As pointed out in Installation Repositories, various protocols can be selected to access network repositories. This requires you to set up an appropriate service, such as a Web server, FTP server, or SMB server.
Based on experiences gained over the past years Novell Consulting recommends that you use the HTTP protocol and the Apache 2 Web server to configure access to remote repositories.
The Apache 2 Web server provides the following advantages in comparison to other servers and protocols:
Easy configuration
Apache 2 is part of all server distributions delivered by Novell and SUSE
Extensive logging mechanisms
Symbolic links are supported
Most administrators are familiar with configuration aspects of Apache 2