OpenSUSE 11.2 installation DVD has many many applications that are installed by default.
How can I install just the minimum for a working system. As an excercise I am trying to build a Nas system which I can install into our Windows Active Directory at work and have user access controlled via an Active Directory user group. I have no need therefore for so many of the applications available. I have tried uninstalling some applications and have managed to remove some features that I infact needed to keep… just a minor thing like the Gnome interface (gee!). Is there a list available of core applications required to function etc. that would help me to streamline my build?
Thanks in advance.
Depends on the needed functions. You will defenitely need a Kernel, I suppose.
Seriously: YaST offers customizing your install by choosing or unchoosing single packages or even whole pattern before the initial install. Is that of any help?
There is the Build Service that allows you to make a installable ISO per your preferences
maybe that may help
Hi
Your better off to roll your own on SUSE Studio, you need to request a
login but it doesn’t take too long.
There is a test drive feature so you can try it out before downloading.
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.27.45-0.1-default
up 11 days 15:33, 4 users, load average: 0.01, 0.11, 0.24
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - CUDA Driver Version: 190.53
I have tried the Gnome base build on Suse Studio however it does not have much in the way of networking installed. For exanple I had to install Iputils so I could attempt to ping, then I had to install NTP, however I had a problem where IP would not route beyond my default gateway… I got a bit stuck…
So, I thought I would install the full OpenSUSE 11.2 DVD and instead remove applications I clearly wouldn’t need. Such as graphic editing software, audio software and OpenOffice. Somehow all of Gnome got uninstalled so on the reboot I was left with a minimal Xwindow interface… not exactly what I wanted … consequently I thought I would ask on the forum.
I am just wondering if what you are looking for is:
This is a lightweight version of opensuse with a slimmed down desktop etc. It has recently issued a Live CD and has been discussed in the TechNews forum.
Hope that helps.
I wouldn’t bother about all the apps. They’re not taking TB’s. If your number of posts reflects your linux experience, I suggest you perform a default install. The installed apps are not hurting anyone, you may very well meet the moment you wish you had a desktop to check/control things.
An alternative is to install no desktop, no X-server at all. The installer provides that option in the Desktop Selection screen, Other options.
Point taken… It’s just an excercise I guess… somehow it seems more efficient to just have the neccesary apps. installed and no more. e.g back to micro computing rather than bloatware.
I am suprised to find how difficult it is to tailor openSUSE to fit a specific need. Why would a NAS need audio and graphic editing software or openoffice? Suse Studio produces a minimal build that barely provides networking and thwere is no guidance at to what apps should be added to provide certain functions e.g Active directory integration. The full openSUSE installation has everything under the sun included. It’s a shame there isn’t a way to easily select or deselect apps without breaking basic functionality. I guess I’ll build a nas box that has loads of unecessary software installed and be done with it.
Hi
You should only need samba, ssh and maybe ftp. Pop on webmin and use
that for the admin side. Is this all you need or more?
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.27.45-0.1-default
up 2:31, 2 users, load average: 0.08, 0.24, 0.41
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - CUDA Driver Version: 190.53
Hi
Further to the above, I did a quick build on SUSE Studio with the jeOS,
added samba, zypper, xorg-X11-libX11 (locale info), ntp, firewall and
associated yast2-ncurses packages. The build is around 750MB (download
size 230MB for vmware machine) in size which I’m sure could be tweaked
further. A little configuration in YaST and it works fine as a samba
server. Of course having zypper means you can add/delete stuff on the
fly. I also added a webmin rpm, but didn’t fire it up.
–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.27.45-0.1-default
up 1 day 0:56, 2 users, load average: 0.43, 0.89, 0.67
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - CUDA Driver Version: 190.53
I have abandoned openSUSE 11.2 LXDE as although the runtime seemed hopeful; when I installed onto an Aspire One D250 the display output was a blank screen both in normal and failsafe. I am wondering if iFolder 3.8 client will run in LXDE?
I had started on a Jeos build before I posted my question here. The problem is I cannot run Testdrive in Suse Studio, it always times out. I have tried connecting directly to my Virgin Media cable router (50mbs) without the firewall (Untangle), it makes no difference, so I guess its something to do with Virgin Media ISP. Therefore any build I make with Suse Studio has to be tested by actually downloading and installing.
The other problem I have found is that I am unsure of which packages are required to produce the functionality I require. My last Suse Studio build (Gnome + base) appeared to run fine at home e.g. I could browse the Internet with Firefox, however, when I took it to my workplace to try the Active Directory integration I failed to get NTP to connect, it didn’t seem to be able to route beyond the lan. I had the DG set correctly and the OpenSUSE firewall was off.
My aim is to build a NAS with iFolder client installed. I have the concept running on a netbook. It works like this, by day it runs as a NAS box with access rights controlled by Active Directory. During the night it reboots ( care of Crontab) and runs iFolder 3.8 client and synchronises all files with an iFolder server up the wrong way of an ADSL connection (can be as low as 256 Kbs). My hardware for this is an Asus Eeebox B202. As I said before, this is my first attempt to use Linux for a purpose. It’s a great learning experience although sometimes very frustrating. The lesson I have now learnt is that Linux can be described as a bundle of many different components and applications, however they are quite tightly integrated and interwoven and removal of any one component may cause undesired detriment to other seemingly unconnected components. I think this is due to shared libraries and presumably YAST’s failure to know all uses of these libraries.
I guess I am looking for a list of components for an openSUSE build that are grouped into functionality.
i.e. this group of components gives TCP/IP connectivity and utilities…
this group of components gives Active Directory integration…
this group of components gives iFolder client…
At present I am trying to achieve this by downloading a build, installing it, taking the system to work, trying it, finding what’s missing, amending my build, downloading and installing again etc. etc. … tedious to say the least.
Rgds.
Hi,
A lot of this I cannot help you with - needs a brain greater than mine. However, with LXDE, your Aspire One D250 might work under vesa mode.
I have abandoned openSUSE 11.2 LXDE as although the runtime seemed hopeful; when I installed onto an Aspire One D250 the display output was a blank screen both in normal and failsafe.
When you get the blank screen, are you able to press Ctrl-Alt-F1 thru F6 to get a text mode virtual console login?
If so you can then log in as root (I think the default password for that is ‘lxde’) and then type ‘telinit 3’ to bring the computer into non X server mode. It may be in that already.
Then type ‘sax2 -r -m 0=vesa’ which should set up your graphics driver with the default vesa module.
Then (I think) you have to type ‘telinit 5’ and then maybe ‘startx’. Hopefully you now have the login screen or an LXDE desktop.
I guess I am looking for a list of components for an openSUSE build that are grouped into functionality.
i.e. this group of components gives TCP/IP connectivity and utilities…
this group of components gives Active Directory integration…
this group of components gives iFolder client…
I think Yast already does that for the full desktop. In Yast - Software Management you have the ‘RPM Groups’ and ‘Patterns’ tabs. What you could do is start with a conventional system and then try and remove unwanted ‘patterns’ until Yast complains about unsatisfied dependencies. I am not saying this will be easy but it is worth a try I guess.
Good luck
Personally, I found the build service required another big learning curve to get anything useable - and the LXDE openSUSE didn’'t work for me either. Although I honesty forget why it didn’t work.
However, I was playing around with these for a similar reason to yours - I wanted a lightweight, dedicated installation, with few extras. What has (so far) worked for me is SOAD. The SOAD developers have packaged opensuse with Enlightenment.
I have a running, networked Enlightenment desktop. I’m glad to have a window manager, since I’ve still got a lot to learn on the command line. Especially since I haven’t finished setting up my dedicated apps. Yast2 should be coming in real handy as soon as I get back to working on that box.
I think there is a bug in the openSUSE-11.2 LXDE community liveCD. The packager is looking at it.
In times of TB+ drives, the difference on installing a desktop system with 1 (very basic) or 7 GB (full KDE install) system & apps is negligible IMO.
What “bloats” performance are unneeded services, which can be disabled in Yast, if any.
As for the apps, if you don’t want to run OOo, for example, don’t. You may even remove it’s link in the menu, but it’s no big deal to leave the app in place for those odd occasions when you receive an odf file.
So, the idea would be not to remove most apps, but just not to make them obvious.
I have come to the same conclusion. Although it seems quite logical not to have unwanted stuff installed, the hassle involved in removing it all seems to me bigger than the actual project and I am losing momentum and focus.
Still, it has now raised in my mind how and what you would have to add/install into the Suse Studio base builds to get desired functionality. Something to look at another day tho’…
Rgds.
Stan Chelchowski