SUSE Linux* Enterprise Desktop (SLED) offers a stable and secure working environment packed with easy-to-use business software and services. SLED offers both GNOME* and KDE desktops as well as leading Novell products and services to create a work environment that helps you capture and share business information.
For more detailed installation instructions and deployment strategies, see the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Deployment Guide.
Use these instructions if there is no existing Linux system on you machine or if you want to replace an existing Linux system. See Updating SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop for information on updating an NLD 9 system to SLED 10.
Insert the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop CD 1 or DVD into the drive, then reboot the computer to start the installation program.
Select on the boot screen, then press Enter.
This loads the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop installation program and starts the installation in normal mode. You can also select from the following options:
Boot from Hard Disk: Boots the system already installed on the hard drive (the system that is normally booted when the machine is started).
Installation—ACPI Disabled: If the normal installation fails, it could be because the system hardware doesn’t support the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI). If this seems to be the case, use this option to install without ACPI support.
Installation—Local APIC Disabled: If the normal installation fails, it could be because the system hardware doesn’t support the local Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller (APIC). If this seems to be the case, use this option to install without local APIC support.
Installation—Safe Settings: Boots the system with the DMA mode (for CD-ROM drives) and any interfering power management functions disabled. You can also use the command line to enter or change kernel parameters.
Rescue System: If you are unable to boot into your installed Linux system, you can boot the computer from the CD using this option. This starts a minimal Linux system without a graphical user interface, which lets you access disk partitions for troubleshooting and repairing the installed system.
Memory Test: Tests your system RAM by means of repeated read and write cycles. This is done in an endless loop because memory corruption often shows up sporadically and many read and write cycles might be necessary to detect it. If you suspect that your RAM is defective, start this test and let it run for several hours. If no errors are found after a long period of time, you can assume that the memory is intact. End the test by rebooting the system.
Select the language to be used during the installation and for the installed system, then click .
Read the License Agreement, click , then click .
Select , then click :
Select the clock and time zone to use in your system, then click .
Use the Installation Settings screen to view the hardware detected and to view a number of proposed installation and partitioning options, then select your desired options.
The tab contains options that sometimes need manual intervention (in most common installation situations). The tab contains special options, described below.
IMPORTANT:If you do not make any changes to the Software selections, GNOME is installed as the default desktop environment. To install KDE, click and select . Depending on your available disk space, you can choose to install both the GNOME and KDE desktops.
After configuring any of the items presented in these dialogs, you are always returned to the Installation Settings screen, which is updated accordingly.
System: Detects system hardware and lets you save the results to a floppy or file.
Keyboard Layout: Lets you change the previously selected keyboard layout. By default, the layout corresponds to the selected language.
Partitioning: Lets you customize the partitioning. In most cases, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop proposes a reasonable partitioning scheme that can be accepted without change.
For more information on partitioning options, see “Section 3.7.1: Partitioning” in the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Deployment Guide.
Add-On Products: Use this option to install additional products from a separate media source. You can select various types of product media such as CD, DVD, or local directory. You can also work directly with .ISO files (select ).
Software: SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop offers several types of software packages with various installation scopes. Use this option to change the selected desktop environment and to add or remove packages and filters.
Booting: During the installation, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop proposes a boot configuration for your system. You should normally leave these setting unchanged, but you can use this option if you need a custom setup.
You can configure the boot mechanism to rely on a special boot floppy. Although this means that the boot floppy must be in the drive when booting, it leaves an existing boot mechanism untouched. This is usually unnecessary because YaST can configure the boot loader to also boot existing operating systems.
You can also use the boot configuration to change the location of the boot mechanism on the hard disk.
For more information, see “Section 17.3: Configuring the Boot Loader with YaST” in the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Deployment Guide.
Time Zone: Lets you select a time zone. You can also set the hardware clock to Local Time or UTC. If you set the hardware clock to UTC, your system can rely on SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop to switch between standard time and daylight saving time automatically. Set the clock to Local Time if you are dual booting.
Language: Lets you change the language you selected in Step 3. You can also change the language when you log in.
Default Runlevel: Lets you define how the system is started after booting. Use the default runlevel 5: Full Multiuser with Network and xdm (you will be prompted to log in directly under a graphical interface). Do not change the runlevel unless instructed to do so by your system administrator.
When you are finished configuring the installation settings, click .
Click to accept each license agreement, then click to begin the installation.
After completing the basic system setup and the installation of all selected software packages, the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop installation boots into the new Linux system, after which you can create users, configure the hardware, and set up system services.
If you are installing from CD, leave CD 1 in your CD-ROM drive during the reboot and do not select any installation options. When the reboot is finished, the installation continued and you are prompted to insert the remaining CDs.
Enter a name for this computer and the DNS domain that it belongs to, then click .
Type a password for the system administrator account (called the root user, or root), then click .
Unlike regular users who might or might not have permission to do certain things on the system, root has unlimited power to do anything, including change the system configuration, install programs, set up new hardware, and change user passwords. The root account should be used only for system administration, maintenance, and repair. Logging in as root for daily work can be risky, because a single mistake could lead to the irretrievable loss of system files.
You should never forget the root password. After you enter it here, the password cannot be retrieved. It can only be reset with administrative assistance.
In the Network Configuration screen, view or change the network connections of your system, then click .
If you have network devices (for example, network or wireless cards, a DSL connection, ISDN adapter, or modem), it is a good idea to configure them now, because an Internet connection allows SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop to retrieve any available updates and include them in the installation.
The network hardware can also be configured after the system installation has been completed. See the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 GNOME User Guide and the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 KDE User Guide for more information.
To skip the network configuration, click .
To test your Internet connection, click .
This option also checks for the latest SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop release notes. If you don’t want to test the connection at this point, click . This also skips checking for updated release notes.
On the Running Internet Connection Test screen, view the results of the test, then click to continue.
On the Novell Customer Center Configuration screen, click to enable your system for online updates.
Click to skip this step and continue the installation. You can configure this option after the product has been installed.
If online updates are available and you want to install them, select on the Online Update screen, then click . To skip the online updates, select , then click . You can update your system any time after installation.
In the User Authentication Method screen, select , unless instructed otherwise by your system administrator, then click .
To create your user account, type your first and last name in the field, a username in the field, and a password (as recommended by your system administrator) in the field.
For security reasons, your password should be at least eight characters long and should contain both uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers. The maximum length for passwords is 72 characters, and passwords are case sensitive.
Click to complete the User Authentication setup and start the system configuration.
After the system configuration has completed, view the Release Notes, then click .
Use the Hardware Configuration screen to view or configure your graphics card and other hardware devices, then click .
Click a component to start its configuration. For the most part, the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop installation detects and configures the devices automatically.
If you prefer not to perform this action right now, click . You can configure these items later, but we recommend that you configure the graphics card now. Although the display settings autoconfigured by SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop should be generally acceptable, you might have strong preferences as far as resolution, color depth, and other graphics features are concerned. For more information, see “Section 7.13: SaX2” in the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Deployment Guide.
On the Installation Completed screen, click to close the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop installation and continue to the login screen.
Type your username in the field, then press Enter.
Type your password in the field, then press Enter.
Use these instructions to update a Novell Linux Desktop 9 system to SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10. Configuration settings from your existing system are preserved whenever possible.
Insert the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop CD 1 or DVD into the drive, then reboot the computer to start the installation program.
Select on the boot screen, then press Enter.
Select the language to be used during the installation and for the installed system, then click .
Read the License Agreement, click , then click to continue the installation.
Select , then click :
Select the partition or system to update, then click .
In the Installation Settings screen, adjust the settings according to your requirements.
You can usually leave the default settings untouched, but if you intend to enhance your system, select the packages offered in the Update Options submenu or add support for additional languages.
You can also make backups of various system components. Selecting backups slows down the update process. Use this option if you do not have a recent system backup.
When you are finished configuring the installation settings, click .
Click to accept each license agreement, then click to begin the installation
After completing the basic system setup and the installation of all selected software packages, the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop installation boots into the new Linux system, after which you can create users, configure the hardware, and set up system services.
If you are installing from CD, leave CD 1 in your CD-ROM drive during the reboot and do not select any installation options. When the reboot is finished, the installation continues and you are prompted to insert the remaining CDs.
To test your Internet connection, click .
This option also checks for the latest SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop release notes. If you don’t want to test the connection at this point, click . This also skips checking for updated release notes.
On the Running Internet Connection Test screen, view the results of the test, then click to continue.
On the Novell Customer Center Configuration screen, click to enable your system for online updates.
Click to skip this step and continue the installation. You can configure this options after the product has been installed.
If online updates are available and you want to install them, select on the Online Update screen, then click . To skip the online updates, select , then click . You can update your system any time after installation.
After the system configuration has completed, view the Release Notes, then click .
On the Installation Completed screen, click to close the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop installation and continue to the login screen.
Type your username in the field, then press Enter.
Type your password in the field, then press Enter.
For information on using and configuring SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, see the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 GNOME User Guide and the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 KDE User Guide.