To install a new application, start YaST from the main menu. Provide the root password when requested to do so. Check whether the installation source is valid in the ‘Change Source of Installation’ module. If you intend to install from the original SUSE LINUX CDs or DVDs, the active installation path should begin with cd:// or dvd://. If you intend to install from a network installation path, ask your system administrator for the full data, select ‘Add’ and the type of network source, and enter the full path. Leave the dialog with ‘Finish’.

Start the YaST ‘Install and Remove Software’ module. Enter the name of the desired application in the ‘Search’ bar and hit ‘Search’. Any packages matching your search criterion are listed in the right part of the window. If you want to install one of these packages, select the check box next to the package's name and click ‘Accept’. YaST automatically resolves all package dependencies—if there is any additional software component required to run the application chosen, YaST automatically installs the missing package. To finish, YaST runs some scripts to update the system configuration. Leave YaST and your freshly installed application is ready to run. For a detailed description of the YaST software module, refer to the Administration Guide.

Make sure that your system is up-to-date and contains the recent software and security fixes by constantly running SUSEWatcher. If configured accordingly, it automatically informs you about the availability of any software updates (see also Section 1.3.3, “Little Helpers”). Launch the YaST ‘Online Update’ and provide the root password. Select an appropriate installation source and hit ‘Next’. A dialog similar to the one in Section 1.7.1, “Installing New Applications” opens, showing all patches that are available for update. SUSE patches may fall in any of the following three categories: security (security-sensitive patches that should always be installed to maintain a secure system), recommended (improvements to packages already installed), and other (other patches available for update not relevant to any of your installed packages). Security updates are marked in red and are preselected along with the blue recommended patches. Accept this proposal to keep your system consistent. Click ‘Accept’ to apply the updates. For more information about the YaST Online Update, refer to the Administration Guide.