you will be able to administer this machine remotely from another machine. You can use a VNC client, such as krdc (connect to hostname:5901), or a Java-capable Web browser (connect to http://hostname:5801/). This form of remote administration is less secure than using SSH (Secure Shell Server), which is enabled by default.

SLP Browser

The Service Location Protocol (SLP) is used to make the availability of a certain service known to all clients in the local network. Applications that support SLP can use the distributed information and can be configured automatically. Services that offer SLP support include cupsd, rsyncd, ypserv, openldap2, openwbem (CIM), ksysguardd, saned, kdm vnc login, smpppd, rpasswd, postfix, and sshd (via fish.). You can use SLP to provide networked clients with central functions, such as installation server, file server, or print server NLD Server.

The SLP Browser lists all services in the local network announced via SLP in a tree diagram.

Figure A-20 SLP Browser

To open the SLP Browser, click Network Services > SLP Browser in the YaST Control Center.

For more information, see “Section 21.6: SLP Services in the Network” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide.

Host Names

Use this option to set up hosts.

Configuring a Machine As an LDAP Client

Use this option to set up a machine as an LDAP client. To configure and access LDAP services, the pam_ldap and nss_ldap packages must be installed. These packages are available on the Novell Linux Desktop CD 1.

Automounter is a daemon that automatically mounts directories, such as users’ home directories. It is assumed that its configuration files (auto.*) already exist, either locally or over LDAP. If Automounter is not installed and you want to use it, it will be installed automatically.

For more information, see “Section 21.8: LDAP — A Directory Service” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide.

Configuring an NFS Client

The Network File System (NFS) let you operate a file server that can be accessed by members of your network. On this file server, you can make programs, files, or storage space available for users. It does not matter which terminal users are logged in at, because they will always find themselves in the same environment.

NFS is an asymmetric service, meaning that there are NFS servers and NFS clients. A machine can be both; it can supply file systems over the network (export) and mount file systems from other hosts (import). Generally, these are servers with a very large hard disk capacity, whose file systems are mounted by other clients.

Any user authorized to do so can mount NFS directories from an NFS server into their own file tree. This is accomplished using the NFS Client module to enter the hostname of the NFS server, the directory to import, and the mount point to mount this directory at locally.

For more information on fstab, type man fstab in a terminal window. For more information on NFS, see “Section 21.10: NFS — Shared File Systems” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide.

Configuring the NTP Client

NTP (Network Time Protocol) is a protocol for synchronizing the clocks of network hosts.

For more information, see “Section 21.12: Time Synchronization with xntp” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide.

Configuring Your Internet Proxy (Caching) Settings

Use this option to configure your Internet proxy (caching) settings.

Configuring Routing

In the YaST Control Center, click Network Services > Routing.

Use this option to set up routing. The Default Gateway matches every possible destination, but poorly. If any other entry exists that matches the required address, it is used instead of the default route. The idea of the default route is simply to let you say “and everything else should go here.”

Enable IP Forwarding if the system is a router.

The routing table is set up in Novell Linux Desktop via the /etc/sysconfig/network/routes and /etc/sysconfig/network/ifroute-* configuration files. All the static routes required by the various system tasks (routes to a host, routes to a host via a gateway, and routes to a network) can be entered in the /etc/sysconfig/network/routes file. For each interface that needs individual routing, define an additional configuration file: /etc/ sysconfig/network/ifroute-*. Replace * with the name of the interface. The entries in the routing configuration files look like this:

DESTINATION GATEWAY NETMASK    INTERFACE [ TYPE ] [ OPTIONS ]
DESTINATION GATEWAY PREFIXLEN  INTERFACE [ TYPE ] [ OPTIONS ]
DESTINATION/PREFIXLEN GATEWAY -          INTERFACE [ TYPE ] [ OPTIONS ]

To omit GATEWAY, NETMASK, PREFIXLEN, or INTERFACE, write - instead. The entries TYPE and OPTIONS can be omitted.

The route’s destination is in the first column. This column might contain the IP address of a network or host or, in the case of reachable name servers, the fully qualified network or hostname.

The second column contains the default gateway or a gateway that a host or a network can be accessed through.

The third column contains the netmask for networks or hosts behind a gateway. The mask is 255.255.255.255, for example, for a host behind a gateway.

The last column is relevant only for networks connected to the local host, such as loopback, Ethernet, ISDN, PPP, and dummy device. The device name must be specified here.

The following scripts in the /etc/sysconfig/network/scripts/ directory assist with the handling of routes:

Configuring a TFTP Server

Use this option to configure a server for TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol). It is started using xinetd. To configure the TFTP server, the xinetd and tfpt packages must be installed. These packages are available on the Novell Linux Desktop CD 2.

Creating and Editing Users

In the YaST Control Center, click Security and Users > Edit and Create Users.

Figure A-22 User Administration Dialog

YaST provides an overview of all local users in the system. If you are part of an extensive network, click Set Filter to list all system users (for example, root) or NIS users. You can also create user-defined filter settings. Instead of switching between individual user groups, combine them according to your needs. To add new users, fill in the required blanks in the screen that follows. Subsequently, the new user can log in to the host with the login name and password. The user profile can be fine-tuned with Details. You can manually set the user ID, the home directory, and the default login shell. And you can assign the new user to specific groups.

Configure the validity of the password in Password Settings. Click Edit to change these settings whenever necessary. To delete a user, select the user from the list and click Delete. For advanced network administration, use Expert Options to define the default settings for the creation of new users. Select the authentication method (NIS, LDAP, Kerberos, or Samba) and the algorithm for the password encryption. These settings are relevant for large (corporate) networks.

Creating and Editing Groups

In the YaST Control Center, click Security and Users > Edit and Create Groups.

Figure A-23 Group Administration Dialog

You can start the Group Administration dialog from the YaST Control Center or by clicking Groups in the User Administration dialog. Both dialogs have the same functionality, allowing you to create, edit, or delete groups.

YaST provides a list of all groups. To delete a group, select it from the list (the line is highlighted dark blue) and click Delete. Under Add and Edit, specify the name, group ID (gid), and members of the group in the respective YaST screen. If you want, you can set a password for the change to this group. The filter settings are the same as in the User Administration dialog.

Configuring Local Security Settings

Setting Up a Firewall

In the YaST Control Center, click Security and Users > Firewall.

Use this module to configure SuSEfirewall2 to protect your machine against attacks from the Internet. Detailed information about SuSEfirewall2 can be found in “Section 26.3: Masquerading and Firewalls” in the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Administration Guide.

Configuring the System for Autoinstallation

In the YaST Control Center, click Misc > Autoinstallation.

See Section C.0, Automatic Linux Installation and Configuration Using AutoYaST for more information.

Viewing the System Log

In the YaST Control Center, click Misc > View System Log.

The system log logs the operations of your computer to /var/log/messages. Kernel messages are recorded here, sorted according to date and time.

Installing a Driver from a Vender-Specific CD

In the YaST Control Center, click Misc > Load Vender Driver CD.

Use this module to automatically install device drivers from a Linux driver CD that contains drivers for Novell Linux Desktop. When installing Novell Linux Desktop from scratch, use this YaST module to load the required drivers from the vendor CD after the installation.

Viewing the Startup Log

In the YaST Control Center, click Misc > View Start-up Log.

The boot log contains the screen messages displayed when the computer is started. It is logged to /var/log/boot.msg. Use this YaST module to view the log to, for example, check if all services and functions were started as expected.