1 Planning for SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop #
This chapter describes some basic considerations before installing SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop.
This chapter is addressed mainly to corporate system administrators who face the task of having to deploy SUSE® Linux Enterprise Desktop at their site. Rolling out SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop to an entire site should involve careful planning and consideration of the following questions:
- For which purpose will the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop workstations be used?
Determine the purpose for which SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop should be used and make sure that hardware and software with the ability to match these requirements are used. Consider testing your setup on a single machine before rolling it out to the entire site.
- How many workstations should be installed?
Determine the scope of your deployment of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop. Depending on the number of installations planned, consider different approaches to the installation or even a mass installation using SUSE Linux Enterprises unique AutoYaST or KIWI NG technology.
- How do you get software updates for your deployment?
All patches provided by SUSE for your product are available for download to registered users in the SUSE Customer Center.
- Do you need help for your local deployment?
SUSE provides training, support, and consulting for all topics pertaining to SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop. Find more information about this at https://www.suse.com/products/desktop/.
In the following sections, the system to hold your new SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop installation is called target system or installation target. The term repository (previously called “installation source”) is used for all sources of installation data. This includes physical media, such as CD and DVD, and network servers distributing the installation data in your network.
1.1 Hardware requirements #
For a standard installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, including the desktop environment and a wealth of applications, the following configuration is recommended:
Intel Pentium IV, 2.4 GHz or higher or any AMD64 or Intel 64 processor
1–2 physical CPUs
512 MB physical RAM or higher
3 GB of available disk space or more
1024 x 768 display resolution (or higher)
1.2 Reasons to use SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop #
Let the following items guide you in your selection of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop and determining the purpose of the installed systems:
- Wealth of applications
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop's broad offer of software makes it appeal to both professional users in a corporate environment and to home users or users in smaller networks.
- Ease of use
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop comes with the enterprise-ready desktop environment GNOME. It enables users to comfortably adjust to a Linux system while maintaining their efficiency and productivity. To explore GNOME in detail, refer to the GNOME User Guide.
- Support for mobile users
With the NetworkManager technology fully integrated into SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop and its two desktop environments, mobile users will enjoy the freedom of easily joining and switching wired and wireless networks.
- Seamless integration into existing networks
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop was designed to be a versatile network citizen. It cooperates with various different network types:
Pure Linux networks. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop is a complete Linux client and supports all the protocols used in traditional Linux and Unix* environments. It integrates well with networks consisting of other SUSE Linux or SUSE Linux Enterprise machines. LDAP, NIS, and local authentication are supported.
Windows networks. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop supports Active Directory as an authentication source. It offers you all the advantages of a secure and stable Linux operating system plus convenient interaction with other Windows clients, as well as the means to manipulate your Windows user data from a Linux client. Explore this feature in detail in Chapter 7, Active Directory support.
- Application security with AppArmor
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop enables you to secure your applications by enforcing security profiles tailor-made for your applications. To learn more about AppArmor, refer to Part V, “Confining privileges with AppArmor”.