March 2007 - WLUG - wlug.mailman3.com

Re: [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10?

by James Gray

I've had a very good experience with Ubuntu. I can't really compare it to anything else, because it is the only distro that I've ever used for very long. As you know, Ubuntu/Kubundu decision is based on your preference for Gnome/KDE respectively. The desktop CDs for both of these distros can boot right from the CD into a fully functional system. I recommend you burn a CD and take it for a test drive. James On 3/20/07, douglas.r.aker(a)verizon.com <douglas.r.aker(a)verizon.com> wrote: > > > OK, did so more research. Looks like it's called OpenSuse 10.2. Read > some reviews. Some good, some not so good. > > Also considering switching to Fedora Core 4 or (K)Ubuntu 6.10. Any > thoughts for or against these distro's? > > Has anyone ever used: http://www.thelinuxstore.ca/ ? > > Thanks, > Doug > > > > *Doug Aker/EMPL/MA/Verizon@VZNotes* > Sent by: wlug-bounces(a)mail.wlug.org > > 03/20/2007 10:54 AM Please respond to > "Worcester Linux Users Group" <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > > To > "Worcester Linux Users Group" <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> cc > > Subject > [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10? > > > > > > > > Hi all: > > The last Suse Linux software I purchased for laptop use was Suse Linux > Professional 9.2. Looking now to upgrade to 10. Anyone know the latest > Suse release for desktop use? And I don't think they call it "Suse Linux > Professional" anymore. And did Suse ever solve that Yast slowness problem > (at least I think it was something like that). > > Thanks, > Doug _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > >

March 20, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10?

by Robert L Krawitz

From: douglas.r.aker(a)verizon.com Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:33:42 -0400 OK, did so more research. Looks like it's called OpenSuse 10.2. Read some reviews. Some good, some not so good. Short answer: after a rocky start, this release is really, really good. I found the *initial* upgrade from 10.0 to 10.2 to be very painful -- the upgrade process was actually the most painful I've had, and I've been using SUSE distributions since ~6.0 (usually I take every second or third release). The problem was that the RPM consistency checker was finding a problem, but gave an empty list of inconsistencies, so I couldn't resolve it except by cut and try. The YAST online update is also ugly -- it only wants to upgrade from a site that it picks, and doesn't let you easily upgrade from your own mirror. The one major other problem I had, when upgrading my server, is that I had to rebuild my cyrus imapd databases, and this took a bunch of web searching. The other major annoyance is that 10.2 doesn't support apt. That's the bad. When I eventually got past this, I've found it to be really good. Laptop support is particularly improved; suspend to disk is considerably faster, suspend to RAM even sometimes works (it's actually the resume that's the problem, and it's the usual graphics thing), power management in general works well, and Network Manager does a really good job of managing network interfaces on a laptop (you don't have to use it -- you can use the traditional if-up tool if you like, but once you try Network Manager on a laptop you won't want to go back). I think they've finally stabilized their software installation -- 10.1 was reputed to be a real horror story. There are a lot of smart (Novell's apt-like tool -- why they couldn't just use apt is beyond me, but smart can handle a lot of different repository types) repositories around. The packman and guru repositories have a lot of good stuff; I also use this to do my upgrades. KDE 3.5.6 finally fixes a raft of problems, and if you sync to a hand held make certain to upgrade to 3.5.6 before trying to sync, or you'll basically lose all of your calendar appointments. I'm finding I'm having to build a lot fewer things myself than I did with 9.1 and 10.0. I've largely depopulated my /usr/local. -- Robert Krawitz <rlk(a)alum.mit.edu> Tall Clubs International -- http://www.tall.org/ or 1-888-IM-TALL-2 Member of the League for Programming Freedom -- mail lpf(a)uunet.uu.net Project lead for Gutenprint -- http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net "Linux doesn't dictate how I work, I dictate how Linux works." --Eric Crampton

March 20, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10?

by Andy Stewart

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Brett Russ wrote: > On 3/20/07, douglas.r.aker(a)verizon.com <douglas.r.aker(a)verizon.com> wrote: >> The last Suse Linux software I purchased for laptop use was Suse Linux >> Professional 9.2. Looking now to upgrade to 10. Anyone know the latest >> Suse release for desktop use? And I don't think they call it "Suse Linux >> Professional" anymore. And did Suse ever solve that Yast slowness problem >> (at least I think it was something like that). > > Visit http://www.opensuse.org/ They're at 10.2. > > I think I'm on 10.1 at home and Yast is still slow and less functional > than previous versions. Am thinking about trying one of the new > designer distros (kubuntu maybe). Is the grass greener? > > BR > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > Hi gang, As a long time SuSE user, I definitely noticed the slowness of YaST around version 10.1. Not all of YaST is effected, but the part having to do with software installation and package management was definitely screwed up. It was so bad that version 10.1 was re-released to fix these problems. However, before the re-release, I had switched from YaST to the Smart package manager (http://labix.org/smart) It is available on the SuSE media, if I recall correctly. I use the Smart PM for software installation, and I use the other parts of YaST accordingly. Its not an ideal solution but it functions. Once Microsoft got involved with Novell, I began to have reservations about my continued use of SuSE. I still have SuSE 10.1 on my server at home, but my new laptop is running Kubuntu and I'm very pleased with it. I use the Smart PM on Kubuntu, too! The perception of greener grass is relative - perhaps it is better stated that the brown patches are in different places. :-) I currently have no plans to upgrade my SuSE installation due to Microsoft's involvement with Novell. Once I start to feel like my server is running outdated software, I'll look at alternatives at that time, but that'll be a while from now. Later, Andy - -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFGAFxCHl0iXDssISsRAiiVAJ9PbTd0tPGsifs/tM8OkNFDHZOvEQCfR/s4 f0xLfQukqLmssSvPpTl7UCY= =iUdW -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

March 20, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10?

by Mike Leo

Yes. I hear nothing but awful awful things about Suse 10.0 and 10.1, especially in regards to Yast. 10.2 claims to have pulled it out of the fire, and people say Yast is improved. However, you don't have to stick with Yast....SMART is making headlines lately as the next end-all be-all package manager. I don't use Suse myself, so don't rely only on what I say. ~Mike ----- Original Message ---- From: Brett Russ <bruss(a)alum.wpi.edu> To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 2:00:35 PM Subject: Re: [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10? On 3/20/07, douglas.r.aker(a)verizon.com <douglas.r.aker(a)verizon.com> wrote: > The last Suse Linux software I purchased for laptop use was Suse Linux > Professional 9.2. Looking now to upgrade to 10. Anyone know the latest > Suse release for desktop use? And I don't think they call it "Suse Linux > Professional" anymore. And did Suse ever solve that Yast slowness problem > (at least I think it was something like that). Visit http://www.opensuse.org/ They're at 10.2. I think I'm on 10.1 at home and Yast is still slow and less functional than previous versions. Am thinking about trying one of the new designer distros (kubuntu maybe). Is the grass greener? BR _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

March 20, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10?

by howard＠howardwhite.net

<<The last Suse Linux software I purchasedfor laptop use was Suse Linux Professional 9.2. Looking now to upgradeto 10. Anyone know the latest Suse release for desktop use? AndI don't think they call it "Suse Linux Professional" anymore. And did Suse ever solve that Yast slowness problem (at least I thinkit was something like that).>> Go here and look at how to install Open SuSe for free. I downloaded it, put it on a DVD, and installed without a hitch. Then look on the OpenSuSe page for the Smart Package Manager (just add /Smart to the url), which is a nice utility for keeping all your apps up-to-date. HW (one of these days I'll actually come to a meeting...)

March 20, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Problems with a Sparc ULTRA1

by Adam Gomes

Ok, I'm a tony bit confused. Have you installed the OS on the drives, and are now booting the OS for the first time from disk, or do you get these messages when you are booting from CD? If sda is a hard disk, how is it partitioned? Did you use a sun disk label, or some other set of partitions / file systems? If it's a CD, I've been running Debian/SPARC on all my sparc hardware without issue, and manage to boot successfully from CD everytime (has worked for me on Ultra 10, Ultra 60, Ultra 1, Ultra 2, Sparc 20/10/5/2/1 and even some of the older VME type hardware). Let me where you've gotten, maybe I can lend a hand. --Adam On Mon, March 19, 2007 5:27 pm, ken jones said: > I just acquired by second Sparc ULTRA1 Creator. It does not boot. > After much struggle complaining about not finding sda4, it concludes: > > VSF: can not open root device "sda4" or 08:04 > Please append a correct "root=" boot device > Kernel panic: VFS: unable to mount root fs on 08:04 > Press L1-a to return to the boot prom > > > I've tried booting from my aurora 1.0 iso disk set. No luck. > I've tried booting from my just out of the envelope GENTOO disk. No luck. > > Before it gives up it seems to have found the two scsi drives. > It says: Attached scsi disk sda at scsi0, channel 0, id0, lun > Attached scsi disk sdb at scsi0, channel 0, id1, lun > > It has found the following partitions partitions if that is what these > are. > /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0: p1 p2 p3 p4 > and > /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target1/lun0: p1 p3 > > I stopped the boot: with a "stop a". > ok test scsi > > CE DMA fill from address ffee2000 for 80 bytes succeeded > Dma register test -- succeeded > Esp register test -- succeeded > Dma read test -- succeeded > Dma write test -- succeeded > > Any ideas? > > Ken Jones > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

March 20, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10?

by douglas.r.aker＠verizon.com

OK, did so more research. Looks like it's called OpenSuse 10.2. Read some reviews. Some good, some not so good. Also considering switching to Fedora Core 4 or (K)Ubuntu 6.10. Any thoughts for or against these distro's? Has anyone ever used: http://www.thelinuxstore.ca/ ? Thanks, Doug Doug Aker/EMPL/MA/Verizon@VZNotes Sent by: wlug-bounces(a)mail.wlug.org 03/20/2007 10:54 AM Please respond to "Worcester Linux Users Group" <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> To "Worcester Linux Users Group" <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> cc Subject [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10? Hi all: The last Suse Linux software I purchased for laptop use was Suse Linux Professional 9.2. Looking now to upgrade to 10. Anyone know the latest Suse release for desktop use? And I don't think they call it "Suse Linux Professional" anymore. And did Suse ever solve that Yast slowness problem (at least I think it was something like that). Thanks, Doug _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

March 20, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Suse Linux Professional 10?

by Brett Russ

On 3/20/07, douglas.r.aker(a)verizon.com <douglas.r.aker(a)verizon.com> wrote: > The last Suse Linux software I purchased for laptop use was Suse Linux > Professional 9.2. Looking now to upgrade to 10. Anyone know the latest > Suse release for desktop use? And I don't think they call it "Suse Linux > Professional" anymore. And did Suse ever solve that Yast slowness problem > (at least I think it was something like that). Visit http://www.opensuse.org/ They're at 10.2. I think I'm on 10.1 at home and Yast is still slow and less functional than previous versions. Am thinking about trying one of the new designer distros (kubuntu maybe). Is the grass greener? BR

March 20, 2007

Suse Linux Professional 10?

by douglas.r.aker＠verizon.com

Hi all: The last Suse Linux software I purchased for laptop use was Suse Linux Professional 9.2. Looking now to upgrade to 10. Anyone know the latest Suse release for desktop use? And I don't think they call it "Suse Linux Professional" anymore. And did Suse ever solve that Yast slowness problem (at least I think it was something like that). Thanks, Doug

March 20, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Problems with a Sparc ULTRA1

by Eric Martin

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The cover is really easy to unscrew. There are two screws in the back with arrows pointing to them. They are spring loaded and retained so don't worry about loosing them. Cover is removed in an upwards fashion and you'll need a flatblade screwdriver to pry off the access panel (really easy) for the hard drives. Also the OBP (OpenBoot PROM) reference is good: http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/gentoo-sparc-obpreference.xml Eric ken jones wrote: > Thanks everybody :-) > > This is my second Sparc. I have another ULTRA1 that has been running Aurora > 1.0 for a couple years with no none zero nota problem. I still have the five CD > .iso set from which I loaded this Aurora. > > Andy, thank you for the gentoo sparc WEB site. I had not found it. It suggests > that sda4 might not be the boot partition. However my good machine and my > broken machine both use sda4 as the /boot. > > This machine has two scsi hard drives. Might it be wise for me to figure out > which on is 'broken" and remove it? It could be the disk itself. It could be > the SCSI driver. It could be the DMA system. Trouble is I have never unscrewed > the Sparc cover. Oh, dear.... > > Thank you all for your support. > > Alan Riccardo suggested that I use a cross over cable and the equivalent of > HyperTerminal so at least I could capture the messages as they fly up the > screen. That is a great idea. Now to find where I put that old cross over > cable..... > > Ken Jones > > > > Andy Stewart wrote: > Keith Wright wrote: > >>>>> From: ken jones <kjones(a)ziplink.net> >>>>> >>>>> I just acquired by second Sparc ULTRA1 Creator. >>>>> >>>> What is that, a CD? >>>> > > If I recall correctly, the Sparc Ultra1 Creator is a desktop system > manufactured by Sun Microsystems. Its processor is not an x86 > architecture, but it is the Sparc architecture. > > > > >>>>> It does not boot. >>>>> I've tried booting from my aurora 1.0 iso disk set. No luck. >>>>> I've tried booting from my just out of the envelope GENTOO disk. No luck. >>>>> >>>> Gee, it sounds like things don't boot. >>>> >>>> >>>>> Any ideas? >>>>> > > I found this website, but perhaps you've already been here: > http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-sparc.xml > > I also recall that SuSE Linux had a version for Sparc a long time ago. > I've used it. I think it was version 7.x but I'm not sure. Perhaps you > can still get this CD. > > >>>> No. But carry on. We're rooting for you. >>>> >>>> Is there a ROM setup program that you >>>> can get into before booting? >>>> > > I thought there was a magical sequence of commands to type at the > OpenBoot prompt. My memory is very vague since its been a long time > since I've done this. > > Here's another URL which may help: > http://www.linux.com/howtos/SPARC-HOWTO-12.shtml > > One last thing. I did a quick Google and found this tidbit about > properly burning the CD. Perhaps it will be helpful. > > http://lists.suse.com/archives/suse-sparc/2001-Mar/0146.html > > I'm sorry that I couldn't have been more help, but hopefully these will > point you in the right direction. > > Good luck, and keep us posted. > > Andy > >> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFF/1MAaI8VEtSi4H8RAqcLAJ0ahGmMKxpCptBWuYI+UmpbQv0AwQCfTRbd UPNHyakOxe6PyM1SsKXpg+c= =fff6 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

March 20, 2007