openSUSE 12.1 releases on 11-16-11

Anyone other than me or weinter looking forward to this release?

New and improved features:

openSUSE offers latest web and cloud technologies.
This openSUSE release introduces the latest web browsers, the Horde 4 Groupware framework and updated cloud- and virtualization technologies.

WebYaST
On the server side, the WebYaST remote system management tool offers a much improved web interface to administer openSUSE systems remotely with new modules and better performance. The introduction of the Groupware framework Horde 4 brings a powerful set of applications including a modern Webmail client and a PHP based framework on which it is all build

Supporting Cloud technologies
openSUSE is an excellent guest OS for the cloud as can be experienced building solutions on SUSE Studio. With a new kernel, openSUSE is now ready to run directly on the Amazon EC2 cloud. On the host side, the latest virtualization technologies including Xen 4.1, KVM and VirtualBox can be managed with the latest virt-manager and open-vm-tools. Last but not least, openSUSE is the first Linux distribution to ship OwnCloud integrated into the desktop. And the openSUSE Virtualization and Cloud repository for openSUSE 12.1 offers the latest versions of Eucalyptus, OpenNebula and OpenStack for openSUSE 12.1.

Improved distribution technology
openSUSE introduces a number of improvements and innovations in the underlying technology of the distribution. This includes the unique Snapper tool offering file versioning, the systemd init system and the Google Go language.

Snapper rolls back changes
openSUSE 12.1 is the first Linux distribution taking advantage of the snapshot functionality in the upcoming Linux file system btrfs. These snapshots of the file system are using copy-on-write, making them very space efficient. openSUSE 12.1 debuts Snapper which allows the user to interface with this technology.

systemd boots your system
systemd is the new init tool in openSUSE, controlling and speeding up the boot process. Developed in close cooperation with fellow Linux Distribution Fedora, systemd is especially interesting for system administrators due to its powerful socket- and bus activated service system. It also works closely with the cgroups kernel feature providing better security and control over the processes.

Latest Free Desktops introduce color management, GNOME Shell and more
openSUSE offers you the choice of four officially supported major Free Desktops, all with a high level of polish and support. Noteworthy is the fact that openSUSE is the first major Linux distribution to ship color management tools for both the GNOME and KDE desktops!

GNOME Shell is improved and refined
We introduce you to GNOME 3.2, an improved and refined version of the GNOME Shell introduced in GNOME 3. openSUSE also ships many of the improved GNOME applications which integrate in GNOME Shell.

Major improvements compared to the GNOME 3 preview in openSUSE 11.4 include better handling of smaller screens and multi-screen setups, better notifications and a centralized online accounts configuration. This release also brings you a new Document manager, quick preview in the Nautilus file manager, enhanced color management and automatic rotation for touch screen devices.

KDE introduces Oyranos, Apper and Plasma Active
openSUSE 12.1 ships the KDE Plasma Workspaces 4.7 as default desktop and is the first major Linux distribution to ship the new KolorManager + Oyranos color management tools. Another major new addition is KPackageKit replacement Apper, simplifying installation and removal of applications.

The innovative new Tablet project from the KDE community, Plasma Active, is not an integral part of the openSUSE 12.1 release yet but tablet users can install Plasma Active in openSUSE 12.1 and we work on integrating it in the next openSUSE release.

The other desktops
Both XFCE and LXDE have not seen a major feature update since the previous openSUSE release, but minor improvements have been made and are included in this release. This includes better theming and desktop integration as well as an improved selection of applications part of the default selection for each desktop. openSUSE also has KDE 3 packages available again.

 

I never used OpenSUSE, but i will say it does look nice, the server stuff sounds like it could be fun messing with it the web management looks like its really polished. may have to give it a try

 

i used to use linux but not anymore but if i want to use it again which not going to happen in the near future i would use opensuse

 

Downloading now

software.opensuse.org: Download openSUSE 12.1

 

Can't wait to hear your review. Make sure it's thorough.

 

I guess so much for me saying it's teh bomb.

 

Are their still issues with installing via live USb like previous versions?

I could never get the suse image writer to work correctly and I prefer unetbootin.

This IMO is the biggest drawback with 'suse -- the painstaking steps of installing via live USB ( the way the majority of users test a linux environment).

 

I couldn't tell you because their servers are getting hammered and my torrent d/l is going pretty slow. I just burn the image to disk.

 

Confirm it still has issues with Unetbootin and startup Image creator.

That is just an epic fail on 'suse's part. Again.

 

Using Unetbootin failed. I used dd to create a bootable USB drive.

 

I have already downloaded it but I need a day to clone my disk to test for support and migrate my files.

 

I just installed the x86_64 version from the DVD ISO - had no installation problems and it was pretty fast too.

The gnome shell looks much more polished than what I found in Fedora 15, but still gnome shell looks much more bland especially the title bar decorations (seriously - I'm surprised no one at gnome shell really cares about if your title bar just looks plain white and bland)

Didnt explore much yesterday as I did the install very late during the night.

I read about unetbootin problems with the RC2 - I'm really disappointed that they didn't fix it even in the final version

BTW I'm also seeding the ISO thorugh torrent for others

 

The imagewriter works.
It is a sector by sector cloning program.
If it fails to work you should check your thumbdrive filesystem format.

 

Yes this is what the people at the forum have also been saying - ImageWriter and dd seems to work for USB drives it seems...

I installed from USB as well - but using an alternate less known but reliable method - bootstrapping off the kernel and initrd found within the ISO and then choosing the install image as the ISO stored on the USB drive - this works fine as long as you have a primary bootloader like GRUB already installed....

 

I completed my Migration.
Verdict: Excellent Stuff.
Things that broke are fixed, Samba etc.
KDE improved
Booting even faster, Desktop even more responsive
Still looks great
There are changes to some of the configs like hostname etc.
Stable but updated.

 

I'm going to d/l this one and check out the gnome version for S & G's. It's been a long time since I've "hopped" around

 

After enjoying opensuse 11.4, I decided to give this another shot from my kubunt 11.10 install. Install went well and had no issue setting up encrypted LVM. Unfortunately, Amarok was being a pain and crash any time I tried to play my library. Uninstalling/reinstalling did not help. That was the biggest issue i had and have since switched back to kubuntu.

 

I am going to download and try this out too, since everyone else here is doing it. lol.

 

I wonder if switching the Phonon backend in Amarok would have helped you.

 

OK. I installed this over the weekend. I set it up with the Tumbleweed repositories which are supposed to turn it into a rolling release. I had 11.4 set up that way, but when it came time to upgrade to the 12.x release it broke package kit and my system was left crippled. So, the rolling release is definitely not as polished as something like PCLinuxOS, but it did keep the system very current otherwise. We'll see how good the experience with the 12.x lifetime is. So far so good.

I got Dropbox working. Multimedia is all set. Amarok found all my music and is delivering crisp, equalized, music. No crashes here. One thing I hadn't realized before is that the lyrics scroll for you as the song advances. Cool!



digiKam 2.2.0 is sweet! And OpenSuse comes with color management already enabled throughout the system and applications that support it.



As a photography enthusiast I have to say that I am very pleased.

If only the LibreOffice guys could get around to fixing the Border problems I would be completely satisfied.

https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=39812

But, I guess that is not OpenSuse's fault. So, I give OpenSuse 12.1 top marks for this excellent release.

Update: See my signature for my review of OpenSuse 12.1.

 

rm2, what is that first wallpaper? It's gorgeous!!

 

It is a photo I took from Morris Cove at New Haven, Connecticut. Here you go.