Home > New 11.0 openSuSE Linux OS Released

News

New 11.0 openSuSE Linux OS Released

6/23/2008

Bookmark and Share

On Thursday, Version 11.0 GM of the openSuSE Linux-based operating system was publicly released. The open source OS, sponsored by Novell, contains "200 new features," improved installation and packaging, plus a few options for the desktop user interface.

The new OS version sports a vibrant green-colored user interface (screenshots). Graphical user interface changes top the list of improvements in this release.

The team that developed Version 11.0 GM wanted to keep it stable, but they also wanted to stay close to some upstream distributions used with the OS. One such case is KDE 4.0, the next-generation desktop interface that includes a shell called Plasma, plus a new look and feel called Oxygen. Plasma is a scheme for interacting with the desktop that features panels, extenders and applets as graphical user interfaces.

This version of openSuSE comes with "a stable release of KDE 4.0," according to openSuSE News. However, an openSuSE Forum poll showed that most users were still sticking with the earlier KDE 3.5 desktop.

"I don't think KDE4 will be a viable workplace product for another year IMHO," commented one contributor to the Forum page.

Users can also select other desktop interfaces, including Xfce and GNOME 2.22. This version of the GNOME desktop includes better support for network file systems, along with audio improvements, according to openSuSE News. Users of openSuSE 11.0 GM can select the desktop interface they want at the time of OS installation.

In addition to these interface improvements, the new openSuSE release includes a PolicyKit that facilitates changing system settings, according to Vincent Untz, an openSuSE developer. It also contains a PackageKit to better handle application packages and the incorporation of NetworkManager 0.7 to automate network connections, he added.

OpenSuSE 11.0 GM for 32-bit, 64-bit and PowerPC systems can be downloaded for free. It's also available with 90 days of technical support for about $60. The download page for the new releases is located here.



About the author: Dave Nagel is the executive editor for 1105 Media's educational technology online publications and electronic newsletters. He can be reached at dnagel@1105media.com.

Have any additional questions? Want to share your story? Want to pass along a news tip? Contact Dave Nagel, executive editor, at dnagel@1105media.com.

Cite this Site

David Nagel, "New 11.0 openSuSE Linux OS Released," Campus Technology, 6/23/2008, http://www.campustechnology.com/article.aspx?aid=64652

copy text (above) for proper citation



Recommended Reading
  • Talisma Launches New Version of CRM with Built-in Application Management

    Talisma Corp. announced version 8.0 of its constituent relationship management (CRM) application for higher education. The new release includes application management, a revamped user interface, two-way text messaging, personalized Web portals, and an ADA-compliant Web client, among other enhancements.

  • Bringing Composers into Classrooms Through Skype

    Two Pennsylvania teaching colleagues with an interest in music and technology are bringing remote experts into classrooms at almost no cost, using Skype's free videoconferencing technology.

  • Columbia U Going Live on iTunes U

    Columbia University has been beta testing its content through iTunes U, the Apple desktop media player for education-related podcasting. The New York-based university expects to go live with its release at the start of the fall semester.

  • Let the Games Begin! Google vs. Microsoft

    Pursuing a strategy as a consumer of services and choice, Drexel University has partnered with both Google and Microsoft to provide students with massive e-mail mailboxes, gigabytes of file storage with collaboration tools, Web-based calendars, personal blogs, and more.

  • Ferrum College Enrolls Juniper Networks To Extend 10 Gigabit Ethernet

    Ferrum College in southwestern Virginia has chosen to replace its campus-wide legacy Cisco network infrastructure with Juniper Network switching, network access control (NAC), and firewall/virtual private network (VPN) solutions. The college chose the new equipment after deciding to extend 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) throughput across the network in support of advanced voice over IP (VoIP) by fall 2009.

  • Tiffin U's New Online College to Use Pearson's eCollege for Course Management

    Beginning this fall, students in Tiffin University's newest online program, Ivy Bridge College, will use eCollege, a course management system from Pearson, for all of their online courses. The 2,350-student Tiffin U is located in Tiffin, OH and offers both on-campus and online classes. Since 2005, those online courses have been managed through Jenzabar Internet Campus Solution.