The reputation of Suse Linux is that it is a great distribution containing some of the best Unix utilities and enterprise caliber performance tuning. But as we shall see Suse Linux serves the power user and desktop developer very well too - particularly with its ability to interface with so many hardware devices, printers and peripherals. But the most important attribute of Suse Linux is its Open Source roots.

Open Source means free access to software but not totally free software. This means software that is made available through Open Source license has made its source code plus resulting executables freely available to its users and, depending on the Open Source license used, some or all of its derived code is Open Source as well.

In the case of Linux, all suppliers including Suse, RedHat, Debian and all the others start from the same core kernel (the chief difference being which stable version number each Linux distribution chooses to start with) and associated routines; then each adds its own Open Source features. For example Suse has YaST for Linux system management and configuration, Debian has APT, RedHat has RPM-based routines. In addition, each Linux vendors makes a different collection of utilities and routines for working with Linux often targeting a particular set of users: - workstation power users, enterprise server systems, web development servers, home and desktop users, etc.

But despite making the source code and executables freely available, Open Source software is not free. Open Source vendors or distributors can and do charge fees for support, training, distribution and other consulting services rendered in bringing Open Source systems to an organization. Such Open Source software vendors as RedHat, Novell/Suse, MySQL, JBoss and many others make substantial incomes by giving away their software for free but charging for the distribution, support, training and other services.

Open Source is certainly a reaction to SaaL-Software as a License vendors like Microsoft who charge an up front license fee for their software plus also charge for distribution, support, and training. EULA and other licensing terms are anti-warranties. EULA and other SaaL licensing terms are constructed to deny the software buyer any warranty or legal recourse in the event that software fails to work as advertised. This means that if something is not working in a Saal piece of software - tough luck, users must often wait weeks if not months for a fix. In contrast for Linux and Open Source code, it is possible to find the bug and fix it . This is true because Linux not only has all the tools necessary to do so - Compiler, source code, documentation on code and how to recompile it; but also has distributed them to every user. For savvy developers, universities, and IT consultancies, this Linux ability to be self-repaired plus the large community of system-smart users it has accumulated, makes Linux especially attractive. It is in the first 2 chapters of Beginning Suse Linux, that the author sets out these and other practical reasons for adopting Linux.

Is`Apress dead ??

In fact, Keir Thomas and the editors at Apress have done a remarkable job in putting together an introduction to Suse Linux not only with a good Linux overview, but also with a really solid and thorough installation guide plus a wealth of resources on DVD for $40. By going with a DVD, Thomas and APress are able to offer so much more - 4.5GB more including:
- 3MB of extra docs with a series of 37 Linux HowTos not covered in the book
- 18 specialized DOS utilities which will get you out of dual boot or other tight spots
- 3.0GB of application software for loading into the basic Suse Linux install
It is the third point in particular, the richness of the application set that is made available with Linux that truly separates this distribution from most other Linux install+book offerings. What adds to the value is the careful way that Keir Thomas has documented the install process. I have only used this install once; but the combination of the Suse Linux YaST configuration utility plus all the added tips, utilities and useful pointers in Keir Thomas' book that saved my bacon on an important Linux installation.

Another nice feature of the book is that it is part of a series by Apress including Hardening Linux, Automating Linux and Unix Administration, and Shell Scripting Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach. These books confront one of the fundamental issues in Linux support today - the cost of support given so many different Linux/Unix shell scripting tools plus installer programs and frameworks. These books act as good complements to Beginning Suse Linux.

Suse Linux Background

Now users may have already heard of the origins of Linux from Linus Torvalds work at University of Helsinki in Finland in the 1990's. So it should not be a surprise that Suse Linux is originally one of the earliest distributions of Linux put together by a German Unix consultancy called Software und System Entwicklung => Suse ->Software and System Development. Thus Suse like Debian, has an orientation towards Linux for developers but has branched out into specializing in large, enterprise Linux servers as well.

Suse was bought by Novell software in the early 2000's and has become a major enterprise distribution both on the desktop and on the server side. One of the key reasons for Suse acceptance has been the broad array of hardware devices supported by Suse along with a clever and easy-to-use software and device configuration utility call YaST2. This combination plus very wide line-up of supported software on Suse that makes for its competitive advantage.

Suse Linux Software Line-up

Suse Linux has a basic line-up of tools that looks like many versions of Linux. however, as we shall see in this list there are more and interesting options available from Suse that fits with their overall broad hardware support mission. As Keir points out in the book - "Suse engineers have invested time not only in polishing the user interface, but also in improving hardware compatibility, to the extent that Suse Linux is often considered cutting edge in terms of the sheer number of hardware devices supported. Considering the poor showing in this area [by other Linux distributions], Suse is to be applauded." And hence some major computer vendors such as IBM and Sun are using Suse Linux as the basis for their Linux distributions.

Here is the basic software line up available on the the book's DVD:
Infrastructure Services
KDE or Gnome GUI interface - similar to many Linux distros
The shell jungle - IPython, Apache Ant, Ash, Bash, Dialog, Openssh, PDKsh, PDsh, Sash, TclX, Tcsh, Zsh, Shtools
Backup, archiving tools - Afio, Amanda, Ark, Cpio, Dar, Dump, KDar, Konserve, LibDar, Partimage, Pax, Pilot-link, Taper, XFSdump, StoreBackup, YaST2-backup

Developers Tools
Compilers - gcc, clisp, distcc, Gambas, Gnat, Java, Perl, PHP, pnet, posixcc, Python
Development utilities - Boehm-Gcollector, Cygnus Source Navigator, Dia, doxygen, global, gperf, Kate, Knoda, mdbtools, pccts, spectcl, swig, treecc ,xcoral
IDEs and developer tools - anjuta, Eclipse, Kdevelop3, mono-devel, Netbeans, open-motif
Graphics+media libraries- fltk, freeglut, Image Magick, imlib, lib3ds, Netpbm, OpenAl(Audio Library), Mesa-OpenGL, plib
Java tools - BCEL, Eclipse, fop, Java, JDBC, Jedit, Jikes, jmk, JTopen
Application servers - Apache, JBoss, Jonas, Tomcat, Zope
Databases - DB, DBxml, gdbm, MySql, PostgreSQL, Rekall, SapDB, SQLite

Internet Services
Line of web browsers - Firefox, Konqueror, KioSQL, Links, Neon, and Opera
Mail clients - Balsa, KMail, Sylpheed, Thunderbird, Tkrat,
Mail services and utilities - grepmail, NMH, Printfax, Procmail, sendmail,Xfmail
Spam filter and blocking tools - Bogofilter, Emil, Razor, SpamAssassin
Instant messaging services - Jabber, Gabber, Gaim, KDEnetwork3
FTP+other file transfer services - Atftp, Curl, Frox, ftp, gftp, Kbear, LFTP, ObexFTP, tftp
XML, SOAP + Web Services - expat, fop, KXML, libsoup, libxml2, ltxml, opensp, perl-soap, pyxml, rxp, sablot, Saxon, Trang, wbxml2, Xalan, Xerces, XMLstarlet, xmlto

Power user tools
media and video - Allegro, gPhoto2, Gstreamer; Gift, Kalbum, Kimdaba for image gallery; ASeqView, Alsa-tools, Ecasound, extace, hydrogen, Rosegarden as audio tools; Alsaplayer, Amarok, FlashPlayer, Kaffeine, KDEmultimedia3, KsCD, Nautilas, RealPlayer, Synaesthesia, Xine, Xmms as media players & utilities; Gamix, KalsaTools, Kamix, Pmidi, Qamix, TSE3 as Midi Tools; Tvtime Viewer, VCDImager
Office features - Koffice Word, Open Office Word for word processing, Impress, K3B CD/DVD burner; Impress, Kpresenter for presentations; TeXmacs
Desktop Publishing - Acroread, Fonttools, HTMLDoc, JadeTex, KPDF, PDFtoHTML, Pstoedit, Scribus, TeLatex
Analytics - Calctool, Kalamaris, Kcalc, MuPadfor scientific calculators; Kspread, OO-Open Office Calc, Gnumerics for Spreadsheets; OO-Base, SQLite for database;
Graphics - 3dto3d, Blender, for 3D design tools, Dia for diagramming; Gimp, Krita as Bitmap editors; graphviz, Karbon14, OO-Draw, Sodipodi Draw for vector draw, Xmountains Scene Creator

Games and entertainment
Action games - Armagetron, Bass, Bombermaze, Celestia, Chromium, FoTAQ, Koules, Methane, Mures, Orbital, Solarwolf, Torcs, Trophy, Tuxracer, Zarch
Arcade game - 3Dpong, abuse, Breakout, csmash, FlightGear, FOOBilliards, kdegames3-arcade, Kmines, Ltris, Marbles, Neverball, Pachi, Pacman, RocksnDiamonds, Solarwolf, Trackballs, Xgalaga, Xtetris
Board games - 3DChess, Backgammon, Khunphan, Monop, kdegames3-board, Scid-chess, Xmahjong, Xquarto
Card + puzzle games - blackbox, Cribbage, Fish, kdegames3-card, NiL, pysol-solitaire, Skat, Xlogical, Xmemory, Xpatience2, Xpexeso, Xpuzzle
Strategy games - ASC, Bzflag, kdegames3-tactics, Lincity, Nethack, Penguin-command, Simutrans, Squaroid, Trek, Wesnoth, Xarchon, Xscorch, xsok
Word games- Boggle, Hangman, Xscrabble

   Missing in Action from the DVD but Essential and Easily Downloaded
Desktop power tools - AbiWord, Evolution for Mail+PIM, WordPress for Web blogging
Database tools - IBM DB2 Express C, Oracle 10g as DBMS solution sets
Developer tools - BIRT Reporting Tools, NetBeans Java Ide, Pentaho BI Suite
Graphics and media utilities - Gallery for Image Albums, Mplayer, Xara on Linux

This is not an exhaustive list by any means - there is lots more on the DVD - particularly development tools and applications. Almost all are free and Open Source, a few are free but not Open Source (Opera-new, Realplayer) and I could find only a very few trialware (MuPad, Opera-old which complete but only available for a limited period or with restricted functionality). Desgners, developers and power users should take a great deal of interest in the line up of tools available.

Media Designers because there are a range of top end tools that work in Linux and
and Suse Linux has a great set of audio, vector graphics, plus media tools and routines. Developers for desktop, server and Web are sitting on a gold mine of software here - Suse Linux is a no brainer with superior LAMP, database, Java and other compiler or scripting tools available. Power users will find the combination of Koffice, Open Office plus the range of math, drawing/diagramming, and publishing tools very impressive.

For multi-user servers, we are not recommending this book for getting started with Suse Linux. Most of Beginning Suse Linux is devoted to a desktop or workstation setup. Instead we are recommending ????? for Suse Linux Server setups. However, we consider Suse Linux to be in many respects stronger than enterprise server Linux industry leader RedHat, because Suse Linux inherits strong links to superior system management software such as ZenWorks, Groupwise, plus some innovative links back to Microsoft.NET software with the Mono project. In sum, from small to enterprise Linux servers - Suse Linux should be on your shortlist.

Installing Suse Linux

Keir Thomas has done a great job in this book of preparing users for the task of installation. He has divided the task into three steps - Pre-installation, Core Installation, and Troubleshooting. He also has the benefit of Suse Linux's solid GUI interface tied in with a really good installer and system management routine in YaST2.

Keir in the Pre-installation discusses the many options users have for running Linux on a PC:
1)a PC devoted to Linux. Users are responsible for backing up any data files that need to be saved. The Suse Linux install process then automatically uses all the available hard disk(s).
2)a dual boot system in which the existing OS and some of its disk space are preserved; and Suse Linux is loaded into a partition newly created by the installer. However, there are three choices here as well:
  i)use a no install Linux booted from a Linux CD - problem storing files requires a disk partition with FAT32 - which will only be available with Win 9X, ME, and possibly Win XP but not Mac OS, WinNT, nor Win2000;
  ii)use a new and separate disk drive-simplest strategy is to add a new disk devoted to Linux;
  iii)free space on the existing disk and then defrag it so a large partition (at least 2GB - practically a minimum of 5GB) can be created by the installer.

There are new Virtualization technologies that are very attractive and are rapidly emerging which may change which opens you choose - particularly moving away from a static dual boot situation. Virtualization allows users to create a Windows, Mac, Solaris or Linux virtual machine dynamically with its own hard disk, memory, and cpu cycle allotment. VMWare and Open Source XEN are two of the most interesting technologies. With virtualization the question becomes -> why create a permanent dual boot environ, when users can create a virtual machine instantaneously that remains as long as you need it ? And that virtual machine can be persistent allowing initial resource allocations to be adjusted overtime. Given these circumstances, a PC devoted to Linux will become the preferred setup - emulating very efficiently Windows and many other OS environs.

In the Core installation, the author takes users step by step through basic install process. Keir points out that there is a core process that every Suse Linux install will follow, then a second application install phase that will vary widely among users depending on which supporting applications are their preferences. Also the author supports the step-by-step with screenshots and extra advisories and hints.

However, on the key step - Installation settings, the author goes light and does not discuss the importance of each option. Keir does emphasize that many of these options have a smart default based on auto-scan of the system and that many can be reset later. Also the author does discuss in detail the most important sub step, Partitioning, in detail.

Keir then shows that users can do the application install along with the core install but recommends that for later because it is so easy to do additional application adds and deletes with the YaST system manager. Finally Keir describes and shows the actual install process with the play-by-play screens generated by the install process. This helps to reduce anxiety because it shows what is the normal flow of operations and how much time to expect for the install.

It is after the core install and first Suse Linux reboot, that Keir again carefully covers these important steps again with screenshots and hints/advisories on:
1)setting the root password:
2)configuring your network setup;
3)selecting user authentication method;
4)creating users - very important for any shared usage;
5)configuring your hardware - also very important and the author defers to a much more complete explanation in chapter 8.
6)finishing installation.
This then has a Basic Suse Linux installed on the PC. The next 5 chapters are the key to the book because they take the user through all the steps necessary a)to tidy up any install problems and b)to get the most out of the PC's hardware and Suse Linux vast array of software.

So chapter 6 is devoted to any Installation Problems. Go here if you have any problems along the way in the Pre installation and Core installation steps. There is a mini-FAQ format to this chapter and its is here that I got rescued from two problems. One I had used a Flash Disk as a source of routines and inadvertently left it in - leading to an error message which is covered in the FAQs. Second the display was configures too small to even put in some commands during application installs. The book's discussion of the Sax2 utility, similar to Windows Control Panel's Display command, had monitor display problem fixed quickly.

Chapter 7 is a good intro into the KDE(default) user interface and how to navigate around in Suse Linux. Chapter 8 shows off Suse Linux's great hardware support giving details on how to add a WiFi card, setup a dial up modem including DSL, use a proxy server, and that old bugaboo - adding several printers. Chapter 8 also has insights for getting images from a digital camera, setting up a scanner, and using 3D graphic cards - so graphic designers are well served too. Chapter 9 is devoted to securing your system. It also serves as a intro to Linux security and its fundamental advantage over Windows - the root super-user is the default user for Windows, root is a special state or user protected by a second password in Linux. Finally, chapter 10 is devoted to personalizing and configuring Suse Linux - getting all the applications and settings just right. It serves as an intro to the remaining 20 chapters which looks at all the major applications in detail. My one complaint - Chapter 29, which goes into detail on adding and deleting new software might have been a part of the early core chapters.

Summary

Don't be taken by the title of this book, Beginning Suse Linux and assume that this is going to be a downsized or elementary version of Suse Linux. Not so. The subtitle to the book is much more indicative of what is provided - From Novice to Professional. By including a DVD with Suse Linux Professional 9.1 with over 3GB of programs Beginning Suse Linux provides an absolute bargain intro into one of the best desktop as well server versions of Linux available and at only $40 to designers, developers and desktop power users. This is like buying one of the those Introduction to Windows XP books but getting the Linux operating system plus Open Office and a ton of very useful software for free. For those looking to get an easy to install and easy to use Linux that easily replaces their existing OS, Beginning Suse Linux is a massive bargain.

And what makes the book even better is that it gets the user started installing Linux in a nearly foolproof guide which highlights Suse Linux's ability to interface with hundreds of printers, drives and other hardware devices. The guide not only shows the screens that appear along the install process but also has useful hints and advisories along the way. Another virtue is that Keir has chosen to stay within the GUI interface almost all the way - using the terminal and shell interfaces sparingly - much like DOS in Windows.

Yes I do have some qualms about the layout of the book - the core install's configuration step could have more explanations and Chapter 29 on software installation would appear to fit better in the first 10 chapters. But then I look at the razor thin Windows XP manual I got with my latest laptop or the all electronic documentation I got with Macromedia Studio - and I think of O'Reilly's series of Missing Manuals books. And suddenly, Beginning Suse Linux looks to be pitched pretty close to the mark - and as noted above, the included DVD of software makes it a bargain.

(c)JBSurveyer 2006