Maybe leaving Ubuntu for openSUSE - need some answers

English Open Chat
#1

Hi there guys, this is my first post here!!

I’m a 3 year happy Ubuntu user, but I always “had feelings” for openSUSE. I didn’t use it sooner cause my WIFI didn’t work on SUSE but it did on Ubuntu, so…

But now that 11.2 is about to be released, I’m considering changing :slight_smile:

Before that happens, I kindly ask for your time answering my little questions:

1 - How’s the Intel graphics performance?
(In the latest Ubuntu 9.10 beta, mesa7.6 & xorg-intel2.9.0, it plays really nice)

2 - 11.2 will have the 2.6.31 kernel; does that mean KMS will be available?
(it is on ubuntu to come)

3 - I like to see the boot logo, and openSUSE always had good boot screens. If 11.2 has KMS, does it mean the boot usplash/splashy will use my laptop’s full resolution?
(1366x768, and will it be 24bit color depth?)

4 - Is it finally now in 11.2 that openSUSE has support for LVM2 encrypted root filesystems?
(using LUKS/LVM/whaterver; I want&need full encrypted disk)

5 - How many 3rd-party repositories exist for openSUSE?
(I’m used to use Ubuntu’s PPAs, which are a LOT)

6 - I noticed that 11.2 will have amarok2.1; how easy/hard would be to install v2.2?

last one:
7 - Will I have to compile some not-so-known applications, or are there repositories for almost everything?

(thanks in advance)

#2

Have a look here…

Software.openSUSE.org

Anything you select from there will optionally install a repo from the build service, which is not really any different from a PPA from a user’s perspective - although it’s a heck of an innovation from a builder’s perspective, I understand (these things are beyond me…)

Intel performance is variable, depends on your hardware - but that’s the driver at the moment, and will be true of any distro. I think we’re through the worst of it - I’m finding it fine on a 945 GMA.

#3

I had forgotten the 1-Click-install. That’s really nice!
I’m using an Intel MHD4500 (not really sure about the name)

#4

If you do:

/sbin/lspci -nnk

In a terminal it should give some info on your VGA (it will be at the start of the output)

#5 
falktx@falkTX-Laptop:~$ lspci -nnk                                          
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Memory Controller Hub [8086:2a40] (rev 07)
        Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel                                                                     
        Kernel modules: intel-agp

Can anyone please answer my little questions…?

#6

Have you tried the live CD for 11.2 M8?

Thanks for the output but it doesn’t really clarify anything for me I’m afraid.

This what mine looks like:

00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub [8086:2a00] (rev 0c)
Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel
Kernel modules: intel-agp
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2a02] (rev 0c)
Kernel modules: intelfb

#7

2 - 11.2 will have the 2.6.31 kernel; does that mean KMS will be available?
(it is on ubuntu to come)

3 - I like to see the boot logo, and openSUSE always had good boot screens. If 11.2 has KMS, does it mean the boot usplash/splashy will use my laptop’s full resolution?
(1366x768, and will it be 24bit color depth?)

4 - Is it finally now in 11.2 that openSUSE has support for LVM2 encrypted root filesystems?
(using LUKS/LVM/whaterver; I want&need full encrypted disk)

5 - How many 3rd-party repositories exist for openSUSE?
(I’m used to use Ubuntu’s PPAs, which are a LOT)

6 - I noticed that 11.2 will have amarok2.1; how easy/hard would be to install v2.2?

last one:
7 - Will I have to compile some not-so-known applications, or are there repositories for almost everything?

(thanks in advance)[/QUOTE]

#8

Same driver (yes, also 2.9.0), same behavior…

Doesn’t this just depends of the kernel/X.org version? I expect it to be available for some drivers, not for others… like in any other distro.

If I’m not wrong we still use bootsplash.

No idea.

Just go to
Index of /repositories
Index of /repositories/home:
to see.

I already have it in 11.1… easy.

Just check yourself: Webpin
But if you are going to compile something yourself… create also a package and it will be available for anyone.

#9

So, webpin appears to be a general package search, whereas the build service will actually automatically rebuild packages against newer libraries and things…? But presumably the maintainer of a package does need to upload newer upstream source when it becomes available?

Can anyone clarify?

#10

Thanks RedDwarf for the clarification.

In the 11.2 announcement there’s a phrase:

It is now possible to encrypt the complete hard disk.
Finally! I wonder why openSUSE took so long to implement it while Ubuntu has it since 8.04 (1+1/2 years)

I’ll definitely try the latest Milestone LiveCD (USB).
Thanks for the help so far

#11

Perhaps because SUSE has been more server orientated, and that’s more of a laptop thing. This (11.2) is the first release with an official desktop kernel option.

Anyone got an answer to my question? I’ve nosed around the build service, but I can’t find a clear answer.

What is the actual process for rebuilding a package in the build service? Does it automagically rebuild against new libraries as they appear in the distro it’s built against? Does it automagically pull in new source?

Pointers to documentation welcome - I just can’t find it…

#12

Packages get rebuilt automatically when a dependency changes, but if the build-compare package finds the new package to be equal to the old one the new one isn’t used.

You need to update your packages
Build Service/Tutorial - openSUSE
but using plugins it can be mostly automated
GNOME/OscGnome - openSUSE

#13

Thanks - I did have a scan through the tutorial, but was mostly looking at the manual, and getting nowhere…

It does look like an awesome bit of kit. :slight_smile:

#14

No, openSUSE never said it’s more server oriented, not on the tin anyway. Did they? It always includes several desktops, including the not-server-oriented KDE. :wink: It was probably set up to accomodate both server and desktop, whereas the desktop kernel of 11.2 is totally biased towards desktop, and the default & pae kernels cater for both.

#15

I think SUSE has always been more server orientated than Ubuntu, whether they said it or not.

Which isn’t to say it isn’t useful on a desktop (/laptop) - just that that’s a possible explanation as to why features like full disk encryption haven’t been given priority.

#16

But you didn’t say that exactly, even if you think you implied it.

Anything is possible, but not necessarily credible. For example you could also guess by trying any of the following: the devs are not user-centric; or the devs don’t use it themselves; or the devs gave it a lower priority; or Novell didn’t have any customers asking for it; etc, etc…

#17

Have you ever imagined a world without hypothetical situations?

:wink:

#18

How many hypothetical examples are you looking for? I gave you a few to keep you happy for a while in your imagined world. :stuck_out_tongue:

#19

Any chance we can blame it on mono? I’ve got this great idea for a blog…

#20

I divorced from Ubuntu! openSUSE is better, but… find out what`s “better” for you! :wink: