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 -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
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?)
You nailed it... welcome to teh wonderful world of software patents. :-(
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?)
MPlayer was included in a previous release from SUSE... 9.0 or something like that.. but was removed from all subsequent releases. Basically... the player itself isnt' the problem or the solution to playing the videos (Xine, Totem etc all play videos)... it's the codecs... and they fall into that fuzzy grey area of legality... and you'll never see the W32 codec pack that gets included as a dependancy when you install the MPlayer RPM from Packman as part of an official SUSE release - unless the codecs are released to the public domain and open sourced...
IMHO, the SuSE disto has gotten progressively worse since SuSE was purchased by Novell.
I'm of the opposite opinion. I'm pretty OK with the way things are going (I've been using SUSE since 6.2). SUSE is very easy to install.. easy to use... I try all the distros just cuz I like ot tinker. Ubuntu is prob the next favorite of mine.. but it's a VERY distant fav. The rest.. RH.. Gentoo, Debian, DSL, etc etc etc... all work... but NONE have the polish and ease of use of SUSE. SUSE isn't perfect and has it's wobbly moments, but the good far outshines the bad in the big picture. Hope you are able to stick around and contribute to SUSE :-) C. -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
cliip
I installed MPlayer which has so far played anything I've asked it to. (Why isn't MPlayer a part of the default install?)
Can you play video clips from Cnn, Abc, cbs, reuter's, prison planet, nbc, bbc, fox news ? does the rm plugin play realvideo? more clippping thanks, d. -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Monday 12 June 2006 6:06 am, kanenas@hawaii.rr.com wrote:
cliip
I installed MPlayer which has so far played anything I've asked it to. (Why isn't MPlayer a part of the default install?)
Can you play video clips from Cnn, Abc, cbs, reuter's, prison planet, nbc, bbc, fox news ? does the rm plugin play realvideo?
Yep....sure does! Fred -- Paid purchaser of ALL SuSE Linux releases since 6.x -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Monday 12 June 2006 06:57, Fred A. Miller wrote:
On Monday 12 June 2006 6:06 am, kanenas@hawaii.rr.com wrote:
cliip
I installed MPlayer which has so far played anything I've asked it to. (Why isn't MPlayer a part of the default install?)
Can you play video clips from Cnn, Abc, cbs, reuter's, prison planet, nbc, bbc, fox news ? does the rm plugin play realvideo?
Yep....sure does!
Fred
-- Paid purchaser of ALL SuSE Linux releases since 6.x I have problems with windows media format at bbc; the real player format (at bbc) only works when the mplayer .rm plugin is removed. Fox, cbs, nbc and abc open up a video window, but no joy. from my 10.0 experience some of the above sites will work in a pure 32 bit system, but not all. can you please post what versions of mplayer, mplayer-plugin, java,flash, w32codek you have and which browser is so successful?
-- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Mon, 2006-06-12 at 00:06 -1000, kanenas@hawaii.rr.com wrote:
cliip
I installed MPlayer which has so far played anything I've asked it to. (Why isn't MPlayer a part of the default install?)
Can you play video clips from Cnn, Abc, cbs, reuter's, prison planet, nbc, bbc, fox news ? does the rm plugin play realvideo?
more clippping
thanks, d.
I haven't tried all of the ones you list but I can view the videos on Fox and CNN. I haven't run across any realvideo sites. If you give me a URL, I can try it. Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Mon, 2006-06-12 at 00:06 -1000, kanenas@hawaii.rr.com wrote:
cliip
I installed MPlayer which has so far played anything I've asked it to. (Why isn't MPlayer a part of the default install?)
Can you play video clips from Cnn, Abc, cbs, reuter's, prison planet, nbc, bbc, fox news ? does the rm plugin play realvideo?
more clippping
thanks, d.
I haven't tried all of the ones you list but I can view the videos on Fox and CNN. I haven't run across any realvideo sites. If you give me a URL, I can try it.
Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules i assume you used firefox. both of those fail on my 64 bit 10.0 and 10.1, but my 32 bit 10.0 does open cnn. regarding realplayer sites: check out bbc.co.uk. when you click on video, you are offered the option of using windoze media or realplayer. you can switch later by clicking on the change line near the bottom of the window. i never succeeded with mplayer, but if i kill the mplayerplugin-rm.so
On Tuesday 13 June 2006 02:45, Donald D Henson wrote: link to firefox, the real realplayer opens the site fine on all my linucses. -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Mon, 2006-06-12 at 11:23 +0200, Clayton wrote:
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?)
You nailed it... welcome to teh wonderful world of software patents. :-(
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?)
MPlayer was included in a previous release from SUSE... 9.0 or something like that.. but was removed from all subsequent releases. Basically... the player itself isnt' the problem or the solution to playing the videos (Xine, Totem etc all play videos)... it's the codecs... and they fall into that fuzzy grey area of legality... and you'll never see the W32 codec pack that gets included as a dependancy when you install the MPlayer RPM from Packman as part of an official SUSE release - unless the codecs are released to the public domain and open sourced...
IMHO, the SuSE disto has gotten progressively worse since SuSE was purchased by Novell.
I'm of the opposite opinion. I'm pretty OK with the way things are going (I've been using SUSE since 6.2). SUSE is very easy to install.. easy to use... I try all the distros just cuz I like ot tinker. Ubuntu is prob the next favorite of mine.. but it's a VERY distant fav. The rest.. RH.. Gentoo, Debian, DSL, etc etc etc... all work... but NONE have the polish and ease of use of SUSE. SUSE isn't perfect and has it's wobbly moments, but the good far outshines the bad in the big picture.
Hope you are able to stick around and contribute to SUSE :-)
C.
I do plan to stick around, at least for awhile. I just hope someone can figure out a solution to all this legal stuff. Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Fri, 2006-06-09 at 12:01 -0600, Donald D Henson wrote:
Although I have a Samba server activated, I mostly use NFS.
Golden rule of network filesystems: Always run the network filesystem that is _native_ to the _client_. - Serve NFS for UNIX/Linux - Serve SMB for Windows The "main detail" is that clients run applications that assume the files are _local_, so the server had better present the files as _natively_ as possible. Mounting SMB under Linux or NFS under Windows causes issues for many applications that run on their respective clients. If you have Windows Servers and UNIX/Linux clients, running Services for UNIX (SFU) on Windows Servers to export as NFS for UNIX/Linux systems. SFU includes Intergraph's AccessNFS, fka Sun PC-NFS. Despite being based on the UNIX Distributed Computing Environment (DCE), SMB in its Windows Server and Samba forms is _not_ native to UNIX/Linux, and the Samba extensions for POSIX support are _not_ as compatible as NFS. You don't need to "standardize" on one -- nfslockd and Samba lockd are compatible at the kernel level on Irix, Linux and even other UNIX platforms in more recent Samba releases. If you want to "standardize" on a "real cross-platform" network filesystem, then look to Andrew Filesystem (AFS). OpenAFS has a few limitations though (e.g., no byte-level locking), but it's virtualized approach (e.g., no direct filesystem access except through a mount) unifies permissions, access control entries, etc...
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.)
Maybe it's because I came from the Debian and Fedora worlds, but missing features due to redistribution issues are commonplace. The great thing about Debian and Fedora is they introduce *0* indemnification issues since they contain software that is 100% redistributable. So this bothered me _none_ at all coming to OpenSuSE / SuSE Linux. In fact, I'm glad to see Novell getting a handle on it. Understand I have to _confiscate_ 98% of Knoppix CDs in a corporation and put up a _banned_ distro list because of indemnification issues. Far too many distros do _not_ take licensing and redistribution issues seriously. But when you're a major corporation like Novell operating in the US, you have to -- and I welcome Novell's attention to such detail.
(Why isn't MPlayer a part of the default install?)
Licensing issues (see previous).
4. Now feeling pretty cocky, I decided to try a fresh install ...
Installation issues are _not_ "using the distro." Otherwise, Windows would _fail_ to work on even _more_ systems. Either get your OS pre-installed, or take the time to resolve hardware support issues the installer doesn't address. At least Linux allows you to do so when video and other things won't come up on first boot. You're SOL if Windows gives you a video (GDI won't start) or major driver issue (chipset or related GDI/core support) upon install. Distros can't solve every installation detail. Distro vendors can't integration and regression test against all the endless PC hardware out there. If you want installs to work every time, buy an Apple. And that includes if you are going to dual-boot Linux. MacOS X _always_ "just installs" on Apple hardware -- because Apple _controls_ the platform. The PC world is filled with _poorly_designed_ systems.
IMHO, the SuSE disto has gotten progressively worse since SuSE was purchased by Novell.
Some of which seems to be due to Novell addressing _real_legal_ issues. The installer/update underwent major changes in 10.1, but many have been fixed (except for the CD, of course). I've _yet_ to see anyone talk about non-legal and non-installer/update issues. SuSE Linux 10.1 x86-64 worked _fine_ for me. -- Bryan J. Smith Professional, technical annoyance mailto:b.j.smith@ieee.org http://thebs413.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------------------- Illegal Immigration = "Representation Without Taxation" -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Mon, 2006-06-12 at 06:54 -0400, Bryan J. Smith wrote:
On Fri, 2006-06-09 at 12:01 -0600, Donald D Henson wrote:
Although I have a Samba server activated, I mostly use NFS.
Golden rule of network filesystems:
Always run the network filesystem that is _native_ to the _client_. - Serve NFS for UNIX/Linux - Serve SMB for Windows
Absolutely. The only time Samba is used is when one of the two dual-booted workstations are actually running Windows. Otherwise NFS all the way. Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
Donald D Henson wrote:
On Mon, 2006-06-12 at 06:54 -0400, Bryan J. Smith wrote:
On Fri, 2006-06-09 at 12:01 -0600, Donald D Henson wrote:
Although I have a Samba server activated, I mostly use NFS. Golden rule of network filesystems:
Always run the network filesystem that is _native_ to the _client_. - Serve NFS for UNIX/Linux - Serve SMB for Windows
Absolutely. The only time Samba is used is when one of the two dual-booted workstations are actually running Windows. Otherwise NFS all the way.
I also only use Samba for accessing Windows systems. BTW, XP home does not support that MS NFS package, so in my case, I don't even have the option of running NFS on XP. -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Mon, 2006-06-12 at 09:40 -0400, James Knott wrote:
I also only use Samba for accessing Windows systems. BTW, XP home does not support that MS NFS package, so in my case, I don't even have the option of running NFS on XP.
XP Home is a crippled version of XP Pro. I don't run XP Home any more than I did "Chicago" (9x). The point is moot if your server is Linux, which it should be. The last thing I want to do is put critical files on XP anyway. Much less XP Home! ;-> -- Bryan J. Smith Professional, technical annoyance mailto:b.j.smith@ieee.org http://thebs413.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------------------- Illegal Immigration = "Representation Without Taxation" -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Mon, 2006-06-12 at 09:40 -0400, James Knott wrote:
Donald D Henson wrote:
On Mon, 2006-06-12 at 06:54 -0400, Bryan J. Smith wrote:
On Fri, 2006-06-09 at 12:01 -0600, Donald D Henson wrote:
Although I have a Samba server activated, I mostly use NFS. Golden rule of network filesystems:
Always run the network filesystem that is _native_ to the _client_. - Serve NFS for UNIX/Linux - Serve SMB for Windows
Absolutely. The only time Samba is used is when one of the two dual-booted workstations are actually running Windows. Otherwise NFS all the way.
I also only use Samba for accessing Windows systems. BTW, XP home does not support that MS NFS package, so in my case, I don't even have the option of running NFS on XP.
I'm not sure about your conclusion. IIRC some months ago, this came up, and it seems that MS has these services available as a download. (I've got an ME system that we were discussing.) Perhaps you could look at MS again. I know that there are several packages out there in Shareware form for NFS on Windows, but I don't recall seeing any freeware packages. Odd as it's not a closed protocol. -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
Mike McMullin wrote:
On Mon, 2006-06-12 at 09:40 -0400, James Knott wrote:
On Fri, 2006-06-09 at 12:01 -0600, Donald D Henson wrote:
Although I have a Samba server activated, I mostly use NFS. Golden rule of network filesystems:
Always run the network filesystem that is _native_ to the _client_. - Serve NFS for UNIX/Linux - Serve SMB for Windows Absolutely. The only time Samba is used is when one of the two dual-booted workstations are actually running Windows. Otherwise NFS all
On Mon, 2006-06-12 at 06:54 -0400, Bryan J. Smith wrote: the way. I also only use Samba for accessing Windows systems. BTW, XP home does not support that MS NFS package, so in my case, I don't even have the
Donald D Henson wrote: option of running NFS on XP.
I'm not sure about your conclusion. IIRC some months ago, this came up, and it seems that MS has these services available as a download. (I've got an ME system that we were discussing.) Perhaps you could look at MS again. I know that there are several packages out there in Shareware form for NFS on Windows, but I don't recall seeing any freeware packages. Odd as it's not a closed protocol.
From the MS MUS download page.
"System Requirements * Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000; Windows 2000 Service Pack 3; Windows 2000 Service Pack 4; Windows Server 2003; Windows XP * The minimum system requirements for installing Windows Services for UNIX depends on which components you are installing and the file system of the disk where the components will be installed. * The maximum disk space required to install all Windows Services for UNIX components is approximately 275 MB. The minimum disk space required is 19 MB. Note: The product will not install on Windows 9x or Windows XP Home Edition." http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=896c9688-601b-44f1-81a4-02878ff11778&DisplayLang=en#Requirements -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Mon, 2006-06-12 at 21:38 -0400, James Knott wrote:
Mike McMullin wrote:
On Mon, 2006-06-12 at 09:40 -0400, James Knott wrote:
On Fri, 2006-06-09 at 12:01 -0600, Donald D Henson wrote:
Although I have a Samba server activated, I mostly use NFS. Golden rule of network filesystems:
Always run the network filesystem that is _native_ to the _client_. - Serve NFS for UNIX/Linux - Serve SMB for Windows Absolutely. The only time Samba is used is when one of the two dual-booted workstations are actually running Windows. Otherwise NFS all
On Mon, 2006-06-12 at 06:54 -0400, Bryan J. Smith wrote: the way. I also only use Samba for accessing Windows systems. BTW, XP home does not support that MS NFS package, so in my case, I don't even have the
Donald D Henson wrote: option of running NFS on XP.
I'm not sure about your conclusion. IIRC some months ago, this came up, and it seems that MS has these services available as a download. (I've got an ME system that we were discussing.) Perhaps you could look at MS again. I know that there are several packages out there in Shareware form for NFS on Windows, but I don't recall seeing any freeware packages. Odd as it's not a closed protocol.
From the MS MUS download page.
"System Requirements
* Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000; Windows 2000 Service Pack 3; Windows 2000 Service Pack 4; Windows Server 2003; Windows XP
* The minimum system requirements for installing Windows Services for UNIX depends on which components you are installing and the file system of the disk where the components will be installed. * The maximum disk space required to install all Windows Services for UNIX components is approximately 275 MB. The minimum disk space required is 19 MB.
Note: The product will not install on Windows 9x or Windows XP Home Edition."
Then it looks like the Shareware option is the way to go. -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
participants (7)
-
Bryan J. Smith -
Clayton -
Donald D Henson -
Fred A. Miller -
James Knott -
kanenas＠hawaii.rr.com -
Mike McMullin