Testing a new distribution - The same procedure as everytime

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Nowadays installing a new distro is easy. However users may want set up their own procedure for fast and reliable install. Write down a checklist. Mine is:

  • Download latest net install directly from download page (as many stale links are lurking) e.g. https://download.opensuse.org/distribution/leap/15.3/iso/openSUSE-Leap-15.3-NET-x86_64.iso (some 40 seconds download time)
  • Get a fast, but cheap USB stick, such as the intenso ultra line 32 gb (4.99€, labelled with felt pen as “scratch”, I never put any data there)
  • Run dd: ‘dd if=openSUSE-Leap-15.3-NET-x86_64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M conv=sync’. Double check device name. (some 2 seconds for dd to complete)
  • Run ‘lsblk -f’ and identify the partition for installation. Double check. Delete it.
  • Reboot the machine. Make sure Compatibilty Support module is turned off. Enter UEFI Boot menu.
  • Select the USB Stick and start installation. With wlan you will be asked for ssid and key.

Don’t make changes to the defaults unless you really want to make them. Changes made for current Leap 15.3 are:

  • System Role: Desktop with KDE
  • Partitioning: Expert partitioner, mount existing EFI System Partition, create System Partition on freed space.
  • Booting: Turn off Secure Boot.

I clicked Install in the Installation settings window to start the installation. Yast readily installed unattended and booted the machine into graphics mode (some 30 minutes).

Operating System: openSUSE Leap 15.3
KDE Plasma Version: 5.18.6
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.76.0
Qt Version: 5.12.7
Kernel Version: 5.3.18-57-default
OS Type: 64-bit
Processors: 8 × AMD Ryzen 5 3400G with Radeon Vega Graphics
Memory: 29,3 GiB

Post-install configuration changes:

  1. Use a static hostname
Leap-15-3:~ # hostnamectl 
   Static hostname: Leap-15-3
         Icon name: computer-desktop
           Chassis: desktop
        Machine ID: a9e89d9240f447efba3803d012a123bd
           Boot ID: 1af3e46be8a64013b09aa2dbfd82ed07
  Operating System: openSUSE Leap 15.3
       CPE OS Name: cpe:/o:opensuse:leap:15.3
            Kernel: Linux 5.3.18-57-default
      Architecture: x86-64
Leap-15-3:~ #
  1. Add ‘Storage=persistent’ to file /etc/systemd/journald.conf and run ‘systemctl restart systemd-journald.service’. Otherwise the journal will be lost on reboot.