2.4 System

System settings include the following:

2.4.1 Configuring Date and Time

To change your date and time configuration, for example to change your time zone or the way the date and time are displayed, click Computer > Control Center > System > Date and Time. This opens the YaST Date and Time module, which requires root privileges. Enter the root password and follow the instructions on the YaST pages.

2.4.2 Configuring Streaming Audio and Video

The GStreamer Properties application lets you set which audio and video plug-ins you want to use for streaming multimedia. To open this application, click Computer > Control Center > System > GStreamer Properties.

In most cases, you should use the default selections. However, if you want to select other plug-ins, select the plug-in you want from the menus. The Audio tab lists the plug-ins for audio input and output. The Video tab lists the video plug-ins.

Click Close when you are finished. The system is immediately configured to use the selected plug-ins.

2.4.3 Configuring Language Settings

openSUSE can be configured to use any of many languages. The language setting determines the language of dialogs and menus, and can also determine the keyboard and clock layout.

You can set the following language settings:

  • Primary language

  • Whether the keyboard language setting should depend on the primary language

  • Whether the time zone should depend on the primary language

  • Secondary languages

NOTE:You must have administrator (root) privileges to configure language settings.

To configure your language settings:

  1. Click Computer > Control Center > System > Language.

  2. (Conditional) If you are not logged in as root or a user with administrator privileges, enter the root password.

    If you do not know the root password, contact your system administrator. You cannot continue without the root password.

  3. Specify the primary language, whether you want to adapt the keyboard layout or time zone to the primary language, and any secondary languages you need to support on the computer.

  4. Click Accept.

    The language configuration settings are written to several configuration files. This process can take a few minutes. The new settings take effect immediately after they are written to the configuration files.

2.4.4 Configuring Network Proxies

The Network Proxy Configuration tool lets you configure how your system connects to the Internet. You can configure the desktop to connect to a proxy server and specify the details of the server. A proxy server is a server that intercepts requests to another server and fulfills the request itself, if it can. You can specify the Domain Name Service (DNS) name or the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the proxy server. A DNS name is a unique alphabetic identifier for a computer on a network. An IP address is a unique numeric identifier for a computer on a network.

Click Computer > Control Center > System > Network Proxies.

Figure 2-36 Network Proxy Configuration Dialog

The following table lists the Internet connection options that you can modify.

Table 2-14 Internet Connection Options

Option

Description

Direct Internet connection

Connects directly to the Internet, without a proxy server.

Manual proxy configuration

Connects to the Internet through a proxy server and lets you configure the proxy server manually.

HTTP proxy

The DNS name or IP address of the proxy server to use when you request a HTTP service. Specify the port number of the HTTP service on the proxy server in the Port box.

Secure HTTP proxy

The DNS name or IP address of the proxy server to use when you request a Secure HTTP service. Specify the port number of the Secure HTTP service on the proxy server in the Port box.

FTP proxy

The DNS name or IP address of the proxy server to use when you request an FTP service. Specify the port number of the FTP service on the proxy server in the Port box.

Socks host

The DNS name or IP address of the Socks host to use. Specify the port number for the Socks protocol on the proxy server in the Port spin box.

Automatic proxy configuration

Connects to the Internet through a proxy server and lets you configure the proxy server automatically.

Autoconfiguration URL

The URL that contains the information required to configure the proxy server automatically.

2.4.5 Configuring Power Management

The Power Management module lets you manage your system’s power-saving options. It is especially useful for extending the life of a laptop’s battery charge. However, several options also help to save electricity when you are using a computer that is plugged in to an electricity source.

Click Computer > Control Center > System > Power Management.

Specifying Sleep Mode Times

Sleep mode shuts down the computer when it is unused for a specified amount of time. Whether you are using battery or AC power, you can specify the amount of time that the computer remains unused before it is put to sleep.You can also put the computer’s display to sleep without shutting down the computer, saving the power required by the display.

Sleep mode is especially important when the computer is operating under battery power. Both the screen and the computer draw power from the battery, so you can save a significant amount of battery power by shutting down one or both. It is common to put the display to sleep after a shorter period of time. Then, if the computer remains unused for an additional amount of time, it is also put to sleep.

To specify your computer’s sleep settings:

  1. Click Computer > Control Center > System > Power Management.

  2. Click the tab for the type of power you are using.

    If your computer uses AC power, click On AC Power.

    If your computer runs on battery power, click On Battery Power.

    If your computer operates on both AC and battery power, you can configure the settings on both tabs. The settings you choose are in effect no matter which power source you use.

  3. Use the sliders to set the amount of inactive time that passes before the display and computer go into sleep mode.

    When the display is in sleep mode, the computer continues to run. When the computer is in sleep mode, power to the display and hard disk is shut off and the computer uses only the power needed to maintain the contents of RAM.

  4. Click Close.

    The options you selected go into effect immediately.

Setting General Power Options

To set general power options, click Computer > Control Center > System > Power Management, then click the General tab. On this tab, you can choose:

  • The sleep type to use when the computer is inactive

  • How and when the Power icon displays

2.4.6 Setting Preferred Applications

The Preferred Applications module allows you to specify which applications to use for various common tasks:

To change any of these settings:

  1. Click Computer > Control Center > System > Preferred Applications.

  2. Click the tab for the type of application you want to set.

  3. Select one of the available applications from the Choose menu or enter the command used to start the application.

  4. Click Close.

The changes take effect immediately.

2.4.7 Setting Session Sharing Preferences

The Remote Desktop Preference dialog box lets you share a GNOME desktop session between multiple users and set session-sharing preferences. These preferences can have a direct impact on the security of your system.

  1. Click Computer > Control Center > System > Remote Desktop.

  2. Choose from the following options:

    Option

    Description

    Allow other users to view your desktop

    Lets remote users view your session. All keyboard, pointer, and clipboard events from the remote user are ignored.

    Allow other users to control your desktop

    Lets other users access and control your session from a remote location.

    Users can view your desktop using this command

    Click the highlighted text to system address by e-mail to a remote user.

    When a user tries to view or control your desktop

    Select the following security considerations when a remote user tries to view or control your session:

    Ask you for confirmation: Select this option if you want remote users to ask you for confirmation when they want to share your session. This option lets you be aware of other users who connect to your session. You can also decide what time is suitable for the remote user to connect to your session.

    Require the user to enter this password: Select this option to authenticate the remote user if authentication is used. This option provides an extra level of security.

    Password

    Type the password that the remote user must enter to view or control your session.

  3. Click Close.

2.4.8 Configuring Beagle Search Settings

Beagle is the search engine used on the GNOME desktop. By default, Beagle is configured to start automatically and index your home directory. If you want to change these settings, specify the number of results displayed after a search or change the Beagle privacy settings, click Computer > Control Center > System > Search Settings.

For more information, see Setting Search Preferences and Preventing Files and Directories from Being Indexed.

2.4.9 Managing Sessions

This module lets you manage your sessions. A session occurs between the time that you log in to the desktop environment and the time that you log out. You can set session preferences and specify which applications to start when you begin a session. You can configure sessions to save the state of applications and then restore the state when you start another session.

You can also use this preference tool to manage multiple sessions. For example, you might have a mobile session which starts applications you use most frequently when traveling, a demo session that starts applications used to present a demonstration or slide show to a customer, and a work session that uses a different set of applications when you are working in the office.

Click Computer > Control Center > System > Sessions.

This module consists of three tabbed pages:

  • Startup Programs: Lets you specify non-session-managed startup applications, which start automatically when you start a session.

  • Current Session: Lets you specify startup order values and select restart styles for the session-managed applications in your current session.

  • Session Options: Lets you remember running applications when logging out so they open the next time you log in.

Configuring Startup Applications

Use the Startup Programs tabbed page to specify non-session-managed startup applications.

Figure 2-37 Sessions Dialog—Startup Programs Page

Startup applications are applications that start automatically when you begin a session. You specify the commands that run these applications and the commands execute automatically when you log in.

You can also start session-managed applications automatically. For more information, see Remembering Running Applications when Logging Out.

To add a startup application, click Add. The Add Startup Program dialog is displayed. Specify the command to start the application in the Startup Command field. If you specify more than one startup application, use the Order box to specify the startup order of the each application.

To edit a startup application, select the startup application and then click Edit. The Edit Startup Program dialog is displayed. Modify the command and the startup order for the startup application.

To delete a startup application, select the startup application and then click Remove.

Deselect the checkbox in the Enabled column to disable the application but leave it in the list. Disabled applications do not start at startup but can easily be enabled to do so.

Setting Session Properties

Use the Current Session tabbed page to specify startup order values and to choose restart styles for the session-managed applications in your current session.

Figure 2-38 Sessions Dialog—Current Session Page

The following table lists the session properties that you can configure.

Table 2-15 Session Properties for Session-Managed Applications

Option

Description

Order

Specifies the order in which the session manager starts session-managed startup applications. The session manager starts applications with lower order values first. The default value is 50.

To set the startup order of an application, select the application in the table. Use the Order box to specify the startup order value.

Style

Determines the restart style of an application. To select a restart style for an application, select the application in the table and then select one of the following styles:

  • Normal: Starts automatically when you start a session. Use the kill command to terminate applications with this restart style during a session.

  • Restart: Restarts automatically when you close or terminate the application. Select this style for an application if it must run continuously during your session. To terminate an application with this restart style, select the application in the table and then click Remove.

  • Trash: Does not start when you start a session.

  • Settings: Starts automatically when you start a session. Applications with this style usually have a low startup order and store your configuration settings for GNOME and session-managed applications.

Remove

Deletes the selected application from the list. The application is removed from the session manager and closed. Applications that you delete are not started the next time you start a session.

Apply

Applies changes made to the startup order and the restart style.

Remembering Running Applications when Logging Out

Use the Session Options tab to automatically save the current state of your session. The session manager saves the session-managed applications that are open and the settings associated with the session-managed applications. The next time you start a session, the applications start automatically with the saved settings.

2.4.10 Setting Sound Preferences

The Sound Preferences tool lets you control when the sound server starts. You can also specify which sounds to play when particular events occur.

Click Computer > Control Center > System > Sound to open the Sound Preferences tool.

Setting Sound Devices

Use the Devices tab to configure the application to use for various types of sounds.

Figure 2-39 Sound Preferences Dialog—Devices Page

Click the drop-down list for each type of sound and select the application to use. In most cases, Autodetect is the best choice, unless you want to use a specific application.

Setting General Sound Preferences

Use the Sounds tab to specify when to launch the sound server. You can also enable sound event functions.

Figure 2-40 Sound Preferences Dialog—General Page

Click Enable software sound mixing (ESD) to start the sound server when you start a session. When the sound server is active, the desktop can play sounds.

Click Play system sounds to play sounds when particular events occur in the desktop.

Finally, select the sound to play at each of the specified events.

Setting System Beep Preferences

Some applications play a beep sound to indicate a keyboard input error. Use the System Beep tab to set preferences for the system beep.

Figure 2-41 Sound Preferences Dialog—System Beep Page

2.4.11 Managing Users and Groups

Use the User Management tool to manage users and groups, including user and group names, group membership, password and password encryption, and other options.

Click Computer > Control Center > System > User Management. The User Management tool opens the User and Group Administration module in YaST.

NOTE:Root privileges are required to manage users and groups.

Follow the directions in YaST for information on changing settings.

2.4.12 Configuring Administrative Settings with YaST

Use the YaST Control Center to change the installation and configuration of your whole system. Administrator (or root) permission is required to open YaST.

To open YaST, click Computer > More Applications > System > YaST, then enter the root password. If you do not know the root password, ask your system administrator.

YaST contains various modules you can use to adjust your system settings. These modules are divided into the following categories:

Hardware: Contains modules for configuring hardware components such as your monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, and scanner.

Miscellaneous: The YaST Control Center has several modules that cannot easily be classified into the first six module groups. The modules in this category can be used for things such as viewing log files and installing drivers from a vendor CD.

Network Devices: Includes modules for configuring network devices such as network cards, ISDN, DSL, or modem.

Network Services: Contains modules for network services and for configuring clients such as LDAP and NFS.

Novell AppArmor: Use the modules of this category to configure the Novell® AppArmor™ access control system. This option is available only if the Novell AppArmor pattern is installed.

Security and Users: Use these modules to configure security details such as firewall options, and to create and manage users and groups.

Software: Use the modules of this category to set options for installation and updates, and to install or remove software packages.

System: Use these modules to change system settings such as the date, time, or language, and to perform tasks such as backing up or restoring files.

For information about using YaST, see System Configuration with YaST in the SLED 10 SP1 Deployment Guide.