Transition from Ubuntu to OpenSUSE

English Install/Boot/Login
#1

I have not yet tried out OpenSUSE, but I have the live DVD, and I’m already thinking based on what I’ve read that I am going to switch over. However, I am pretty happy with my current settings and applications in Ubuntu. So, I was wondering a few things that might help make the transition:
First, is there some simple way to transfer all of my Firefox settings into the Firefox installation in openSUSE? I’m talking my saved passwords, bookmarks, general settings, etc.
Second, I have a few programs I like to use that I’m not sure if they work in OpenSUSE. For example, I’ve become quite fond of using Amarok for playing music, and I also like to do computer audio recording sometimes, so I use Ardour and JACK, as well as other PC synth applications, like Aeolus. Are these programs compatible with OpenSUSE or do I need to figure out alternatives? My guess is that most of the programs I use have other versions and compatibility, but I’m curious and I wanted to make sure before I destroy what I have now. I assume that OpenSUSE probably has some sort of IM client for MSN/Yahoo/AIM/etc., and I doubt that I will have trouble finding a program like, for example, checkgmail.
Third, is there some sort of reference page that gives basic instructions on the basic CLI structure and package management structure that OpenSUSE uses? I know that, for instance, sudo works differently in OpenSUSE, and rpms are the standard installation packages, which I have little to no experience with. Some sort of reference on how to handle these packages in a CLI would be great. I’m guessing that finding programs in the suse version of synaptic is much the same, so I’m not too worried about that, but I would like to have some reference point to get me off the ground. I imagine I will be a frequent visitor here once I do this, but hopefully I’ll be able to get off the ground fairly quickly…

Thanks,
Dan

#2

My view is if you are happy where you are, do not switch. That is true whether one is on winxp, mac, or any Linux distribution. Still, if you are thinking of switching anyway, then before you do anything, I recommend you read the openSUSE concepts wiki to get a top level understanding:
Concepts - openSUSE

Bookmarks are easy (just copy bookmarks.html over), the rest are fraught with complications. Your passwords are encrypted, … I suppose you could try copy the entire /home/yourusername/.mozilla directory over … I’ve never tried that myself with another distribution. No guarantees.

For multimedia on openSUSE, IMHO the best thing to do is add the Packman repository to one’s openSUSE, which adds many many multimedia applications that are not crippled (unlike the many of the multimedia apps that come with openSUSE which are crippled).
PackMan :: Startseite
Additional YaST Package Repositories - openSUSE

As for jack, if you are a BIG jack fan, and if a cutting edge openSUSE-11.0 is not necessary, then go for the “JAD” distribution, which is based on openSUSE, and uses openSUSE rpms: jacklab.org - the home of JAD

amsn, kopete, etc …

OpenSUSE concepts: Concepts - openSUSE

#3

I’m switching because I’m having numerous issues with hardware support, specifically graphics, in Ubuntu. For example, I’ve found that with an ATI graphics setup, I can’t play a DVD without choppy video; it’s basically unfixable. I’m just tired of messing with it, and the other “glitches”, so I thought I would try something else, and I’ve been told that, in general OpenSUSE seems to be better in terms of support and stability.

Bookmarks are easy (just copy bookmarks.html over), the rest are fraught with complications. Your passwords are encrypted, … I suppose you could try copy the entire /home/yourusername/.mozilla directory over … I’ve never tried that myself with another distribution. No guarantees.

I have actually done just that: copied the whole directory over, and it works fine. I just wasn’t sure if it would work the same in SUSE, I’m glad it does (or at least should).

For multimedia on openSUSE, IMHO the best thing to do is add the Packman repository to one’s openSUSE, which adds many many multimedia applications that are not crippled (unlike the many of the multimedia apps that come with openSUSE which are crippled).
PackMan :: Startseite
Additional YaST Package Repositories - openSUSE

How are the openSUSE multimedia apps crippled? I haven’t heard anything about that so I’m curious as to what’s wrong with them…

As for jack, if you are a BIG jack fan, and if a cutting edge openSUSE-11.0 is not necessary, then go for the “JAD” distribution, which is based on openSUSE, and uses openSUSE rpms: jacklab.org - the home of JAD

I’m not necessarily a big fan of JACK, I just know that the recording program I use, Ardour, uses JACK to work with the soundcard. I will check out JAD, but is it possible to just install JACK?

I just looked at JAD and I’m not sure I’d like it because it doesn’t support 64-bit architecture and it doesn’t do proprietary graphics, which I need to get my 1680x1050 screen resolution. However, with Ubuntu, it is possible to later go into Synaptic and install the Ubuntustudio audio/video/graphics software packages; can I do the same thing with openSUSE? I will check around the JAD site but I wanted to ask just in case…

Thanks,
Dan

#4

dbsoundman, more accurately, the packages packaged by Novell/SuSE-GmbH are deliberately crippled. Read here:
Restricted Formats - openSUSE

But no worries, the Packman packagers provide non-crippled versions and many more non-crippled multimedia applications:
Multimedia - openSUSE-Community

or more specifically:
Restricted Formats - openSUSE-Community

however that leads to a one-click install, that I don’t care for too much myself. Instead I prefer to add packman to my repositories:
Repositories - openSUSE-Community

#5

That makes sense, that’s the typical situation in Linux-based OSes. I can handle that, especially since there’s so much information provided on how to do it.

-Dan

#6

YES, from Packman:
PackMan :: search results for Jack

#7

Wow, Packman seems to have just about everything. That looks like a great resource! It means I need to make a list and pick out each package individually instead of a “pack”, but I can handle that; it just means I get what I need and only that.

It also seems like the RPM is a more “streamlined” form of installation, akin to things like the windows installers in terms of ease of use. I have often been somewhat frustrated in the difficulty of installing things in Ubuntu; if it’s not in synaptic, you have to get the tarball, extract it, compile it, etc. I mean, I suppose it wasn’t complicated, but it wasn’t particularly fast. Usually when I want something, I want to use it, so I don’t like spending lots of time trying to remember all the steps on how to do it, and taking random guesses as to how to make it work. I’m just not a big coder sometimes…I let other people do the hard work.

-Dan

#8

Before you make the switch, look at Firefox extensions FEBE and CLEO. They produce distro independent backups to Firefox that are easy (and customizable) to restore.

#9

Thanks; I remember seeing those AFTER I had rebuilt my computer and wanted to restore my settings and thinking I should have used them, I think I’ll try it out…

-Dan

#10

Add Packman to your yast repository, and it is very easy …
Repositories - openSUSE-Community

#11

It turns out I can’t use either of those add-ons because I’m using FF3…but I did find some other apps that will work all right. One is an extensions exporter, it just makes a list you can keep for reference, and the other exports the passwords. I’m also subscribed to Foxmarks, so that takes care of bookmarks.

-Dan

#12

Well, I have officially made the transition. I went with the KDE version even though I was a Gnome guy because I didn’t really like the openSUSE Gnome implementation. I’m getting used to it, and things are working so far. Graphics are good, though I haven’t yet tried a DVD (still installing codecs). My only issues are:

  1. Default window sizes and fonts are a bit big, but I’m still playing with that.
  2. Too many things sitting in the system tray panel by the clock that I don’t need, like the power manager. I’m on a desktop computer, so I don’t need to know I’m “plugged in”. Can I get rid of these?
  3. Amarok can’t seem to find my external firewire hard drive with my music on it when the drive goes into “standby”, meaning the drive spins down when it’s idle. The computer still knows it’s there, but I have to make Amarok rescan my collection (which takes a while, I’ve got like 50 GB of music at least) to get the music going.

I may post a separate thread on those issues, but I’ll look around first and see if someone else has asked that question.

Otherwise, I’m pretty happy. Oh, except for one other thing: I know the openSUSE’s color is green, but when you first install, it feels like you’re inside a BP gas station, it’s green everywhere!

That’s all for now…

-Dan

#13

LOL, don’t even start with that brown vs. green buisness. I won’t go there… :slight_smile: