[SLE] My experience with 10.0/10.1 (long)

I've been a SuSE fan since 9.0. I have a small network with 10/100 wired
Ethernet connecting a Linux server/workstation (32-bit), a Linux/Windows
(dual-boot) 64-bit workstation (runs Linux 99.9% of the time), a
"mature" Toshiba laptop (1 GHz Celeron processor - also dual-boot), and
a brand-spanking-new 64-bit HP ZD-8000 laptop (dual boot). Although I
have a Samba server activated, I mostly use NFS. I decided to purchase
the boxed sets for each version just to save download time.

1. I updated from 9.3 to 10.0. The server update went well except for a
couple of problems caused by me. The Toshiba update went well. The
64-bit workstation seemed to go okay but presented problems later. These
problems were such things as screen lockups, amarok adding unwanted
songs to playlists, inability to process some email, etc. I decided
(hoped?) that these were bugs that would be fixed shortly.

2. I ordered the 10.1 boxed set and while waiting for it to arrive, I
monitored the discussions about 10.1 on this list. The install problems
for 10.1 appeared far worse than those reported for 10.0. Things like
the inability to set up networks during the install, missing video
drivers, and more barriers to CD/DVD systems made me very cautious about
installing 10.1. I noticed that the majority of 10.1 install problems
were with the 64-bit version. (I also noticed that many of these
problems were legal rather than technical. Perhaps we need to give the
Novell lawyers more to do.)

3. I decided to do a test fresh install of 10.1 on the HP laptop, since
it was the latest hardware I had available and it had no real data on
it. Due to the 64-bit problems reported on the list, I decided to
install the 32-bit version. The installation went smoothly except that I
couldn't set up networks during the install. However, I was able to set
up networks using YaST after the install so I decided this was a minor
problem. I had to install the 'mad' stuff which, by the way, I was
unable to find mentioned anywhere in the documentation. (More lawyer
stuff?) This solved my audio problems but I still couldn't play videos.
After much investigation and a comment from a single individual on the
list, I installed MPlayer which has so far played anything I've asked it
to. (Why isn't MPlayer a part of the default install?) I'm not able to
copy DVDs but that's not a big concern for me. So after several days of
effort, I now have one laptop running the 32-bit version of 10.1. It
works pretty well once installed, but the install is a bear.

4. Now feeling pretty cocky, I decided to try a fresh install on my old
Toshiba laptop. Except for not being able to setup networks during the
install, the install itself went pretty smoothly. However, when the
initial boot got to the place where xserver is started up, the screen
blinked three times and then issued an error message that said something
like "Unable to start xserver because no video driver is available". I
tried the install again using VESA as my video selection with the same
end result. Admitting defeat, I did a fresh install of 10.0. A new and
strange problem appeared. My 10/100 Ethernet pcmcia card, which had
worked before, now no longer works. I tried a new card just in case but
the new card didn't work either. Both cards work just fine under Windows
and neither works under Linux 10.0. As far as I'm concerned, this is
magic. I have no idea how such a problem could occur. But the end result
is that my Toshiba laptop is pretty much useless.

5. The 64-bit workstation is scheduled to be updated to 10.1 this
weekend but I am understandably reluctant to chance it, given the
problems I've already experienced. The workstation needs a fresh install
since it is still running the 64-bit version of 10.0 with the problems
noted earlier. I think I'll do a fresh install using the 32-bit version
of 10.0 and see what happens. I probably will not update the server
since I cannot do without that one.

Conclusions

IMHO, the SuSE disto has gotten progressively worse since SuSE was
purchased by Novell. I don't know if one thing has anything to do with
the other but whatever the reason, I am no longer confident enough in
the SuSE distro to continue updating current systems. I anxiously await
10.2 to see if any of the current problems have been fixed but, in the
meantime, I plan to check out some of the other distros.

Donald D. Henson, Managing Director
West El Paso Information Network
The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules




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