Chapter 3. YaST — Configuration

Table of Contents

Starting YaST
The YaST Control Center
Software
Change Installation Source
YaST Online Update
Patch CD Update
Installing and Removing Software
System Update
Hardware
CD-ROM Drives
Printer
Hard Disk Controller
Graphics Card and Monitor (SaX2)
Hardware Information
IDE DMA Mode
Joystick
Select Mouse Model
Scanner
Sound
TV and Radio Cards
Network Devices
Basic Information about Internet Access
Information about the Internet Dial-Up
Network Card
Modem
DSL
ISDN
Network Services
Host Name and DNS
NFS Client and NFS Server
Configuration of a Samba Server
Configuration of Samba Clients
NTP Client
Routing
Mail Transfer Agent
Network Services (inetd)
Security and Users
User Administration
Group Administration
Security Settings
Firewall
System
Backup Copy of the System Areas
Restoring the System
Creating a Boot, Rescue, or Module Disk
Boot Loader Configuration with YaST
LVM
Partitioning
Profile Manager (SCPM)
Runlevel Editor
Sysconfig Editor
Time Zone Selection
Language Selection
Keyboard Layout Selection
Miscellaneous
Submitting a Support Request
Boot Log
System Log
Loading a Vendor's Driver CD
YaST2 in Text Mode (ncurses)
Controls
Restriction of Key Combinations
Module Operation
Starting Individual Modules

Abstract

YaST, the setup tool used for the installation, is also the configuration tool for SuSE Linux. This chapter covers the configuration of your system with YaST. This includes most of the hardware, the graphical user interface, Internet access, security settings, user administration, installation of software, system updates, and system information. This chapter also provides instructions for using YaST in text mode.

Starting YaST

System configuration with YaST is conducted by means of various YaST modules serving different purposes, such as the configuration of the keyboard or the selection of the system language. These modules can be accessed in various ways. An overview of all modules is available in the YaST Control Center, which can be started from the SuSE menu, the SuSE icon at the bottom left of your KDE panel. Select SuSE -> System -> YaST. The individual modules can also be accessed from the KDE Control Center.

If you use KDE, you can also start YaST by pressing Alt + F2. In the window that opens, enter kdesu /sbin/yast2 and confirm with Return.

As these start methods are usually used by a normal user, YaST opens a small dialog for entering the root password. root privileges are required for all YaST modules, as only this user is permitted to modify the Linux system files.

If, for any reason, YaST cannot be started as described above, it can be started from the command line. In the shell, change to the user root with sux. Enter the root password and run the command yast2.

Tip

To change the language of YaST, select System -> Select Language in the YaST Control Center. Choose a language, exit the YaST Control Center, log out from your computer, then log in and restart YaST.