SuSE APT repository

http://linux01.gwdg.de/apt4rpm/

SuSE KDE RPM repositories

Additional updated software for SuSE, including MPlayer

http://packman.links2linux.de/

Using Java with SuSE

Q: I just upgraded to SuSE 9.0 and installed the latest java (1.4.2-03) rpm. But when I type in 'java', it says 'command not found'. Is there some magic to getting the system to use the new Java?

A: After installing the Java RPM, you need to create the special java configuration files that SuSE uses to select the correct JVM for use, allowing multiple JVMs to happily co-exist, each being called as needed and appropriate.

Basically, you have to provide one (for JRE only) or two (for the SDK, which also contains the JRE) configuration files per Java version (both release and vendor), and put them in /etc/java directory. Then you have to run a SuSE script to let SuSE configure everything the way it likes, and so that all works for you. It took me some time to realise that the names of these configuration files are of no importance at all... So, here my configuration files for Sun SDK 1.4.2, created based on existing SuSE files for java 1.3.1:

root # cat /etc/java/j2sdk1.4.2-jre.conf
Priority: 20

Vendor  :  Sun
Version :  1.4.2
Devel   :  False

JAVA_BINDIR = /usr/lib/j2sdk1.4.2/jre/bin
JAVA_ROOT   = /usr/lib/j2sdk1.4.2
JAVA_HOME   = /usr/lib/j2sdk1.4.2/jre
JRE_HOME    = /usr/lib/j2sdk1.4.2/jre
JDK_HOME    =
SDK_HOME    =

JAVA_LINK   = /usr/lib/j2sdk1.4.2

root # cat /etc/java/j2sdk1.4.2.conf
Priority: 10

Vendor  :  Sun
Version :  1.4.2
Devel   :  True

JAVA_BINDIR = /usr/lib/j2sdk1.4.2/bin
JAVA_ROOT   = /usr/lib/j2sdk1.4.2
JAVA_HOME   = /usr/lib/j2sdk1.4.2
JRE_HOME    = /usr/lib/j2sdk1.4.2/jre
JDK_HOME    = /usr/lib/j2sdk1.4.2
SDK_HOME    = /usr/lib/j2sdk1.4.2

JAVA_LINK   = /usr/lib/j2sdk1.4.2

What's the secret command to make it work?

After creating these two files, run the SuSE provided script to set the default virtual machine, called surprisingly, 'setDefaultJava' and the appropriate SuSEconfig (SuSEConfig.java) for it to take effect on your next login/shell:

root # setDefaultJava --vendor Sun --version 1.4.2
Link removed: /usr/lib/java -> SunJava2-1.3
Link created: /usr/lib/java -> /usr/lib/j2sdk1.4.2
root # /sbin/conf.d/SuSEconfig.java

To check that this has worked, close your existing shell and open a new one, and find the version invoked:

user> java -version
java version "1.4.2"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.2-b28)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4.2-b28, mixed mode)

And you are now able to run arbitrary JVMs with the setDefaultJava command.

How to set up SuSE 8.2 & 9.0 for Multiple Network Configurations

By JTruesdale

These instructions were written and tested using SuSE 8.2, but they are probably close enough for SuSE 9.0. Please let me know if this is not the case.

Linux laptop support in general and PCMCIA configuration specifically have been a huge PITA in Linux. It has been much easier to switch wireless configurations in Windows than in Linux. My experience with Red Hat 9 on my laptop left a lot to be desired. SuSE 8.2 has much better laptop support. Their SCPM tool (see below) enables multiple network configurations for the same card which is pretty darn handy for a wireless card. It works just as well when switching from wireless to wired and back again. Consult the scpm man and info pages for more information.

The following steps explain how to add a new wireless configuration for the Saint Louis Bread Company (they have free WiFi access) to an existing SuSE 8.2 installation.

Note that if you upgrade from SuSE 8.2 to 9.0 you will have to re-create your SCPM profiles.

Make sure the latest version of SCPM (System Configuration Profile Management) is installed, SCPM gives the ability to quickly switch between different network profiles.

Click on Start / System / YaST2 and log in as root. (I prefer starting YaST2 this way because you only have to log in once as root).
Click on Software in the left pane of the window. Double-click on "Install and Remove Software."
Click on the "Filter:" drop-down in the upper left corner and select the "Search" option.
Enter "scpm" in the "Search:" field and click the "Search" button. If the package is not installed, install it.
Make sure the installed version is at least 0.9.1-34. When I checked, the version on my system was earlier, I was able to right mouse click on the package name and then select the "update" option to update the package. Updating the package solved a lot of problems I was having.

Set up a new profile for the Bread Company.

Click on Start / System / YaST2 and log in as root.
Click on "System" in the left pane of the window. Double-click on "Profile Manager."
In the "General Setup" box at the bottom of the window, make sure SCPM is enabled, else click on the "Options" button to enable SCPM.

The simplest configuration is to select the "Network Only" resource set. This will only save network configuration information from one profile to the next. Other more complicated configurations are possible, consult the man and info pages for more information.

In the "Profile management" box, click on the "Add" button and then create a new profile based on the existing configuration.
The "Special Profile settings" window will then open, fill in the name (BreadCo) and description (Bread Company Network configuration) fields.
In the "System Configuration Profile Management" screen, select the new profile and click the "Switch to..." button.
You may have to click "Ok" to confirm the switch of profiles.
Click the "Close" button to close the SCPM window.

Now modify the current (BreadCo) wireless network configuration.

Click on "Network Devices" in the left pane of the YaST2 window. Double-click on "Network Card"
Configure your wireless network card in the top pane if it is not already configured. Make sure you define it as a wireless card.

If you define the card from scratch, you'll encounter the same steps listed below.

In the bottom pane click on "Change...", select the wireless device in the next window and then click on "Edit" and then the "Network address setup" screen is displayed.
Click the "Automatic address setup (via DHCP) button.
In the "Detailed settings" pane:

Click the "Hardware Details" button, the manual network card configuration is displayed.
Click the "Wireless settings" button.
Change the "Operating mode" to "Automatic" (or "Managed" - either will work).
Set the ESSID to "ANY".
Set the NWID to "ANY".
Click the "OK" button".
Click the "OK" button" on the next screen.
Click the "Finish" button" on the next screen.

If you're at the Bread Company, you should now be able to open a web browser and enter a URL and then connect to it once you have accepted the Bread Company usage agreement. Note that I had problems using the Konqueror web browser until I enabled cookies. Once you've logged in at the Bread Company, you can use any web browser on your machine without having to log in again.

If it does not work, here are some things to try/check: