SUSE Linux

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Questions of New Users/Migrators
• Questions of Experienced Linux Users and Professionals
• Questions Regarding Supported Hardware

questions of new users/migrators

• What are the system requirements for SUSE Linux?
• Where can I find an overview of SUSE Linux products?
• Where can I find a list of the new features compared to previous versions?
• How much does SUSE Linux cost?
• Is the installation of SUSE Linux difficult?
• Will there be a PPC edition of SUSE Linux?
• What about my Windows files, e.g. my MS Office, image, video, and mp3 files?
• Where can I find brief descriptions of the applications included in SUSE Linux?
• Where can I get help if something does not work?
• Is it true that Linux is much safer against viruses and hacker attacks than Windows?
• What does "SUSE" mean?

questions of experienced linux users and professionals

• Should I perform an update or a new installation?
• What happened to /etc/rc.config, the file containing the start variables?
• What about the LSB and FHS standards?
• Where can I get information about VMware and its installation?
• Is there any embedded version of SUSE Linux?
• Are ISO images of SUSE Linux available on the Internet?
• Where can I find information about Oracle on SUSE Linux?
• Are there any ERP and financial accounting systems for SUSE Linux?
• The usage of YaST2 in text mode (ncurses)

questions regarding supported hardware

Experience has shown that the analysis of various hardware combinations is very time-consuming. However, using the listed links, you can obtain the information that is relevant for you. For special issues, use the Google search engine at http://www.google.com/linux

• Hardware requirements for SUSE Linux
• The SUSE Hardware Database (CDB)
• The SUSE Support Database (SDB) in the new SUSE Portal
• Linux documentation project links: hardware
• Graphics cards
• Graphics cards with X.org
• 3-D drivers for Nvidia cards
• Drivers for Matrox cards
• Printers in Linux
• Sound cards in Linux
• Scanners in Linux
• USB devices in Linux
• Firewire devices (IEEE1394) in Linux
• Network cards/wireless LAN
• RAID
• Linux on laptops
• Linux IrDA project
• Bluetooth devices in Linux
• Linux PCMCIA information page
• TV cards in Linux
• Linux compatible hardware

What are the system requirements for SUSE Linux?

• System requirements

Where can I find an overview of SUSE Linux products?

• Overview

Where can I find a list of the new features compared to previous versions?

• What's New?

How much does SUSE Linux cost?

• Prices

Is the installation of SUSE Linux difficult?

• Even Linux newcomers can easily install SUSE Linux on their systems in a short time.

Will there be a PPC edition of SUSE Linux?

• At the moment there are no plans to release a retail version for PPC. However, the free, downloadable OpenSource Edition of SUSE Linux is available for PPC.

What about my Windows files, e.g. my MS Office, image, video, and mp3 files?

Almost all files created in Windows can be opened and edited with Linux applications. Linux offers several office packages, including the powerful OpenOffice.org which enables you to open MS Office files and even save them in MS Office format. Questions on the installation, administration, and problems in connection with OpenOffice.org are covered in the "User Guide" in the section "Text Processing and More with OpenOffice.org" and at the following URL:

• http://www.openoffice.org/

Where can I find brief descriptions of the applications included in SUSE Linux?

Please understand that we are not able to provide detailed answers to questions regarding the capabilities of specific applications included in our SUSE Linux distribution. This is simply impossible for the more than 3,500 applications currently shipped with SUSE Linux. Refer to the following URLs for the names, groups, series, and short descriptions of all applications included in SUSE Linux:

• SUSE Linux software packages

Where can I get help if something does not work?

1. Manuals - If you need help, you should first consult our manuals, which contain hundreds of pages of information.
2. SUSE Help Center - SUSE Linux has an integrated help system, the SUSE Help Center.
3. Support Database - Further help for special issues is provided in the world's largest online Linux support database.
4. Support - Additionally, SUSE offers an extensive range of support services. The installation support is free of charge for 90 days. Within the scope of the installation support, you can get assistance for installing your system, resizing your windows, or configuring the Internet connection. See here for an overview of the complete range of the support.

Is it true that Linux is much safer against viruses and hacker attacks than Windows?

Yes! Firstly, there are hardly any viruses for Linux. Secondly, though security gaps may occur as in Windows, these are always fixed very speedily, and the respective patches are made available on the Internet within a few hours or days. By means of its "YaST Online Update" (YOU), SUSE keeps you informed about the state of affairs and security.

What does "SUSE" mean?

"Gesellschaft für Software und System Entwicklung mbH; SUSE GmbH"

Should I perform an update or a new installation?

• Update or new installation
• http://portal.suse.com/sdb/en/2001/07/hmeyer_update_lost_config.html

What happened to /etc/rc.config, the file containing the start variables?

• http://portal.suse.com/sdb/en/2002/04/rc-sysconfig-8-0.html
• http://portal.suse.com/sdb/en/2002/03/mmj_network80.html
• http://portal.suse.com/sdb/en/2002/04/start_foo80.html

What about the LSB and FHS standards?

• SUSE Linux is LSB-certified.

General information about LSB is available at URLs such as the following: http://www.linuxkp.org/en/content.php?&content/linuxology/lsb.html

Where can I get information about VMware and its installation?

• www.vmware.com

Is there any embedded version of SUSE Linux?

No. There are some handhelds with embedded Linux, but these Linux versions are mostly developed by the respective handheld manufacturers. Information about embedded Linux is available under the following links:

• http://www.embedded-linux.org/
• http://www.linuxdevices.com/products/PD8619300089.html

Are ISO images of SUSE Linux available on the Internet?

• ISO Images Downloads

Where can I find information about Oracle on SUSE Linux?

• Oracle on SUSE Linux

Are there any ERP and financial accounting systems for SUSE LINUX?

Yes and no. ERP and financial accounting systems are very complex and have to be customized. The availability largely depends on your sector, company size, hardware equipment, and of course your personal preferences. Therefore, we cannot provide a general, concise answer to this question. Solutions for Linux do exist, though there are no standard solutions for specific sectors or company sizes.

The usage of YaST2 in text mode (ncurses)

• YaST2 in text mode

Hardware requirements for SUSE Linux

• Hardware requirements

The SUSE Hardware Database (CDB)

• http://cdb.novell.com/

The SUSE Support Database (SDB)

• http://portal.suse.comsdb/en/index.html

Linux documentation project links: hardware

• http://www.tldp.org/links/hw.html

Graphics cards

• The X.Org Foundation: http://www.x.org/

Graphics cards with X11R6.8

• http://www.x.org/X11R6.8.1/doc/

3-D drivers for Nvidia cards

• http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

Drivers for Matrox cards

• http://www.matrox.com/mga/support/drivers/latest/home.cfm

Printers in Linux

• http://www.linuxprinting.org/printer_list.cgi

Sound cards in Linux

• http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/

Scanners in Linux

• USB: http://www.buzzard.me.uk/jonathan/scanners-usb.html
• SCSI: http://www.sane-project.org/

USB devices in Linux

• http://www.qbik.ch/usb/devices/

Firewire devices (IEEE1394) in Linux

• http://www.linux1394.org/hcl.php

Network cards/wireless LAN

• http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/Wireless.html

RAID

• http://www.linux-ide.org/chipsets.html
• http://domsch.com/linux

Linux on laptops

• http://www.linux-laptop.net/
• http://www.tuxmobil.org

Linux IrDA project

• http://irda.sourceforge.net/

Bluetooth devices in Linux

• http://www.holtmann.org/linux/bluetooth/devices.html
• http://bluez.sourceforge.net/
• http://tuxmobil.org/bluetooth_linux.html

Linux PCMCIA information page

• http://pcmcia-cs.sourceforge.net/

TV cards in Linux

• http://www.linuxtv.org
• http://www.linuxdvb.tv

Linux compatible hardware

• http://www.linuxtested.com/