What has happened to us???
Prophesying what would become of the children of Israel, of which the British -and- American people are descendants the Eternal God declared long ago, "But if you do not obey Me ... if you despise My statutes ... I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you .... I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. ... I will break the pride of your power ..."
(Leviticus 26:14-19; New King James Version).

There, in those few verses, both cause and effect as to the currently hopeless state of the once proud British -and- American nations are summarized.
(For proof and more Info, read the book The United States and Britain in Prophecy),

This song comes to mind every 8 months...
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
Where's your shame
You've left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can't trace time
(From Changes by David Bowie)
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
(A quote from Einstein)

  openSuSE 11.4

Added March 14th, 2011 TRComputing

OS Information
		  OS:            Linux 2.6.37.6-0.9-desktop i686
		  Current user:  ctaylor@dusty-tr2
		  System:        openSUSE 11.4 (i586)
		  KDE:           4.6.2 (4.6.2) "release 3"
Display Info
		  Vendor:        nVidia Corporation
		  Model:         GeForce 7300 LE
		  2D driver:     nvidia
		  3D driver:     NVIDIA 260.19.44

Well, here we are again. I wasn't gona do anything with this version but I have done the usual... changed my mind. Actually, I have already brought down two versions, M3 and M4, and have not been impressed or happy with either. Version M5 is supposed to be available on December 16th, 2010 so we will wait for it to continue. My main agenda is to get SuSE, excuse me, openSuSE, working with VMware so that I can use Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 on my machine for testing and learning/maintaining about the Windows Systems so I can service my customers... and continue to impress my friends and relatives. Having everything on 'One' Machine is very, very convenient.
    You can find out about my Windows adventures in other places on my site... IF you are interested. Just click on the SiteMap Button.

---

Nope. This site is not organized very well. Please use the Search facility -or- the Jump Points on the Left to find what you might be interested in... or just keep reading. You might be surprised at what you can find. I've really put more in here than I planned ...
( -or- even possibly MORE than I should have.)
Well, here it is later... 12.1 is out and we are still documenting 11.4 -but- we are trying to get things understood and hopefully will between these two versions. We are NOT happy with the KDE4.7 that is used in 12.1... so we are keeping our 11.4 as our Main Man.

---

 Injected Note:  Well, the 20th came and went without M6 showing itself. However, there was a factory LiveCD version that some had downloaded and claimed to have some success with. So, I grabbed a copy. The 11.4 versions that I had previosly brought down have been trashed by my spoaradic updates. Reports on this LiveCD version will be below as I use it, or try to anyway. ( Don't look for much, I was not as successful as others.) It was a week late... Jan 27th, but that's ok cause they got some problems fixed.

The following Novell blurb is included ... just because.

Novell Ad

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 helps you achieve a greener desktop without hurting productivity. It includes new smart power management capabilities such as CPU throttling, switching off the hard drive when not needed, and dimming the display when idle. It also includes improvements that put the desktop into hibernation and sleep modes. Finally, a new Power History interface makes your green IT experience very visual. You can see how your usage behavior is affecting battery life and how the operating system is adapting to this usage.

Secondly, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop has significantly lower system requirements than Windows, making this an inherently green operating system. For instance, you can run SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop on as little as 512 MB of RAM and 3 GB of hard disk space. As a result, you can now turn older systems into Linux desktops or Linux thin clients instead of throwing them away. This can deliver impressive hardware savings as well as green IT benefits.

On the other hand, Windows 7 requires 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB to run effectively ¹. For many businesses, it is important to leverage older business and productivity programs requiring Windows XP. To do this, the PC must run Windows XP Mode which requires an additional 1 GB RAM and 15 GB hard disk space along with a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on. Thus, you will likely have to buy new hardware at considerable expense.

Thirdly, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 features Nomad. Nomad is a suite of remote desktop protocol tools that deliver near-native graphics performance when you access SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop remotely. This allows you to dramatically cut costs by configuring SUSE Linux Enterprise for server-based computing environments. You can now run SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop virtually in the data center or in the cloud, without compromising the high-quality and performance you would expect from a local desktop experience.

1. windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/system-requirements

  RC1, RC2, GM, PR.

Added March 12th, 2011 TRComputing

Allllrighty now, in keeping with my latest practice of breaking continuity, we will inject the PR (Public Release) here. I brought it 'down' almost as soon as it was 'up'. But, once again was not as fast in getting it installed. I did however, get it on my TestPartition and checked that it:

1. ...will install.
   a. MBR was left alone - like I wanted.
2. ...can compile the kernel.
3. ...can install nVidia driver.
4. ...can install VMware.

This was all on my TestPartition -and- it was a 'clean' install. Now over on my 'Main System' area, I am going to test out the....oooooouuummm.. 'Update' version. Boy, that was hard to say. Haven't had a lot of luck with Updates in the past -but- let's just be a tester and try it. Besides, I don't want to re-install everything. Ok. Let's do it...

Oh Darn. As usual, Update did NOT work properly. When it finished it came back with a command line version. So, I gave it the doubt and said, "Let's install the latest nVidia Driver". That took care of that problem, sorta, even though it was NOT a clean compile. Then we get to my desktop... annnndd... that was another mess. Could NOT get VMware to work. Sooooo, we will do a FULL Clean Install... to much NOT clean in this 'UpDate'.

Added March 14th, 2011 TRComputing

1. Full Install openSuSE 11.4 Public Release
   
2. At the first boot, first thing I did was set a link to a 'WhatsLoaded.txt' file in my 'Desktop Folder'. That way any changes get automatically saved to my 'L' drive, which is a FAT partition and doesn't need all those silly permissions. Then we ...
       Set up alias, bashrc, xinit ...etc;
       Only items added to TaksBar: 'Leave' and 'Screen Capture'
3. Upon re-boot - Setup Grub menu.lst -- Oooops.. nope, setup root Red first!! with NetGear background.
   1. Sound is better..!! It is cleaner. I for a while thought that I needed new speakers. Just sounds more professional. -But- screen is offset to the right 1/4 inch. This means that I need the native nVidia driver.
   2. Quanta still complains... about items missing that are there!!
      Oooops... KXSLDbg is missing... and not listed in Yast... but it is the only one and it is still complaining about all.
      (See Quanta Complaint)
   3. Moving an item from one Dolphin to another still a problem.
      Now then, I have been, in so many words, been told that I am crazy. This just doesn't happen. Well it does. What?
      1. Open two(2) Dolphins.
      2. WITHOUT previously selecting or hi-lighting -
         Click and hold - on one(1) icon contained in one of the Dolphins.
      3. Drag it to the other Dolphin... a drag path that will go over other icons in the same Dolphin.
      4. It will ... -BUT- not always ... draw around and hi-lite the other icons. This is acting like you would click 'outside' all icons and then drag over two or more to hi-lite them all.
      5. Release the button and the hi-liting is a mess... sometimes difficult to clear.
      6. This is difficult to explain - cause it shouldn't be happening.
   4. Apparmor ... still a problem!! Prevents smb and nmb from starting.
      On re-install (Yes I did!!) I unchecked all of Apparmor so it is not there.
   5. Dolphin not showing item on side. Oooops... that is a setting. Ok now.
      For those who don't know what I am talking about, it is the 'Info Panel'. Go to 'View'->'Panels' and select 'Information' -or- hit F11.
   6. Setup - httpd.conf, smb.conf - Can do Web Pages locally.
      Well first I have to link my local pub dir to the developing one!!
      smb and nmb are also involved with this. smb.conf can mess up nmb!! This is important to remember. IF you are using VMware -or- something else, to coordinate with Windows, it can be, and is, nice to be able to see the other stuff. NetBios Names and Sharing are needed. As mentioned above, Apparmor messes this up -but- so can Samba and your smb.conf file IF they are not setup correctly. So, make sure you know where you are hurt before you cry.
   7. The pop-out side panels of KDE4 Widgets (also known as icons) do not always go away when you leave the Widget. Can have two or more with side panels hanging on them.
      ***** Because I didn't like the way the Update (mentioned below) changed
      ***** things, I implemented all the updates BEFORE installing nVidia or
      ***** VMware after my latest re-install. Also reversed the order of the
      ***** install, since I now know (but always suspected anyway) that nVidia
      ***** is definitely needed.
      *-*-* Ok. Another deviation. I have fought with the "sizing" arrows of the
      *-*-* forever. Finally fixed them: Pointer Acceleration = 1.7 x
      Pointer Threshold = 6 pixels
      *-*-* Hopefully they will stay after a re-boot... Hurray.. they did!!
      *-*-* BUT ... did not fix the sensitivity of the arrows.
      *-*-* Think that I need to increase the Window Border sizes.
      Alllllrighty now... Got totally fed up with this and dug into it farther. Since I am now up to  openSuSE 13.2   ... the explanation will be there.
4. Installed VMware - complained about NO 3D
   1. System levels wrong. Had to remove 2 and 3.
   2. Well, that is a fine howdy-do!! It went ahead and loaded all that damn Apparmor stuff anyway!! Going to remove it... again!
5. Installed nVidia 260.19.44 -But- it got wiped and replaced by an Update with 260.19.36!! However, as mentioned above, on the Re-Do I installed 260.19.44 after the Updates.
6. Linked my 'home/public_html'  -to-   '/windows/L/public_html'
   smbpasswd -a username ( as root)

Note: Extremely high CPU usage with VMware. It is getting better -but- still to much 'Hyper-Drive'. The FAN on my CPU, like many of yours, will kick in at a high flow when the Processor is working hard. I call that Hyper-Drive. Anyway, it seems to be doing it more in this version of SuSE with VMware than previous ones.

 CPU Results:  It pays to ask questions on the openSuSE Forums.
    More on this at Win2k Install below.

Added June 1st, 2011 TRComputing

 High CPU  Some Web Pages cause extensive -or- intensive CPU usage. There are reasons and some fixes which can be found at:
       http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_CPU_usage

CPU States: Power management  and   Admin Guide

Added February 18th, 2011 TRComputing

Well, I was one of the first to bring down openSuSE 11.4 RC1, on Feb 10th, 2011, but was probably one of the last to install it. I rarely get service calls, -but- when I do, they seem to come in bunches!! Annnddd... at New SuSE Release times. Anyway, got it installed ... finally, -but- that is about it. Trials and testing will have to be delayed. By the way, you will please Notice that the title of this section includes ALL of the later versions. By this time in the development, it is pretty much set on the way things will be and there won't be a whole lot of differences between them. So we'll put them all here... with notations.

 RC1  My first disappoint was with the Master Boot Record... the MBR. After finally paying attention and reading ... yep, I really can ... I saw that I could request the install to leave the MBR alone. That way I wouldn't have to use SuperGrub to fix my system. In other places on these pages you'll find descriptions of my other endeavors and what I am trying to accomplish. However, in short I have:

•  Windows XP Media Center
•  1st Swap file
•  SuSE 11.3 root
•  SuSE 11.3 Home
•  2nd Swap file
•  SuSE 11.4 root
•  SuSE 11.4 home

I want them to stay in that order with the latest as the last partition. Don't want it going backwards, which I have experienced a time or two. What do I mean by that?? Well, if I let the installer take over the MBR, then when I re-boot, it comes up in the New System with NO option to go to the old. Darn, that is not totally true. It always offers the Windows boots and sometimes it offers the other openSuSE. But here in the last two releases RC1 and RC2 it dosen't. Course even when it is right, this still involves some intervention. One must save the Grub Menu.lst for the New System, in an area that is accessable by the Old System, so that the mount point for the New System can be placed in the Old System's Menu.lst. Gota know what you are doing ... -OR- learn.

Now then, they have made LOTS of changes. The TaskBar -or- Panel doesn't have all the things it used to have, and it has a couple of new ones. (icons) I do believe that things can be added -but- we are gona have to learn some new tricks. (and that is sometimes bad for an Old Dog... like me) But we'll learn. Continuing to learn keeps your mind sharper... or so they say.
RC2 Note:   They did put the 'File manager', 'Show the Desktop' and'Firefox' back on the TaskBar.
Changes ... in order:

1. Add File Manager to TaskBar (See TaskBar Fix -But- The File Manager was NOT in the list of items to add ... for this RC1. Had to Right Click on the one in Start Up Menu -or- Launcher and then select 'Add to Panel'. After that I had to go into the modifications of the Panel in order to get it on the Left side. Please refer to the afore mentioned TaskBar Fix. I like to have 'Quick Access' to my files.


2. Quanta still complains: (See Quanta Complaint)
    RC2 - Still complains. Guess nobody is going to do anything about it. I'll have to check into it.


3. Personal stuff: .alias, .function, .xinitrc
   Good. Those three worked.


4. Now the neccessary (for me) root changes:
   Background Color to Red (After copying and setting background to the KDE Gear - /usr/share/wallpapers),
   Make root Selectable from logon Screen,
   copy script to /bin that allows me to set my aliases and functions in root.


5. Setup httpd.conf and smb.conf with my needs and made sure apache and samba got started. This is accomplised in the System Runlevels. (Well, RC1 has the same problem as M6. Can't keep smb and nmb running. Worse yet, can not stop aaeventd. Well, can stop it but it restarts!!)
    RC2 Note:  Ok. Same problem. nmb and smb won't run with apparmor. However, I can kill it and then they both stay running.


6. 'make cloneconfig' still did NOT work in RC1... and VMware
   BUT it did work in RC2!!


7.  RC2  Successfully installed VMware.


8.  RC2  Success, finally, in the installation of nVidia. Just some notes on that; I finally got the NVIDIA-Linux-x86-270.26.run driver to compile and load. -But- when I re-booted the system did not come up properly. I got the initial 'Lizard' with the progress bar and then my Logon Screen. After selecting myself and clicking Logon I got the next 'Lizard' screen and progress bar. The bar got to about 3/4 of the way and stopped. The screen with the Gecko showing, and uncompleted progress bar, were evidently considered to be my desktop. It never went any further -but- I got the Logon Tune!! Tried all kinds of key combinations and nothing. Finally had to 'Power Off Reset'. I "undid" the blacklisting of nouveau, reset NO_KMS_IN_INITRD to "no" in /etc/sysconfig/kernel, performed mkinitrd, uninstalled NVIDIA and took out the nomodeset in Grub. After that I could re-boot and get into 11.4 RC2 again. Then I tried NVIDIA-Linux-x86-260.19.36.run and it was successful.

   M3 - M4 - M5

Added November 5th & 26th, 2010 TRComputing

Brought it, openSuSE 11.4 M3 M4, down and created a disk. ( That's a lie. It failed to get created becuse of "unable to fixate the disk" What??? Now I just created one a week or two ago! What changed?)
( These are the things that get me all side tracked and behind!!) Well, I found out. Seems that now in order to create a CD or DVD with K3B you must be a member of CDROM group!! Don't know when, or how, that change was made but it (openSuSE 11.3) was some time between Nov 10th and Nov 28th, 2010. One of those damn 'Updates' that I hate.
 July 7th, 2011  Well, here we are later, the first two milestones of version 12.1 are out and I have thesame problem in creating a disc. "unable to fixate" when I created a data disc that was to be used in Windows. I have read in "other" reports that the disc's were the problem. This was an HP disc and I burned one just fine in WinXP.
Now I want to install it with zypper so that I won't mess up my boot/grub for openSuSE 11.3.  Have the disk in the drive:

   lsd /media ... gets  openSUSE-DVD-i586-Build0845

So we will use:   zypper ar /media/openSUSE-DVD-i586-Build0845/ SuSE11.4  to add the DVD to the repos.  With all the others disabled, that is the only place it can get the info for upgrading.

   Now we do a:  zypper dup     ... answer the questions and wait.
(Well, I have learned, and read that 'zypper dup' sould NOT be used for an update. Supposed to use 'zypper up'. The first one stand for Distribution Update and the second one stand for just an Update. Makes a difference.)

1150 packages to upgrade, 10 to downgrade, 120 new, 51 to remove, 7 to change arch.
Overall download size: 1.02 GiB. After the operation, additional 113.5 MiB will be used.

---

Loaded up openSuSE 11.4 M5. Selected Folder view and it displayed both!...both what?? Believe that it was both types of desktops. Switched back to default desktop and it was ok.
Missing items in the Task Bar, which I believe they are now calling the Panel. No Dolphin, No Devices, No Shutdown...
The Devices Icon is now on the other side and sometimes it hides.
Quanta still complains about missing files whether they are there or not!!
I have a 3.2Ghz Dual Core processor and things are slow. Was much, much faster in the previous version -AND- in Windows!!

   M6

Added January 28th, 2011 TRComputing

    Allllrighty Now... Yesterday they presented openSuSE 11.4 M6 to us and I brought down a copy. There were complaints by others that it was to big to fit on a standard DVD -but- I did not find that a problem ... when I finally got one made. Once again I had troubles with my openSuSE 11.3 version of K3B burning the image. I finally had to go back to Windows and create the DVD. The worst part was ... via K3B I runined another one of my good Sony DVD-RW discs!!! I'll have to see if there is a way to fix, repair it.

    Lets start off with the good stuff first.

1. I liked the Install going to the details version by default.
2. I really like the New Look. The Graphics are swell.
3. The Install went relatively, no it went flawlessly... good. But because of my DVD creation problem, I got started late in the Installation. I didn't get it finished. Got as far as the Release Notes screen and had to go to work. It sat with that screen for the next 7 or 8 hours. When I got home we continued with the Install like nothing ever happened.
4. I finally took my Head out and read the screens a little closer. I, you, can save ourselves a lot of work and trouble IF we just do not let the Install modify the MBR. That is an Option in the Boot settings. HOWEVER, BEFORE -- Before you Restart save the Grub Menu.lst somewhere where your other system can read it. Then on Re-Boot you can modify the other Grub Menu.lst to get this New Version in the Boot List. What am I talking about?? A Triple Boot System. Prior to this latest wake-up I had to use SuperGrub in order to recover my MBR so that I could go to the Grub of my 'Main' OS and then choose which to use.
5. Looks like it detected my TV card better. It still installed the necessary Software. Maybe I'l get to use it this time.?.!
6. Cool!! Did not require nomodeset... well not until I installed the nVidia drivers.
7. The new warning -or- attention sound... sounds very good. I like it. In fact, the whole sound system sounds better, smoother and cleaner.
8. Click and drag for copy doesn't mess up. What? In the Previous versions of this KDE4 I had trouble(s) with drag and copy from one screen to another. IF you selected one or more items to copy, then clicked and drug, it was ok. -But- IF you just clicked and drug one item WITHOUT selecting it first, things did not go right. Other items got hi-lighted as you went over them and/or it drew lines around items in the from box. It was messy. This version is ok. I know its as hard to believe as it is to explain. Others have essentially told me ... BullShit.
9. Setup my Preferences... Logged out and then Back in... Looking Good. Got my .alias, .function and .bashrc along with a few other idiosynchronies. That is just for my home section.
10. Because I have Terminal windows of various background colors I change the System font colors to my needs and liking -and- since they don't put in the red back ground for root any more... I do. Without the bombs.
11. Setup apache2 httpd.conf, mod_userdir.conf and Samba smb.conf for my local network. made sure that smb and nmb both get started. (Well, I should say ensured that they were SET to be started. Had problems... which are described below.)
12. fstab : Changed Drive D:, the data and downloads drive so that everyone can access it ... from all three OS's. (The following are supposed to be on one line.)
    The New 11.4 one
    /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3300631AS_5NF1J2GA-part1 /windows/D ntfs-3g users,gid=users,fmask=133,dmask=022,locale=en_US.UTF-8 0 0
    
    The Privious 11.3 version
       was:
    # /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3300631AS_5NF1J2GA-part1 /windows/D ntfs-3g users,gid=users,fmask=133,dmask=022,locale=en_US.UTF-8 0 0
    
       became
    /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3300631AS_5NF1J2GA-part1 /windows/D ntfs-3g defaults,users,locale=en_US.UTF-8 0 0
    
    
13. Good: Even though 'make cloneconfig' did not work, 'zcat' did. After that I did a 'make prepare'. I did not do the 'make modules'. Want to see if just this much will work now.
14. Huray!!! After the above step, I did the kernel module build for nVidia and it worked!! Ah with some revisions to the procedures. See the nVidia section below.

    Ok, now the bad...

---

1. It doesn't have the "Usual Default" icons on the TaskBar -or- I guess it is called a Panel now. Anyway, that control area along the bottom. I'm fairly sure that I am not the only one who will be disgruntled by this... Anyway, the "fix" is to:
   1. Right click on the TaskBar.
   2. Select Panel Options
   3. Select(click on) Panel Settings
   4. IF the Widgets are not showing, click on Add Widgets.
   5. A Horizontally scrollable line of selections will appear.
   6. Select the one you want and then Double Click on it. (left button) This will add it to the TaskBar... on the Right Hand Side.
   7. IF you desire the icon to be on the left,
      1. Right click on the TaskBar.
      2. Select Panel Options
      3. Select Panel Settings
      4. Place the cursor over the icon you desire to move; Left Click -and- hold and Drag the icon to the other side.
      5. Exit the Setting by clicking the Red X -or- by clicking on a blank area of the Desktop.
2. Human rules, laws and legalities are so strange. They are not allowed to include Adobe Flash in the DVD image -but- they can make it install the first time you go into Yast2 software manager.!.? What brings this up is... I have a piece of Flash on my Internet Home Page. In the previous versions to this 11.4, the included Firefox did not center the Flash item. This one, without Flash, has my textual version showing and it is centered. After getting Flash installed and checking, once again it is NOT centered.
   Ok. Hold the farm. I have a flash version check and I do believe that the version that I am getting is newer.
   Nope. That wasn't the problem. The problem was...
   a missing '>' in a <div align="center"> at the beginning of my Web Page... and it apparently has been there a long time!! This was/is missed by the previous versions of Firefox but was found by version 4.x!!
3. Quanta still complains about stuff not being installed ... even though they are.
   - KFileReplace [http://kfilereplace.kdewebdev.org] - search and replace in files will not be available;
   - KXSLDbg [http://xsldbg.sourceforge.net/] - XSLT debugging will not be available;
   - KImageMapEditor [http://www.nongnu.org/kimagemap/] - editing HTML image maps will not be available;
   - KLinkStatus [http://kde-apps.org/content/show.php?content=12318] - link validity checking will not be available;
   - Cervisia [http://www.kde.org/apps/cervisia] - CVS management plugin will not be available.
   
   
4. Still can not 'make cloneconfig' 01 Feb 2011

Well, it didn't recognize VMware. It couldn't re-compile the kernel with the necessary modules. I instlalled version 7.0 and I will try again with 7.1.1.

 VMware 7.1.4 Build 385536 is out.    Added April 10th, 2011 TRComputing
 In keeping with my Out of Sequence theme, we will talk about the Latest Update to VMware here. I had some trouble with the Display in the previous release and there is a Work-a-round available.

On SUSE 11.2 and possibly other Linux distributions, the sudo command does not preserve the DISPLAY environment, which could cause the VMware Workstation installer user interface to fail.    It did!!
      Workaround: To preserve the DISPLAY environment add:
      Defaults env_keep+="DISPLAY"    to the /etc/sudoers file.

So far it appears to work... with Windows 7 and Windows 2000.
Refer: 7.1.4 Release Notes
UPDATE: The patches mentioned below are obsoleted by Workstatioin 7.1.4, for which only a BKL-less kernel needs any patch (to vmnet). ie: The only needed modification is the removal of BKL from "vmnet".
FYI: BKL = Big Kernel Lock - Which it seems they are trying to get away from.
BUT Keep an eye on the Runlevels.

After Crash Re-Install

Added April 20th, 2012 TRComputing

Allllrighty now... We tried the SuSE 12.1 version as our "Main" Honcho -but- we didn't like it. To many changes and to many things did not work -or- just did not work the same...and the differences we discomforting and annoying. We constantly had trouble with the display. As mentioned elsewhere and repeated here, we got delays in our screen responses that were not there in previous versions... this one included. Ah, that is, this one also has NO delays. Now just what are we talking about?? Well, as you are typing you would expect everything to appear on the screen as fast as you are typing. Not even the fastest typist can beat the "normal" screen update speed. In the 12.1 version even I could beat it!! So, we dumped the openSuSE 12.1 and Re-Installed openSuSE 11.4.

Now it should go without saying that the above Re-Install required a Re-Install of VMware. The Re-Install of VMware 7.1.4 Build 385536 went very smooth and everything worked.

 Win2k Re-Install As usual, our saved copy of Win2k works fine. We shouldn't really lie like that cause we have had problems in the past -but- these newer versions of VMware are getting better and better. Anymore, for the most part, you just install VMware and then install the OS you want to use -- and go.

 Win Vista Re-Install Well now, in setting up our newest Laptop which has Windows 7 on it, we learned that as long as we had ourselves declared as an "Adminstrator" we didn't need the Compatibilties set. IF they are set you will get that annoying prompt every time you start Homesite. So we are experimenting and took off the compatibility settings. Right now we are editing this on the Laptop under Windows 7 -- without any compatibility settings.

---

  VMware 7.1.3 is apparently out with patches.   I was looking for info on compiling openSuSE version 11.4 and found this Post on openSuSE by: Bruno Friedmann

Make vmware workstation 7.1.3 running with opensuse 11.4 (kernel 2.6.37)

Note about the 2.6.37xx

There's a solution to make the kernel modules building under openSUSE factory (11.4) and the kernel 2.6.37

Preparation

download the lastest vmware workstation 7.1.3 (the patch is only for this version)
download the patch vmware-7.1.3-2.6.37-rc5.patch
download the script to patch patch-modules_v62-opensuse.sh

Install

Proceed to the normal installation of workstation, if you have an older version, it will be replaced by running under root account

sh VMware-Workstation-Full-7.1.3-324285.i386.bundle

sh VMware-Workstation-Full-7.1.3-324285.x86_64.bundle

Patch

Now we have to apply the needed patch, just run as root

sh patch-modules_v62-opensuse.sh

References

vmware community post
vmware community thread

 18 Dec 2010  Ok. Had to Re-Download VMware. I don't know what I got the first time -but- it was using their Download manager and it was NOT good. I switched to Browser Maintained and it came down fine. The initial installation was Successful. Next we try to execute it and see if it can build the modules it needs.
   Applications - System - More Programs - VMware Workstation
Recieved:
   Unable to build kernel module
   See log file /tmp/vmware-root/setup-5924.log for details.
Which is more or less what I expected. Now let's try the above "fixes".

Hmmmm... patch: command not found. I seem to remember getting that message before. Seems there is some patch software that has to be installed.
  patch - GNU patch
  patchutils - A Collection of Tools for Manipulating Patch Files

We have an error on System Restart:
Could not open /dev/vmmon: No such file or directory.
Please make sure that the kernel module `vmmon' is loaded
This appears to be an installation error that is fixed via the following:

1. Go to Yast > System > System Services(Runlevel) >Expert Mode.
2. Move down to and select VMware
3. Uncheck levels 2 and 3.

It is a VMware error -not- an openSuSE error. Till they get it fixed we have to watch this.

 One little side note here:  I start it for the First time from a command, -or- textual, window. This way I can watch all the action and see what, if anything, went wrong. Now then, during this operation you may see some warnings - and errors - but don't worry about it... yet. This happens cause things ain't right yet. Be patient and wait for the VMware window to pop-up. It will take a few.....

 Caches  These can be a problem. Something that they started in VMware version 7.1. Summing up the info I found, it seems they are used for unity-eye-candy. AFAIK there is no global-off for Unity in the GUI so we can use
   isolation.tools.unity.disable = "true"
as a workaround for now. This is to be placed in a config file.
in addition to reduce the amount of directories and files in the cache directory we can also use these entries:
   unity.enableLaunchMenu = "FALSE"
   unity.showBadges = "FALSE"
   unity.showBorders = "FALSE"
   unity.wasCapable = "FALSE"
The config file for Linux is just 'config' and the one for Windows is 'config.ini'. They are to be placed in the same dir as your 'preferences' file.

Refer: Member 'Continuum' on VMware Communities

  Win2k Install

A proper usage of Google: (from DenverD on openSuSE Forums)
  site:forums.opensuse.org "11.4" "high CPU" OR "CPU max*"

Comment above was brought about by my comment on searching and not
finding any info on Hi CPU usage. For the benifit of others.

Now then, I at one time had all the conversations in here, which was
kinda stupid. Here is the reduced and to the point version:

1. As stated, in the "Fresh" install, on openSuSE 11.4, of VMware 7.1.3
(with the patch) and then an install of Windows 2000, I experienced 
extremely high CPU usage. The main indication of this was by the CPU 
fan screaming (well it was loud).

2. Suggested "fixes" were tried and only minor corrections were seen. 
Still to much CPU activity.

3. Went back to openSuSE 11.3 did the same installation as above in 11.4
.... HIGH CPU.... acutally this was a copy of the one I had created in 
the openSuSE 11.4 VMware.

4. Installed, in openSuSE 11.3, a "copy" of a previously used Win2k that
I had tar'd. If you know about VMware you'll know that it creates a 
vmware dir in your home dir ... that contains dirs of all the Virtual
Systems that you install. IF you have room you can tar up the individual
dirs and save them for later. Eliminates a bunch of re-installing. That's
what I had done with an "older" Win2k setup. This "older" one DID NOT 
cause high CPU even under this newly installed VMware, in openSuSE 11.4.

5. Puzzled... I started going over the installations. Then it hit me!!
Somebody threw a brick, or should have, and got my brain working again. 
The Lord I think. Anyway, the "older" Win2k was installed on an
"older" PC. One with a Single Processor with a Single Core. 
My "newest" PC has only one Processor -but- it has two cores. 
So, in my "infinite wisdom" I decided that I could set the VMware Virtual
Machine for 2 cores, 512MB of RAM, 2 DVD's and an 8GB hard disk.... 
BEFORE the installation of Win2K.............

.............. Big Mistake. .......................

This will cause HIGH CPU usage. In fact IF I had paid attention to some
of the things I read in various forums, I would have known that.

6. Now then, for another initial install, I used the "default" of 256MB
of RAM, 1(one) Processor, 1(one) core and I reduced the default HD from 
8GB to 6GB. The installation went smooth and fine. After finishing, the
OS worked great ... NO high CPU usage.

7. Exited the Virtual Machine and edited the settings to increase the
core count to 2 and the amount of RAM to 512MB. Restarted the Virtual
Machine and the were NO high CPU problems. According to the CPU monitor
Widget "both" cores are working and the total CPU stays below 
60% most of the time. Even with VMware/Win2k running. I would expect to
be able to use Homesite, edit Web pages and do it without the CPU fan
howling all the time... or most of it anyway. 
I can now experience that again.

Apparmor!! and Frostwire

Both of these are mentioned here cause they both cause problems that they shouldn't.

This is a Novell product that they insist on loading. We don't know really what it does... we will find out... later -but- it screws up our VMware operations. And angers us!! After cool down will try to get more info on it -but- in the meantime it will be removed.

 VMware  We were tooling along and wanted to use FrostWire. At fire up of FrostWire we were given notice that there was a newer version. So, we decided to 'UpDate' to the new one
     ------------- BIG MISTAKE ------------
It not only installed the 'New FrostWire' -but- a whole bunch of other stuff as well -AND- we really don't see why they were all needed for FrostWire. After installation it screwed up our screen and our VMware access to the Windows files. We have had problems with this before. So did others. This list does NOT include the FrostWire files. It was a change from version 4.21.5 to 5.1.5. In an effort to correct the problems the 5.1.5 version was removed and the 4.21.5 version re-installed.

zypper-1.5.7-0.4.3                            Tue 20 Sep 2011 10:52:15 AM MST
libzypp-8.12.6-0.2.1                          Tue 20 Sep 2011 10:52:12 AM MST
satsolver-tools-0.16.3-0.2.1                  Tue 20 Sep 2011 10:52:11 AM MST
python-satsolver-0.16.3-0.2.1                 Tue 20 Sep 2011 10:52:10 AM MST

patterns-openSUSE-apparmor-11.4-6.9.1         Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:46:23 AM MST
apparmor-profiles-2.5.1.r1445-52.63.1         Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:46:22 AM MST
apparmor-utils-2.5.1.r1445-52.63.1            Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:46:21 AM MST
perl-apparmor-2.5.1.r1445-52.61.1             Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:46:15 AM MST
pam_apparmor-2.5.1.r1445-52.61.1              Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:46:14 AM MST
apparmor-parser-2.5.1.r1445-52.63.1           Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:46:14 AM MST

pulseaudio-module-zeroconf-0.9.22-6.11.1      Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:46:12 AM MST
pulseaudio-module-lirc-0.9.22-6.11.1          Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:46:12 AM MST
pulseaudio-module-bluetooth-0.9.22-6.11.1     Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:46:12 AM MST

patterns-openSUSE-apparmor_opt-11.4-6.9.1     Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:46:12 AM MST

pulseaudio-module-jack-0.9.22-6.11.1          Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:46:11 AM MST

libapparmor1-2.5.1.r1445-52.61.1              Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:46:11 AM MST
apparmor-docs-2.5.1.r1445-52.63.1             Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:46:11 AM MST

perl-File-Tail-0.99.3-146.1                   Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:45:43 AM MST
libxine1-pulse-1.1.19-4.4                     Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:45:43 AM MST
alsa-plugins-pulse-1.0.24-6.1                 Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:45:43 AM MST

yast2-apparmor-2.20.1-1.2.1                   Tue 20 Sep 2011 09:45:41 AM MST

superkaramba-4.6.0-3.4                        Tue 20 Sep 2011 04:45:48 AM MST

All the files marked in Red were removed. After that we could access our files on the Windows Partition again from VMware. Now all we need to do is Re-Boot and make sure nothing else got broke... it happens!!
OK! It works AFTER a Re-Boot. HooRah!

 nVidia  This I really don't understand. Why did a Music associated program have to mess with the Display??!! It changed my nVidia drivers from some that work to some that didn't. The 260.19.44 version works with my 7300 LE card. They changed it to 275.21-7.1 and I could not get a Desktop. Had to put it back.

 An Update: June 14, 2011  Updates!!! Did I ever tell you how much I hate them!! Having trouble with the Power Management. When Sleep Mode is used, it is NOT reliable on restoration. Screen will go black on restore and have to Power Off Re-Boot. So, we decided to see if there were any Updates and perhaps they would fix the problem. Online Updates showed some, so we installed them. OK. Then we had an indication that there were some Updates via the little KDE Update icon at the bottom of the Screen. So, we clicked on it. Yep. There were some Updates and this time an nVidia update was included. So, with breath held we said go. After finishing we Re-Booted the machine. Big Mistake!!! Once again we do NOT get a Full Sign-On!!! I do not have the Auto-Logon enabled. I'll dual boot... and I want a logon so I can change Session Managers. Anyway, after entering my UserName and PassWord and hitting Enter, it starts the Sign-On procedure. The Lizard shows and we get a progress line that stops about 4/5ths before the end. I get the LogOn Music -but- NO Desktop. This happened many times during the Milestones and I thought it was now fixed ... -BUT- Remember I mentioned an nVidia update was included?? That was the problem in the Milestones. So, we need to see what was done to us and go from there. Right now I am using 'SafeMode' for the Boot.

Do need to mention that here in this 'SafeMode' I tried to bring up VMware and it wanted to install some modules ... which means the kernel also got changed with these latest updates. So, we will have to investigate that also.
They put in nVidia 270.41.06 via Yast2 and it didn't work.
I am trying the following via the HardWay....
Version:            275.09.07 Certified
Release Date:        2011.06.14
Operating System:    Linux
Language:            English (U.S.)
File Size:            29.4 MB
lspci | grep VGA
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G72 [GeForce 7300 LE] (rev a1)
....and it all did not work.

Allllrighty now... we have some answers to the above delima. For one; I had to go back to the 260.19.44 nVidia Driver in order to get signed on. Then VMware wouldn't work because of all this messing with the Display. Finally had to resort to:
    vmware-modconfig --console --install-all
from a terminal command line and then we were OK. That last idea was obtained from:
Djarum123 via the openSuSE Forum. After all that... I still have the Sleep Mode problem.
Thought that the latest updates had fixed this ... -but- NOT. Still get random No Worky. The restore comes back and then I get the Monitor saying it doesn't have a signal and I can not get it back!! Must Power Off re-boot.

Info for my Monitor is at:
    Sony HS95

 nVidia Notes:  

Prerequisites
  o  Being able to use yast-package manager or zypper
  o  Know the nvidia card you are using; use in a console:

lspci | grep VGA 
  o  Know which kernel you use (default, pae, ...); use in a console

uname -r

Add NVIDIA Repository
Choose the one corresponding to your openSUSE version: repository of NVIDIA drivers and add
it to your system.
Installation
KERNEL can be pae, default, or trace. You need the one corresponding to your running kernel.

  o  For all NVIDIA current cards (Geforce 6 and newer), install: x11-video-nvidiaG02, 
	 nvidia-gfxG02-kmp-KERNEL

  o  For Geforce FX cards (5xxx), install: x11-video-nvidiaG01, nvidia-gfxG01-kmp-KERNEL

  o  For all NVIDIA legacy cards (Geforce 4 and older, TNT), install: x11-video-nvidia, 
	 nvidia-gfx-kmp-KERNEL (the openSUSE 11.3 does not have this driver available)

Taken from: skyhorse Personal blog

 An Update: January 22, 2011  Now then, I don't want to start a War over this, but in some forums I already have. You need to be able to re-compile the kernel in order to install the nVidia driver. ( and VMware) These installations must be able to find the 'C' headers for Linux and one of them, version.h, gets created via 'make prepare'. Now I don't claim to be a Guru or anything like that, concerning Linux, but I do know that in my trials and tribulations with this OS, there are certain things that must be done.

In this case it was/is the attempt to move from openSuSE 11.4 M5 to openSuSE 11.4 M6. I had previously installed M5 and, as mentioned above, tried some 'zypper' updates as things progressed which were not really successful. My latest was to wipe the M5 area, re-install it and then 'Update' it with 'zypper up' using the factory repos. That was all that was done and this has apparently worked for the most part.

I say apparently cause my screen is offset to the right by about 1/4 inch. This is nothing new, as it was a 'problem' in previous versions. The 'fix' is to install the nVidia driver. IN ALL OF MY CASES... the following steps must be taken in order to do this:

1. Change into /usr/src/linux. ie; cd /usr/src/linux
2. Perform make cloneconfig
       -or- if that fails
   Perform zcat /proc/config.gz > .config
3. Perform make prepare ( this is where version.h gets created.)
4. Perform make modules ( and now go watch TV for an hour... or more.)
5. You now have the neccessary files created and dependancies satisfied to create an nVidia module.
6. Please read thru the information below BEFORE doing it. Thank you.

 OK. I loose the War.  In RC2, all I had to do was 'make cloneconfig' and 'make prepare'. 

NVIDIA / open source driver "nv"

• Does not support 3D acceleration at all. Xgl will not work well with software emulation, refrain from using this combination.

NVIDIA / proprietary driver "nvidia"

Name	Version	Release Date
Linux Display Driver - x86 NVIDIA Recommended	260.1944	March 7, 2011
Release Highlights:
Updated the NVIDIA X driver to not update mode timings for G-Sync compatibility when NVIDIA 3D Vision or NVIDIA 3D VisionPro is enabled along with a G-Sync device.

• OpenGL acceleration does not work well with Composite being active. This option in /etc/X11/xorg.conf should be disabled if it had been enabled before. Note: Xgl supports Composite anyway, even if it is disabled in xorg.conf. FBO's ( FrameBuffer Objects) can be used with this driver instead of pbuffers for XVideo acceleration. Enable this by changing:
  
  DISPLAYMANAGER_XGL_OPTS="-accel glx:pbuffer -accel xv:pbuffer"
  
  to
  DISPLAYMANAGER_XGL_OPTS="-accel glx:pbuffer -accel xv:fbo"
  
  in /etc/sysconfig/displaymanager.
  (The Desktop Effects tool sets this option by default.)
  Refer: Framebuffer Objects

NVIDIA Accelerated Linux Graphics Driver README and Installation Guide

     Installing the Driver     

1. Kernel sources must be installed and configured. Usually this means
   installing the 'kernel-source', 'make' and 'gcc' packages with YaST2.
   In addition, you will need to bring down the latest nVidia Driver for your card. Usually found at: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index5.aspx
   
   
2. Switch over to a Console Login. This can be done by Rebooting the machine and entering a 3 on the Boot Options: line. ( -Or- you can do a Ctl-Alt-F1. But this will require an 'init 3' after root sign-on) Sign in as root then Run the following commands from the command line:
   
   # Prevent nouveau and nVidia conflicts by BlackListing nouveau.
   echo "blacklist nouveau" >> /etc/modprobe.d/nvidia.conf 50-blacklist.conf
   
   There may be some of you out there who hate me. I had left off one of the 'greater than' signs in a previous version of this page. That will wipe your blacklist file and only have one line in it. Truly sorry to those I have hurt. Including myself. The fix is to restore the blacklist file.
   Also note; There is an nvidia.conf file that nVidia puts a blacklist notation in themselves when the nVidia Driver is implemented. Something to be aware of IF it is decided to go back to nouveau.
   
   Ok, ok... I either read to much -or- not enough. As of version 11.4 you DO NOT need to edit the 50-blacklist.conf file. In fact it is highly recommended that you don't!!
   
   ** Now then, you put the following code in a file, call it say ... NoKMS.sh and save it in the same dir that you saved the NVIDIA file in. Execute it as: sh NoKMS.sh
   
   # Kernel Mode Setting is NOT supported by nVidia, so we remove it.
   # recreate initrd without KMS, if the use of KMS is enabled in initrd
   if grep -q NO_KMS_IN_INITRD=\"no\" /etc/sysconfig/kernel; then
   sed -i 's/NO_KMS_IN_INITRD.*/NO_KMS_IN_INITRD="yes"/g' /etc/sysconfig/kernel
   mkinitrd
   fi
   OR you could just edit the "/etc/sysconfig/kernel" file and change the "no" to "yes".
   IF the above script is NOT used please remember to run /sbin/mkinitrd.
   
   
3. Reboot your machine and enter 'nomodeset 3' on the Boot Options: line.(without the quotes)
   
   
4. Use the nvidia installer that you downloaded. Switch to the dir where you
   saved it and execute the following:
   (Type in "sh NVIDIA" and then hit the TAB key to finish the name. Then enter a "-q" Then hit ENTER)     Example:
   
   sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-xxxxxx -q
   
   After the install is finished you need to enter:
   
      modprobe nvidia
   
   Now do a "shutdown -r now" and login normally.
   
   IMPORTANT: You need to recompile and install the nvidia kernel module
       after each kernel update. This is done with the     following command:
   
   sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-xxxxxx.run -K
   
   IF you need to UnInstall it do the following:
   sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-xxxxxx.run --uninstall
   
   After installing the nVidia Driver I got much better results in the operation of my System on this openSuSE 11.4 M5 version.

I have left this in here so that IF any of you experience it, you will have it and the 'work-a-round' explained.

Once again I had problems compiling openSuSE, just a straight compile/build without even involving VMware. When I did a 'make cloneconfig' it failed.

1. Changed into /usr/src/linux
2. make cloneconfig
Cloning configuration file /proc/config.gz

scripts/kconfig/conf: invalid option -- 'D'
See README for usage info
make[1]: *** [cloneconfig] Error 1
make: *** [cloneconfig] Error 2

It was complaining about a 'D' switch and I couldn't find any info on it. So, as usual we go to the Web. Inquisitions on the SuSE forums were finally helpful. It was suggested to replace 'make cloneconfig' with "zcat /proc/config.gz > .config" I did. It created a .config file which turned out to be the same as another file in the /usr/src/linux dir named .config.running. I did a diff on the two and they were the same. Seems to be a waste of space.
Later: Further examination shows that .config.running was created by make cloneconfig.

Anywho, I was finally able to continue and did the 'make prepare' and then the lengthy 'make modules'. They were both apparently successful.

Bug 660433 Submitted - Can not make cloneconfig in openSuSE 11.4 M5 - 18 Dec 10

Now then, after working on the compile, and that is all I did, I could not exit openSuSE 11.4 M5. I did NOT do an install. I did nothing to change the system. -But- it would not let me re-boot via the icons. Clicked on the Leave and then Re-Start ... No Dice. Clicked on Leave and then on System Stop ... No Dice. I finally had to open a Terminal Window, su to root and then execute a shutdown command. It is not clean yet. In my humble opion... far from it.

I extracted the following cause it explains something about the boot process, which I feel was the only real benifit out of the whole discussion. I like the Winter scene and look forward to it. In fact, I wish that someone would create Spring, Summer and Fall scenes. Hmmmmm.. Maybe I will... maybe. Oooohh, and I just looked out the window to see a beautiful scarlet rose colored morning sky. Some of these Arizona mornings are gorgeous.

To the OP, It is NOT a Christmas theme although anyone has the right to associate it as such if THEY choose. It is winter theme triggered by default to come on randomly from dec 1st to Jan 31st each year. It is handled as a feature by gfx_boot which can be changed with gfxboot penguins=% where 0% = never show 100% = always show. It became a feature of GRUB gfx_boot in 1998 and in fact can be modified to as per one of my other posts to display a multitude of backgrounds. It would be an issue if it was an un-configurable thing I guess.

Please see: SDB:Gfxboot

Refer: KDE 4 Isn't Too Bad, After All

Now then, as the above person says, I have been trying to get used to this KDE4 for quite some time now but I just don't follow all their concepts. I haven't seen anywhere that explains the reasons for the change ... other than just changing it. The explanation may be right in front of me -but- I can't see the forest for the trees. A lot, most of, what Rob Williams says in his article referenced above, I would also say.

The following two paragraphs, and the picture, are from the above mentioned Web Page. I copied them for two reasons. One, to show what I am talking about, and two, so I don't loose the info. The 3D effect on the Windows is what I have been trying to do AND was the main reason I was trying to use KDE4.x. I never, till now, found a description of how to do it. And I didn't realize that the feature was available via Compiz. Anyway, it is in KDE4 so we just have to learn how to use it. This will be expanded on as we learn. My plans are for a serious leaning process, and heavier usage of the KDE4 features, to start taking place here in openSuSE 11.4.

When many users of Linux try to push the OS on their friends, a popular feature to fall back on is fancy desktop effects. As far as I'm aware, Linux offers far more desktop eye-candy than any other out there. To have some really cool desktop effects in the past, you had to install Compiz packages and fiddle around until it worked, but with KDE 4, a lot of what people liked with Compiz is actually built right in. This came as a big surprise to me, because I had no idea until I stumbled on it in some menu.

What kind of effects am I talking about? How about the CoverSwitch (a la Cover Flow) feature? If enabled, it replaces your alt-tab functionality by putting all your active applications into a 3D environment so you can essentially flick through them. This might seem a little overkill for a simple alt-tab, but it's actually extremely useful. It's far easier to spot a window you need fast by actually seeing the window rather than a small thumbnail or application icon.

Allllrighty Now!! It is really, really simple to get the above view.
(EXCEPT... it changd in KDE4.8.)

1. Click on the SuSE Orb in the Lower Left hand corner.
2. Click on Configure Desktop
3. In the window that pops up, under Workspace Appearance and Behavior, Click on Desktop Effects.
4. A new window pops up.
5. In the line - Effect for window switching, select Cover Switch from the dropdown menu.
6. Click Apply down in the lower Right hand corner.
7. Press and hold the Alt Key, then hit and release the Tab Key... keep the Alt Key held down.
8. Your windows will look similar to the picture above.
9. IF you click on one of the side windows it will become the center... and the window of focus when you finally release the Alt Key.
10. Enjoy and show off your new found toy.

A little note to those of you with VMware and possibly other Virtual Systems. IF you are in a VMware Window, the Alt-Tab key combo will not work...at least NOT for this application. It will work for an application inside the Virtual Machine. IF you are outside the VMware window then the combo will work -and- your VMware window will be one of the stack.

After a "KDE Update", you get a login screen -but- after entering the proper info and hitting Enter, you get a black screen. Or you get informed that your session isn't correct anymore. What you can possibly do is this, in the login screen just go to bottom Left Corner, Click on Session Type and then click on KDE.
Refer: Experimental Area For Experts
(Of course... the above assumse that you are NOT using the Auto Logon.)

Boy things are gettng bad now. I grabbed / copied and posted the above info about the Repositories and I can't remember where I got it.!.! The main reason for my concern is the format that it is in here in my HTML file... and why I chose those. What I really wanted was the openSuSE Factory Repos. Have to investigate.
openSuSE Factory

From caf4926 on the Forums:
http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/Medias/images/iso/

From gropiuskalle on the Forums:
When using multiple repositories one has to understand the concept of either switching packages to one repository or setting priorities for each repo (preferably both). If one does not, packages will only be managed by the original repository, even when other repositories offer more current versions.
From man zypper:
-p, --priority <positive-integer>

Set priority of the repository. Priority of 1 is the highest, the higher the number the lower the priority. Default priority is 99. Packages from repositories with higher priority will be preferred even in case there is a higher installable version available in the repository with a lower priority.

In setting the priorities, we need to decide who we trust more. Who has the latest -but- better still, who has the most reliable software???? This is only neccessary when more than one Repo has the code we desire.

Packman Layout Explained  and   Repository Management

 Samba:  This is at the top cause... it didn't get started. Two routines, smb and nmb need to be running in order to properly access the other systems and drives between Windows and Linux. They didn't get started automagically.

 30 Jun 11  Annnddd... later I am finding nmbd NOT running. So this has been added to REMIND ME ... check smbd and nmbd ANYTIME you do NOT have communication between the Systems on VMware and your Main System. Also see the Apparmor note a little further down.

 What we need:  

1. apache2 - running and started in runlevels 3 & 5
2. dnsmasq - running and started in runlevels 3 & 5
3. nmb - running and started in runlevels 3 & 5
4. smb - running and started in runlevels 3 & 5
5. smbpasswd -a username (as root)

---

Now to please understand... this is for a Home System and the things we are doing here are NOT necessarily secure. (But then, what is??) We just want control over the systems in the household. Control freak??? Nah. I just have to maintain them all so I want remote access and the sharing of some resources.

 April 26th, 2012/12:06am   During our looonnngggg setup, AFTER our Hard Disk Crash, we found that some things had changed that we perhaps were taking for granted before. -Or- we didn't care at the time cause of lack of use ... or whatever. Anyway, smbclient -L hostname, will give a list of all shares on a particular machine. It was NOT working. In order to get it to work in this setup we needed to add:
     client lanman auth = yes
     client ntlmv2 auth = no
The info on these can be found at:
    http://www.samba.org/samba/docs/man/manpages-3/smb.conf.5.html
And the defaults are the opposite of what we had to set to get things to work. These setting may not be good for a larger organization.

dusty-tr2:/etc/samba # smbclient -L dusty-tr2
WARNING: The security=share option is deprecated
Enter ctaylor's password: 
Domain=[TRCOMPUTING] OS=[Unix] Server=[Samba 3.6.3-112.1-2788-SUSE-SL11.4-i386]

        Sharename       Type      Comment
        ---------       ----      -------
        IPC$            IPC       IPC Service (Samba SMB server 3.6.3-112.1-2788-SUSE-SL11.4-i386)
        windrvd         Disk      Directory for my Win Drive D - P4.
        windrvl         Disk      Directory for my Win Drive L - P4.
        oldpub          Disk      Public HTML dir on my Linux Home Page.
        pubht           Disk      Public HTML dir on my Linux Home Page.
        downloads       Disk      Download Directory - P4.
        ntfiles         Disk      Directory for NT files -P4.
        wrkdev          Disk      Directory for Work development - P4.
        print$          Disk      Printer Drivers
        groups          Disk      All groups
        users           Disk      All users
        profiles        Disk      Network Profiles Service
Domain=[TRCOMPUTING] OS=[Unix] Server=[Samba 3.6.3-112.1-2788-SUSE-SL11.4-i386]

        Server               Comment
        ---------            -------
        DUSTY-TR2            Samba SMB server 3.6.3-112.1-2788-SUSE-SL11.4-i386
        DUSTY3               
        PSD55465             

        Workgroup            Master
        ---------            -------
        TRCOMPUTING          DUSTY-TR2
        WORKGROUP            READYSHARE

Now then, we spent a lot of time and searching and waiting to get the above output. The first time we tried it we did NOT get all the information. Matter of fact, we went to the store for milk and when we came back, all of the above info was obtained. The first go around was missing DUSTY3 and PSD55465. Was also missing the Master name for TRCOMPUTING and the WorkGroup READYSHARE was not there at all. Sometimes it takes time for all these things to talk.

Refer: Samba as PDC

---

Oh Bummer!  Well, it finally caught up with me. I copied the http.conf file from 11.3 to 11.4 AFTER saving the newest one. To many changes and it did not work. That was why apache2 was not starting. Put back the newest one and apache2 is now running. Now to see if my local stuff will work.
Ok, in the System Runlevel Services apache2, nmb and smb are enabled with a Yes. (Simple Mode)
Still can not get nmb to run..?.!

Ok. Should have been smart enough to look here sooner -but- I wasn't. In the /var/log/samba/log.nmbd it tells me why it can't start.

[2011/02/03 00:12:57,  0] lib/fault.c:250(dump_core_setup)
  Unable to setup corepath for nmbd: Permission denied
[2011/02/03 00:12:57,  0] nmbd/nmbd.c:857(main)
  nmbd version 3.5.6-2486-SUSE-SL11.4-i386 started.
  Copyright Andrew Tridgell and the Samba Team 1992-2010
[2011/02/03 00:12:57.586374,  1] ../lib/util/params.c:513(OpenConfFile)
  params.c:OpenConfFile() - Unable to open configuration file "/etc/samba/dhcp.conf":
        Permission denied
[2011/02/03 00:12:57.589025,  0] nmbd/nmbd.c:861(main)
  error opening config file

So, now my quest is why can it not read the configuration file???

Added February 5th, 2011 TRComputing

 Samba and Apparmor  Well, this is it. Seems that there is a problem with the apparmor security. I didn't think it was running cause ... I tried to stop it with 'rcapparmor stop' and the command was not recognized. Then after embarrassing myself and telling everyone on the forum that apparmor 'was not' a problem on my system cause it wasn't running, only to find out that it was!! When you go into Yast2 and then System Services (Runlevels) we find out that:
     aaeventd -and- boot.apparmor
are both running. I stopped them and then I was able to start smb and nmb. Now I can properly access all my Windows Neighborhood -and- they are gona fix it before the release.

   Some changes are needed to obtain local operations.

One of the things I like about Linux is... I can setup my own WebSite Locally. I'm sure it can be done in Windows -but- it is more fun and understandable, to me, here in Linux. Please read the following changes carefully -AND- back up your originals BEFORE you make any of these changes.

The httpd.conf file and the mod_userdir.conf file... both found in /etc/apache2.
In the httpd.conf file ... add the Include for mod_userdir.conf and the other changes. I am allowing FollowSymLinks cause ... I have a SymLink to my local WebPages over on a Windows drive so I can Edit and View in both Systems. (Dual Boot)

ln -s /windows/L/public_html public_html      ...which results in...
public_html -> /windows/L/public_html/      ...in your home dir.

(Of course, this assumes that the public_html that was originally there was empty -and- was removed.)

These were the changes to the httpd.conf file:

# added 13 Jul 09
Include /etc/apache2/mod_userdir.conf

# forbid access to the entire filesystem by default
<Directory />
    Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
    AllowOverride None
    Order deny,allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from dusty-tr2.TRComputing
</Directory>

... and in the mod_userdir.conf file ... un-comment the UserDir:

# the UserDir directive is actually used inside the virtual hosts, to 
# have more control
UserDir public_html

Now restart apache2 with:
   /etc/init.d/apache2 restart
Annnddd... Viola!! You can now Execute your WebSite locally and get it all working BEFORE you place it on the Web for embarrassment.

I at one time had these in the Networking Section cause they were the only thing I had in that section. Just moved them to their own section cause they are really separate entities. They both come from    Mozilla.

 Firefox Install:  I am putting this right up front... cause. I essentially copied it from the Mozilla Page and added/modified it to my own tastes.
The following instructions will install Firefox into your home directory, and only the current user will be able to run it.
Well now, these instructions will 'apply' to anywhere as long as you have the permissions. You just pick a Directory and then, blam! You untar it into it.
Note: The installation file provided by Mozilla in .tar.bz2 format does NOT contain sources but pre-compiled binary files, therefore you can simply unpack and run them. There is NO Install, NO Setup and NO need to compile the program from source, IF all the System Requirements are met.

1. Download Firefox from the Firefox download page to your home directory. (OR a dir of your choice.)
2. Open a Terminal and go to your home directory: cd ~ (OR the dir you chose)
3. Extract the contents of the downloaded file:   tar xjf firefox-*.tar.bz2
   -OR- you can put it in /usr/local like I did and then all can use it.
4. Close Firefox if it's open.
5. To start Firefox, run the firefox script in the firefox folder:
   ~/firefox/firefox     -or- /dir/firefox/firefox

Firefox should now start. You can then create an icon on your desktop to run this command. Now this is straight from the horses mouth. So, if you don't see some things that you usually have... that is cause we did not use the install package from your version of Linux.

Now then, the biggest reason for installing my own copy of Firefox is; I was having trouble saving images and Web Pages. Sometimes it would work and sometimes it wouldn't. In reasearching on the Net, I confirmed my suspicions that the openSuSE Brand might be the problem. So far, it appears that I and they were right. With this new one loaded and running I have been able to do all kinds of saves. Ok, gota clear up a couple of things here. Most of my experiences that I mentioned above were with Firefox 3.6 in openSuSE 11.3. It seems that in openSuSE 11.4 with Firefox 4.x the image and page saving is working much better.

  Firefox Bookmarks  Well, I had another fine time finding out how to Import -or- Restore my previous bookmarks.   They changed the name!!   Instead of "Organize Bookmarks" it is now "Show All Bookmarks". You click on that in the menu and the familiar Dialog Box will pop-up and you can then select from the "Import and Backup" menu, the appropriate operation.
Reference: Firefox Support Forum

  New Problem:  These Web pages are on HostRocket. The Control Panel has a File Manager that lists your Folders and Files. This list contains two Symbols at the begining of each line in the list. A CheckBox and a Folder or TextPage image. Now in the previous versions these Symbols were side by side. Here they are shown one over the other, the CheckBox on Top. This, in effect, causes triple spacing and stretches the WebPage out. Need to figure out how to get them back to side by side. HostRocket says that they didn't change anything.

Saving a web page

1. At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on the File menu, and select Save Page As.... The Save As window will appear.
2. Use the Save As window to select a location on your computer to save the copy of the web page.
3. In the Save As Type dropdown, choose how you want to save the page:

• • Web page, complete: Save the whole web page along with pictures. This choice allows you to view it as originally shown with pictures, but it may not keep the HTML link structure of the original page. Firefox creates a new directory where the page is saved to save pictures and other files necessary to show the whole web page.
  • Web page, HTML only: Save the original page without pictures. This choice preserves the original HTML link structure in one file.
  • Text files: Save the original page as a text file. This choice will not preserve the original HTML link structure, but will allow you to see a text version of the web page in any text editor.
  • All files: This is equivalent to "Web page, HTML only," but you may specify a file extension (e.g. ".htm" or ".shtml").

4. Click Save. A copy of the page will be saved as the type you specified in the location you chose.

Added June 1st, 2011 TRComputing

 High CPU  Some Web Pages cause extensive -or- intensive CPU usage. There are reasons and some fixes which can be found at:
       http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_CPU_usage

Added December 19th, 2011 TRComputing

 Firefox 8  This was released on November 21, 2011. Now then we like to get our Updates via the SuSE Repos -but- haven't seen anything about this... yet. Course we haven't really been looking all that hard either. Been working on other things. One of them is a "new" -to us- Laptop. This Laptop uses Vista and we installed Firefox 8 on it. Looks interesting and a LOT different. So, we thought that we would get it, Firefox 8, for our "Main Man", openSuSE 11.4.

Well, according to YAST we have Firefox 8. -But- when we look at the 'about' in Firefox it says 7. Think we have to get out of it before it will change. Yep. That was it. How-some-ever, it is NOT the same as the one we loaded on Vista. Turns out the one we loaded onto Vista is ver 8.0.1 which is a LOT different from this 8.0 that we just installed on our openSuSE 11.4. Can't believe that there is that much difference between an 8.0 and an 8.0.1 version. Or that much between Windows and Linux versions. It did update itself to our Bookmarks and settings. It couldn't handle two of our Add-Ons... Screen Capture and we don't remember the second one. We don't believe that the version that we had upgrades cleanly into this new version 8. There were some symbols out to the right of the address line that went crazy when we just moved out mouse over them. Then the screen and operations just did even resemble the one in Vista. Yes we know that they are different and things get displayed differently -but- not all that differently. Leastwise NOT in our previous usages.

So... we are going to Dump the current Firefox 7 and install the New one like it was from scratch. Which it will be.

Well, we guess there is that much difference ... somewhere. We Dumped the Firefox 7 that we had installed... completely... and installed the latest available. Version 8.0 on Linux and it IS greatly different from the 8.0.1 Version on Vista. So, we are forced to install the 'latest' version of Firefox 8 external to the Repos and miss the SuSE branding portion. We went into YAST and Removed Firefox 7

 Oooooops  Yep! Another one of those. Now then, the Biggest difference between the Vista version and this Linux version is the Firefox either up in the Left hand corner of the Title bar (Vista) -or- being the Left most Tab (Linux). Now that is either becuase of the minor version change -or- the difference between Windows and Linux. So, it is NOT an ooooops... we are still gona have to dump the current one and get the exact same version install in Linux as we have in Windows. Follow the directions at the beginning of this section and install the 'Latest' from Mozilla.

Ok. We went the bz2 install route -and- it is a difference between the Windows versions and the Linux versions. So, we have proven a silly item... there is a difference in looks and some minor operation between Windows and Linux versions. We are going back to the 'latest' in openSuSE Linux which is: Firefox 8.0. When a newer one becomes available, via YAST, we will get it.

Refer: Mozilla Story

---

 Thunderbird Notes

 Now then, here in the beginning of these notes I will primarily be talking about Thunderbird 3.0.11 under openSuSE 11.3. Mainly cause I haven't set up my e-mail under openSuSE 11.4 M6... yet, and I won't till the version is in General Release mode. Don't need two different e-mails to try and keep in synch. I tried that with my Windows Media Center and SuSE Linux. It was a real hassel. So, I just keep one Central Mailing System on my "Main System"... which normally happens to be a version of SuSE... uhmmm... openSuSE. ( Ok. I'm sorry I just like the name SuSE.)

Ok, so what brought this out at this time was Addresses. I, like a lot of you, have an Address Book with friends and relatives. Well, there are two parts to this address book. Personal and Collected. On one hand it is nice to get addresses automatically added to one's address book, but on the other, it can be a pain. I have a number of addresses for people that I do not know!! How does that happen... you might ask?? Well, there is a checkbox under Edit-> Preferences-> Composition and then the Addressing Tab for "Automatically adding outgoing e-mail addresses" to your Address Books. This appears to be checked for you by default. Cause I don't remember checking it. Anyway, that is where you can control them.

Now then, you might want to have that box checked for different times when you want to collect some addresses of Friends and/or Relatives that you don't have. How??? Well notice that the checkbox was for Adding Outgoing Addresses. If you reply to "All", guess what?? All of those outgoing addresses will be added to your address book. Course then you will probably, like me, get some that you don't want but that is easily correctable. Just delete them. Deleting is a lot easier than all the typing to enter them in the first place. -But- that is a decision we all need to make for ourselves.

Just an FYI... (and a reminder to myself) There are two places to set things. Under the Edit menu, there are two selections at the bottom of the menu. One is for Account Settings and the other is for Preferences. It seems that some of the Settings are split accross these two...-or- at least is seemed that way to me. So, IF you want to have it do something and you can't find it... look in the other set of options.

 T-Bird 3.1.8 Initial Setup  Allllrightyeee now... We had some difficulties setting up a customer's Thunderbird. I actually had this myself and fixed it in an unorthodox way. I installed version 2.x and then updated to version 3.x. Well, there is another way. What am I talking about??? IMAP vs POP. It seems that Mozilla has decide that IMAP is better ... possibly at the request of customers... and it is the default. But anyway, IF you want to use POP you have to "play some games" with the install. I found this on the Internet at Mozilla Messaging.

Made some changes and enhancements, but the ideas came from the site mentioned above. Read this over so you understand -BEFORE- you start it. When I setup my newest account(s) in the newest 11.4, I will have more info about an initial install. Till then, wing it. Transpose the actions here for an already installed T-bird to one that is just being installed.... you can do it.

1. IF you have already installed T-Bird, click on 'Local Folders'
2. Now click one 'Create a new account'
3. Fill in the blanks (your e-mail information) for the 'Mail Account Setup'
4. Click on 'Continue' ... and get ready!!
5. Stop!!(Stop is on the Right side.) the automatic scan (Setup)
6. Change Incoming to Pop on Port 110
7. SMTP on Port 25
8. Security - none on both... change it later, if you need it.
9. Finalize and Create the account ... you will see an option to do some 'Manual Setup'.
10. Now that it is created you can manage it like always.

Now then, I had copied my previous Mail folder over to my save area. It gets a little trickier to restore but can be done. Before you destroy your system -and- your current mail, save the Mail folder from inside .thunderbird. The Mail folder is under the funny name directory.

After installing the new system, startup Thunderbird and create the accounts that you had before. Remember the above trick IF you want to use POP. After this is done, exit Thunderbird, move the new Mail folder to trash and then copy back in the Mail folder you saved. IF the eMail messages don't seem to match the correct ones, check the Account setting. In the Server Settings check which local directory is being selected. This is down at the bottom of the screen. Compare them all and change appropriately. Now this is not hard. I did it. Just stop and think.

Now then, what we have here is a ... failure to communicate. For some reason, setting up the printer on Linux Systems, at least openSuSE systems, seems to be getting more convoluted each time. IF I hadn't had previous experiences ... and notes from them ... I don't believe that I would have been able to set up my printer. Of course it is not a "Normal" Printer setup anyway. I have an old NetGear PS110 Printer Server and an old HP cp1700 printer. -But- most of what I did was on hunches... again from previous experiences. The "Wizard" in this setup isn't so Wizardry as far as I'm concerned. I only found out that you need to double click on some of these selections by accident. On the other hand, printers are the most Non-Standard item in all of the Computing Industry. So, good luck.

My notes and recolections came from Printer inside my NewSuSE-10-3.html Web Page.

 May 9th, 2012  Contrary to the previous statement, we copied over the notes from the 10.3 version... and are modifying / editing them.

The setup in Yast consisted of getting into Yast, moving to the hardware selection, then clicking on printer.

You are now presented with a "Printer Configurations" screen. Local and Remote are both selected. At this time we don't thing that it makes any difference. (Read: Yast Printer) So for now we will leave them alone.

Next we need to click on Add down at the bottom. This will do some searching for your printer and then present another screen. IF you have a Printer Server, as we do, it will probably NOT find it. So we:

1. Click on Connection Wizard
2. From the connection selections (in our case) we selected:
   Access Network Printer or Printsever Box via
      TCP Port (AppSocket/JetDirect)
3. This presented us with some Connection Setting.
   
   • IP Address or Host Name: PSD55465 (192.168.0.150)
   • TCP Port Number: 4010
   • Optional
   • Test - Now the test usually fails -but- IF you click on the Details button it will show that the connection is possible -but- it is not accepting data. This is probably OK. IF you get No connection possible - then it is NOT ok.
   • Select Printer Manufacturer
   • IF all looks good, click on OK at the bottom.
4. After clicking OK above, we are returned to the Printer Configuration screen. Only this time our connection is specified at the top. And HP printers are listed at the bottom. As we scroll down the list we find 6 entries for our cp1700 Printer. We selected:
   

   HP Color Inkjet Printer cp1700 hpijs, 3.11.5 [manufacturer-PPDs/hplip/hp-color_inkjet_printer_cp1700-hpijs.ppd.gz]

5. After the above selection we modified the Arbitrary name from hp to hp_cp1700 and clicked on the select as default... and selected A4 as default Paper size. Then clicked OK at the bottom. It then created a new Printer Setup.
6. Finally finished as we printed a Test Page. Oh Darn!! It lopped off the bottom. A4 was the wrong selection for the default paper size. Switched it to Letter and it printed OK.

Allllllright now... we have printing capabilities again.

Printer Configuration
HP Color Inkjet Printer CP1700 / printer
Connected As socket://PSD55465:4010
With Spool printer

Queue Name and Spooler Settings
Name for Printing:	printer
Printer Description:	HP cp1700 InkJet
Printer Location:	Family Room
Printer Model
Manufacturer:	HP
Model:	Inkjet Printer CP1700
PPD Files
1. HP Color Inkjet Printer CP1700 Foomatic/hpijs (recommended)(manufacturer-PPDs/hplip/HP-Color_Inkjet_Printer_CP1700-gimp-print.ppd.gz)   This was really selected in the previous version but I had to re-select it here.
2. HP Color Inkjet Printer CP1700 Foomatic/gimp-print (recommended)(HP/Color_Inkjet_Printer_CP1700-gimp-print.ppd.gz)
Connection - Direct TCP Port Printer
Hostname of Print Server:	PSD55465 (Netgear PS110)
TCP Port Number:	4010
Filter Settings - Configuration Options
These are to numerous to list here and are just the settings that you like on your printer. I'm sure that most, if not all, will be able to figure this out by themselves.
Restriction Settings
In here you can set Users that may or may not use this printer or class.
State and Banner Settings
State(2):	1. Idle or printing    2. Accepting Jobs
Banner Start:	clasified, confidential, none, secret, standard, top secret, unclassified
Banner End:	clasified, confidential, none, secret, standard, top secret, unclassified

I have, as stated elsewhere, an HP Pavilion m7480n Desktop PC. It came with Windows XP. I got it 5 days before they released Vista. However, because of when I purchased it, I was able to get a 'Free' copy of Vista. Through VMware, I have been able to enjoy both plus Windows 7. Now then, this machine came with some great Power Management Controls that ... unfortunately only work in Windows. Now then, openSuSE has some Power Management software of its own. One of them is called
    yast2-power-management.
It can be either downloaded -or- installed directly from Yast2. I chose, and recommend, the later.

My main interest in this whole mess is "Sleep Mode". I have my machine on, ...a lot. I get interrupted, ...a lot. Don't remember things to well, so in order to remember what I was doing, I leave the PC on with what I was doing showing. Well, hidden by the screen saver and then the blackout, but it will be there when I revived the machine. So what's the problem??? The Linux side doesn't shutdown as far as the Windows side does. I do believe that this is the Sleep Mode and I have to find out how to implement it in Linux.

 Ooooops!!!  Well, it helps if you read over just WHAT you have installed. Seems that IF you click on the SuSE Orb , then move your mouse pointer over to the Leave Icon , you will be presented with some choices.

---

Now then, the selections you see in actual use will be bigger than these, but you'll get the idea. Not exactly what I was looking for, but it will do for now. The top section is your "Normal" Session Logouts. The bottom section controls the System. Please notice the two at the top of the System area. The first is Sleep and the second is Hibernate. Both are activated by clicking one them.

 Sleep Mode  will Power Down your machine -But- it will not turn it off. It saves everyting and then shuts down with just enough to keep what is neccessary to be re-awakened. IF you have a System similar to mine, the Power Button is Blue when you have Full Power and it becomes Amber when it is Powered Down to the Sleep Mode. However... it does not wake up with Keyboard -or- Mouse activity. You need to press the Power Button and then it will fire up. Similar to your normal initial startup -except- this one will place you right back where you were.

 Hibernate Mode  will Power Down your machine to the OFF state. -But- it will save everything FIRST and then when you power up it will be just as you left it. This is the biggest Power Saver cause it turns it completely OFF.

Now then, the reason I said it was not quite what I was looking for is... I have to Manually put it in one of the two modes above. I would prefer that it operated like my Windows side and went into Sleep Mode automagically after a time period. Could be that I can set that -but- haven't read that far ... yet.

Ok.! I found it. See all you have to do is read and look around. In:
'Configure Desktop' -> 'Personal Settings' -> 'Hardware' -> 'Power Management'
you will find 'Power Profiles'. In there you can select 'Suspend Session' and then pick the length of time and what to do. I chose 30 min and Sleep.

 Oh Bummer!!   Well, we have disappointment. 'Sleep Mode' is NOT reliable. It will wake up, show indications of restoring and then go to a black screen. Need to investigate this further. Thought that it was cause I had VMware going -but- that was -not- the case. It failed, randomly with, or without, VMware.
 Possible Reprieve.. June 15th, 2011  I went through another one of those disasterous Updates ... and ... it may have had some benificial effects. I have re-enabled 'Sleep Mode' and have had it go to Sleep twice. Once without VMware and once with. Both times it restored properly. Now then, that was only twice. -But- they both worked like everything is ok. We'll see...

---

 PowerTop  This is a useful tool that is also installable via Yast2.

Power States: Power management  and   Admin Guide  and   PowerTop
Canadian Install

Rather than repeat the info I am just going to direct you to the previous explanation of this on my openSuSE 11.3 Page. Please note that you may -or- may not need the W32codecs-all. I had them in and then took them out. Some of the wmv's would show and some would not. Got them all when I removed the W32codecs-all.

 VLC and Videolan  This gets special attention because... there can be problems and I had some. First, it is recomended that you install libdvdcss via this repository Index of /pub/vlc/SuSE/11.3/ and then remove the repository. Seems that it and the Packman repos don't get along. Anyway, I had troubles with the initial install of VLC version 1.1.8. I couldn't display the wmv's attached to e-mails from my friends and relatives. After much research I found a "One Click" Install for VLC version 1.1.9. That cleared up my problem. (VLC means VideoLAN Client)
Refer: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-suse.html

A thorn in my side. Even though they are necessary... I strongly dislike them. My "local" setup would probably make a security fanatic cringe.

After the initial installation, the HD situation is this:

/dev/sda	279.4 GB	Systems	ID	1st Drive	Owner	Group
/dev/sda1	79 GB	HPFS/NTFS	7	C:	root	users
/dev/sda2	7.3 GB	Win95 FAT32 (LBA)	c	E: Recovery	root	users
/dev/sda3	194.3 GB	W95 Ext'd (LBA)	f
/dev/sda5	2.01 GB	Linux Swap	82	swap
/dev/sda6	41.93 GB	Linux /	83	root	root	root
/dev/sda7	102.08 GB	Linux /home	83	/home	root	root
/dev/sda8	2.04 GB	Linux Swap	82	Test swap
/dev/sda9	20.87 GB	Linux /	83	Test root	root	root
/dev/sda10	25.10 GB	Linux /home	83	Test /home	root	root
/dev/sdb	279.4 GB	System Data	ID	2nd Drive	Owner	Group
/dev/sdb1	263.85 GB	HPFS/NTFS	7	D:
/dev/sdb2	15.61 GB	W95 Ext'd (LBA)	f		root	users
/dev/sdb5	15.61 GB	Win95 FAT32	b	L:	root	users

Refer: Linux Files and File Permissions - Partion Types

Now then, you will notice that initially root owns everything! The first of the above two references explains all this and is good reading. As I have mentioned before, somewhere in these WebPages, I have two 300GB HD's which at one time would have given me Big Bragin' rights. Now, they are just average. However, the key part is ... there are two drives. In my catestophic System Failure (my own dumb fault), most of my data was saved because of the two drive setup. System(s) on one drive and data on the other. Further details can be found in my Starting Over Web Page.

What this is leading up is... changes. I need to have access to the Downloads area of the 2nd Drive. I have tried to bring down some files and save them... and could not... to the Downloads area. Had to save them in my Own home area. Not the way I had it setup before. There are 3 types of permissions... UGO: User(or Owner) - Group - Other. In each of these there are 3 types, rwx: Read - Write - eXecute. These permissions can be changed for the whole drive, individual folders and on individual files. If you are worried about security, then stay away from 'Other'. It is also referred to as 'World Permissions'. I do believe that should be enough said about that.

However, I am going to give 'World Permissions' on the Downloads Directory. I want to be able to save files from the Net from anywhere on my machine... be it Linux or Windows or a Test System. And I plan on giving myself root group permissions. It is a local system and I am the main user and owner. I'll still be somewhat restricted -but- not totally.

The permissions for Users can be changed in one of two ways. Either via the Command Line while in root, or via Yast. On the last part I am assuming that you have an openSuSE System.

The Directories and Files are better done from the Command Line. In fact I don't think there is a way to do it in Yast. (I looked and didn't see anything obvious.) We need to know these commands anyway. chmod ugo +rwx would give ALL the permissions to everyone. For the most part that is NOT what we want to do. This can also be done as chmod 777. Octal digits can be used instead of the letters.

Oh Darn!!  A glitch... on my part. My Downloads dir is on a Windows NTFS Drive! Linux chmod doesn't do a thing. After scratchin' me head for a few, and searchin', I finally remebered that there are some special NTFS commands to do this. All I have to do is remember them! Think I discovered this in 11.3 -or- 11.2.

Well, it was in 11.2, and the same thing happened here... ntfs-config was left out. it is used to modify the read/write permissions on those NTFS Drives. -BUT- the fstab must also be modified.

This is the way it was configured -by default- by the System Install:
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3300631AS_5NF1J2GA-part1          /windows/D  ntfs-3g    users,gid=users,fmask=133,dmask=022,locale=en_US.UTF-8 0 0
This is what is needed to make it practically useful:
/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_ST3300631AS_5NF1J2GA-part1	/windows/D	ntfs-3g    defaults,users,locale=en_US.UTF-8	0	0

Allllrighty now... I did a test save from the Net through Firefox and it worked!! So, we are back in business.

Yes... I am a VMware fanatic -but- it looks like I can use this Wine for some applications. Even, even ... Homesite. More on this later.

Right now please see: MySQL & phpMyAdmin

  These actually need to be in my External Glossary but they are here now, cause this is my current notes section for new things that I find.  It was taken/stolen from the Xgl Troubleshooting section.

Composite Extension

This extension to X causes an entire sub-tree of the window hierarchy to be rendered to an off-screen buffer. Applications can then take the contents of that buffer and do whatever they like. The off-screen buffer can be automatically merged into the parent window or merged by external programs, called compositing managers.

FBO

Frame Buffer Object (FBO) is an OpenGL extension that defines a simple interface for drawing to rendering destinations other than the buffers provided to the GL by the window system. This interface is newer and cleaner than pBuffers, but considered less stable at the moment.

pBuffer

Pixel buffers (pBuffers for short) are additional non-visible rendering buffers for an OpenGL renderer.

Sascha Manns personal list: Distro:
* Linux 2.6.37 - including free Broadcom wlan drivers for some recent chips
* LibreOffice - including much improved kde integration and docx export out of the box
* zypp download improvements - including faster repo refresh cuz of zsync and better proxy support
* webyast
* Firefox 4(?)

KDE:
* KDE SC 4.6 (maaaaaajor step from 4.4 of 11.3)
* kdepim 4.4.10
* bluedevil - new KDE bluetooth tool
* plasmoid-networkmanagement replaces knetworkmanager
* oxygen-gtk
* rekonq - included in the official repo
* pulseaudio on by default in kde (but easy to get rid of)
* kpackagekit new default updater
* HAL-free default installation

Product Highlights

Kernel Features List:

- - The inode portion of the VFS scalability patches
- - More BKL removal, including parts of the core kernel
- - Block I/O can be throttled via cgroups
- - Simple pNFS support
- - In-kernel PPTP (tunneling) acceleration
- - "Lazy" inode table creation for ext4 to allow faster fs creation
- - Batched discard support, which allows the file system to advise the
    block layer to use the TRIM command. This allows online TRIMs, but
    is only implemented in ext4 so far.
- - Xen dom0 support (mostly)
- - The usual round of bug fixes.
- - fanotify
- - Block barriers have been removed[1]

Drivers:
- - Systems and processors:
  - Flexibility Connect boards
  - Telechips TCC ARM926-based systems
  - Telechips TCC8000-SDK development kits
  - Vista Silicon Visstrim_m10 i.MX27-based boards
  - LaCie d2 Network v2 NAS boards
  - Qualcomm MSM8x60 RUMI3 emulators
  - Qualcomm MSM8x60 SURF eval boards
  - Eukrea CPUIMX51SD modules
  - Freescale MPC8308 P1M boards
  - APM APM821xx evaluation boards
  - Ito SH-2007 reference boards
  - IBM "SMI-free" realtime BIOS's
  - MityDSP-L138 and MityDSP-1808 systems
  - OMAP3 Logic 3530 LV SOM boards
  - OMAP3 IGEP modules
  - taskit Stamp9G20 CPU modules
  - aESOP Samsung S5PV210-based Torbreck boards

- - Block:
  - Chelsio T4 iSCSI offload engines
  - Cypress Astoria USB SD host controllers
  - Marvell PXA168/PXA910/MMP2 SD host controllers
  - ST Microelectronics Flexible Static Memory Controllers

- - Input:
  - Roccat Pyra gaming mice
  - UC-Logic WP4030U, WP5540U and WP8060U tablets
  - several varieties of Waltop tablets
  - OMAP4 keyboard controllers
  - NXP Semiconductor LPC32XX touchscreen controllers
  - Hanwang Art Master III tablets
  - ST-Ericsson Nomadik SKE keyboards
  - ROHM BU21013 touch panel controllers
  - TI TNETV107X touchscreens

- - Miscellaneous:
  - Freescale eSPI controllers
  - Topcliff platform controllher hub devices
  - OMAP AES crypto accelerators
  - NXP PCA9541 I2C master selectors
  - Intel Clarksboro memory controller hubs
  - OMAP 2-4 onboard serial ports
  - GPIO-controlled fans
  - Linear Technology LTC4261 Negative Voltage Hot Swap Controller I2C
  interfaces
  - TI BQ20Z75 gas gauge ICs
  - OMAP TWL4030 BCI chargers
  - ROHM ROHM BH1770GLC and OSRAM SFH7770 combined ALS and proximity sensors
  - Avago APDS990X combined ALS and proximity sensors
  - Intersil ISL29020 ambient light sensors
  - Medfield Avago APDS9802 ALS sensor modules
  - Basic, memory-mapped GPIO controllers
  - Intel Topcliff GPIO controllers
  - Intel Moorestown/Medfield i2c controllers
  - IDT CPS Gen.2 SRIO RapidIO switches
  - Freescale i.MX DMA engines
  - ARM PrimeCell PL080 or PL081 DMA engines
  - Cypress West Bridge Astoria controllers
  - USB ENE card readers
  - Asahi Kasei AK8975 3-axis magnetometers
  - OLPC XO display controller devices
  - Analog Devices AD799x analog/digital converters
  - Winbond/Nuvoton W83795G/ADG hardware monitoring chips
  - Flarion OFDM usb and pcmcia modems
  - Maxim MAX8952 and MAX8998 Power Management ICs
  - National Semiconductors LP3972 PMIC regulators
  - Broadcom BCM63xx hardware watchdogs

- - Network:
  - Brocade 1010/1020 10Gb Ethernet cards
  - Conexant CX82310 USB ethernet ports
  - Atheros AR9170 "otus" 802.11n USB devices
  - Topcliff PCH Gigabit Ethernet controllers
  - Intel Topcliff platform controller hub CAN interfaces
  - Technologic Systems TS-CAN1 PC104 peripheral boards
  - SBE wanPMC-2T3E3 interfaces
  - RealTek RTL8712U (RTL8192SU) Wireless LAN NICs (replaces older
  rtl8712 driver)
  - Atheros AR6003 wireless interface controllers
  - Beeceem USB Wimax adapters
  - Broadcom bcm43xx wireless chipsets

- - Sound:
  - Marvell 88pm860x codecs
  - TI WL1273 FM radio codecs
  - HP iPAQ RX1950 audio devices
  - Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 audio devices
  - Aztech Sound Galaxy AZT1605 and AZT2316 ISA sound cards
  - Wolfson Micro WM8985 and WM8962 codecs
  - Wolfson Micro WM8804 S/PDIF transceivers
  - Samsung S/PDIF controllers
  - Cirrus Logic EP93xx AC97 controllers
  - Intel MID SST DSP devices

- - USB: Intel Langwell USB OTG transceivers
  - YUREX "leg shake" sensors
  - USB-attached SCSI devices

- - Video4Linux2: remotes using the RC-5 (streamzap) protocol
  - Konica chipset-based cameras
  - Sharp IX2505V silicon tuners
  - LME2510 DM04/QQBOX USB DVB-S boxes
  - Samsung s5h1432 demodulators
  - Several new Conexant cx23417-based boards
  - Nuvoton w836x7hg consumer infrared transceivers
  - OmniVision OV6650 sensors
  - OMAP1 camera interfaces
  - Siliconfile SR030PC30 VGA cameras
  - Sony imx074 sensors
  - VIA integrated chipset camera controllers

Further Reference: Release Notes