Modules and Extensions Quick Start

Starting with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15, the installation medium consists of only the Unified Installer: a minimal system for deploying, updating and registering SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop. During deployment, you can add functionality by selecting modules and extensions to be installed on top of the Unified Installer.

Technically, modules and extensions are very similar. Both can be managed with YaST or the command-line tool SUSEConnect. Both modules and extensions add a set of online repositories (main, update, source, debug) containing all necessary packages. Additionally, both may add partitioning proposals and system roles that can be chosen during deployment.

However, there are significant differences between modules and extensions:

The following modules and extensions are available within the SUSE Linux Enterprise product family:

Please note that the availability depends on the product. Not all modules and extensions are available for all products. Some modules are included in one product but also available as extension for another.

2.7 Workstation Extension #

  

This extension offers additional desktop applications and libraries. It is installed by default on SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop. Adding the Workstation Extension to a SUSE Linux Enterprise Server installation allows you to seamlessly combine both products to create a fully featured server workstation. For more information, refer to https://www.suse.com/products/workstation-extension.

Warning: Unsupported kernel modules

The Workstation Extension installs the kernel-default-extra package, which includes additional kernel modules for desktop usage and enables loading of unsupported modules. If actually loaded, these modules may compromise your SLE support status.

Please evaluate if your hardware really requires additional kernel modules, and if so, test this expanded driver set in addition to the default set from the kernel-default package for possible configuration conflicts.

To prevent installation of the kernel-default-extra package, run zypper addlock kernel-default-extra.

• Dependencies: Basesystem, Desktop

• Availability: SLES, SLED (default), SLES for SAP

• Lifecycle: 10 years

• Extended support: None

• Level: mixed L2/L3 (depending on package)

Modules and extensions can be installed when initially setting up the system and on an existing SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop installation.

3.2 Installing modules and extensions with YaST #

  

To install modules & extensions from the running system, you need to make sure your system is registered with the SUSE Customer Center or a local registration server. If you have not done so during the installation, refer to Section 6.2, “Registering from the installed system” for instructions.

Tip: SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop

As of SUSE Linux Enterprise 12, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop is not only available as a separate product, but also as a Workstation Extension for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. If you register at the SUSE Customer Center, the Workstation Extension can be selected for installation. Note that installing it requires a valid registration key.

Note: Viewing already installed add-ons

To view already installed add-ons, start YaST and select Software › Add-Ons.

Procedure 1: Installing add-ons and extensions from online channels with YaST #

  

1. Start YaST and select Software › System Extensions. YaST connects to the registration server and displays a list of Available Extensions and Modules.

   
   

   Note: Available extensions and modules

   The number of available extensions and modules depends on the registration server. A local registration server may only offer update repositories and no additional extensions.

2. Click an entry to see its description.

3. To add modules or extensions, select all components you want to install. Note that all extensions require additional registration codes which are liable for cost.

4. Click Next to proceed.

5. Depending on the repositories to be added for the extension or module, you may be prompted to import the repository's GPG key or asked to agree to a license.

6. The YaST package manager opens to install release-packages for each module and, depending on your choice of modules and extensions, additional packages. It is strongly recommended not to deselect any of the preselected packages; you may, however, add additional packages.

   Choose Accept and Finish to conclude the process.

7. If needed, adjust the repository Properties as described in Section 8.4.2, “Managing repository properties”.

Tip: Module dependencies

Similar to software packages, which may depend on other packages to function, a module may have dependencies on other modules. If this is the case, the modules on which it depends are automatically selected for installation.

3.4 Deleting modules and extensions with YaST #

  

1. Start YaST › Software › Add-On Products.

   

2. Choose the module or extension that should be removed and click Delete. Confirm the warning saying that all packages from the selected component will be removed.

3. The YaST Software Manager opens and lists all installed packages from the deleted module or extension. Click Accept to remove all of them. It is strongly recommended to do so, because you will no longer get updates for packages from deleted modules or extensions. If you keep packages, make sure to at least remove the *-release package for each module or extension that gets deleted.

   Proceed with Accept and then OK.

Warning: Deleting modules

Note that you should never delete the Basesystem Module. It is also not recommended to delete the SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension and Desktop Applications Module.

Warning: No updates for packages from deleted modules and extensions

If you choose to keep packages from deleted modules or extensions, you will no longer receive updates for these packages. Because this includes security fixes, keeping such packages may introduce a security risk to your system.

3.5 Adding or deleting modules and extensions with SUSEConnect #

  

1. Run SUSEConnect --list-extensions to get an overview of available extensions:

   > sudo SUSEConnect -list-extensions
   AVAILABLE EXTENSIONS AND MODULES
   
       Basesystem Module 15 SP6 x86_64 (Activated)
       Deactivate with: SUSEConnect -d -p sle-module-basesystem/15.6/x86_64
   
           Desktop Applications Module 15 SP6 x86_64 (Activated)
           Deactivate with: SUSEConnect -d -p sle-module-desktop-applications/15.6/x86_64
   
               Development Tools Module 15 SP6 x86_64
               Activate with: SUSEConnect    -p sle-module-development-tools/15.6/x86_64
   
               SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP6 x86_64 (Activated)
               Deactivate with: SUSEConnect -d -p sle-we/15.6/x86_64
   
           Python 3 Module 15 SP6 x86_64
           Activate with: SUSEConnect -p sle-module-python3/15.6/x86_64
   
           SUSE Package Hub 15 SP6 x86_64
           Activate with: SUSEConnect    -p PackageHub/15.6/x86_64
   
       Certifications Module 15 SP6 x86_64
       Activate with: SUSEConnect -p sle-module-certifications/15.6/x86_64
   
   
   REMARKS
   
   (Not available) The module/extension is not enabled on your RMT/SMT
   (Activated)     The module/extension is activated on your system
   
   MORE INFORMATION
   
   You can find more information about available modules here:
   https://www.suse.com/documentation/sles-15/singlehtml/art_modules/art_modules.html

2. Run the commands in the listing for activating/deactivating a module or extension to add or delete a component. Note that adding an extension requires additional registration codes which are liable for cost.

Warning: Deleting modules

Note that you should never delete the Basesystem Module. It is also not recommended to delete the SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extensionand Desktop Applications Module.

Important: No automatic installation or removal of packages

SUSEConnect only adds or removes modules and extensions. It registers or deregisters the components and enables or disables their repositories, but it does not install or remove any packages. If you want this to be done automatically, use YaST to manage modules and extensions.

When adding a module or extension, SUSEConnect does not install default packages or patterns. To do this manually, use Zypper or YaST › Software Management.

When deleting a module or extension, SUSEConnect does not perform a cleanup. Packages from the module or extension remain installed on the system, but are no longer updated from a repository. To list these “orphaned” packages, run zypper packages --orphaned. To remove one or more packages, run zypper remove PACKAGE [ANOTHER_PACKAGE]. Alternatively, use YaST › Software Management and then View › Package Classification › Orphaned Packages to list and delete orphaned packages.

Warning: No updates for packages from deleted modules and extensions

If you choose to keep packages from deleted modules or extensions, you will no longer receive updates for these packages. Because this includes security fixes, keeping such packages may introduce a security risk to your system.

By default, tools for searching software packages (YaST Software Management or zypper search) are restricted to searching within active repositories. For an extended search including not yet activated remote repositories, you can run

zypper search-packages PACKAGE

Tip: Searching for packages in the SUSE Customer Center

You can also search for packages and their respective modules in the SUSE Customer Center Web interface at https://scc.suse.com/packages. A SUSE login is not required for this service.

To refine the search results, zypper search-packages offers the following options:

Below are a few examples of how to use zypper search-packages.

> zypper search-packages openjdk nodejs
Following packages were found in following modules:

Package          Module or Repository
                    SUSEConnect Activation Command
--------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------
java-11-openjdk  Basesystem Module (sle-module-basesystem/15.4/x86_64)
                    SUSEConnect --product sle-module-basesystem/15.4/x86_64
java-17-openjdk  Basesystem Module (sle-module-basesystem/15.4/x86_64)
                    SUSEConnect --product sle-module-basesystem/15.4/x86_64
nodejs14         Web and Scripting Module (sle-module-web-scripting/15.4/x86_64)
                    SUSEConnect --product sle-module-web-scripting/15.4/x86_64
nodejs16         Web and Scripting Module (sle-module-web-scripting/15.4/x86_64)
                    SUSEConnect --product sle-module-web-scripting/15.4/x86_64
[...]

> zypper search-packages -x java-11-openjdk nodejs14
Following packages were found in following modules:

Package          Module or Repository
                   SUSEConnect Activation Command
--------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------
java-11-openjdk  Basesystem Module (sle-module-basesystem/15.4/x86_64)
                   SUSEConnect --product sle-module-basesystem/15.4/x86_64
nodejs14         Web and Scripting Module (sle-module-web-scripting/15.4/x86_64)
                   SUSEConnect --product sle-module-web-scripting/15.4/x86_64
[...]

> zypper search-packages -x vim
Following packages were found in following modules:

Package  Module or Repository
           SUSEConnect Activation Command
--- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
vim Basesystem Module (sle-module-basesystem/15.4/x86_64)
      SUSEConnect --product sle-module-basesystem/15.4/x86_64
vim Installed
vim Available in repo Basesystem_Module_15_SP4_x86_64:SLE-Module-Basesystem15-SP4-Pool
vim Available in repo Basesystem_Module_15_SP4_x86_64:SLE-Module-Basesystem15-SP4-Updates

> zypper search-packages -x emacs
Following packages were found in following modules:

Package Module or Repository
          SUSEConnect Activation Command
----- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
emacs Basesystem Module (sle-module-basesystem/15.4/x86_64)
        SUSEConnect --product sle-module-basesystem/15.4/x86_64
emacs Available in repo Basesystem_Module_15_SP4_x86_64:SLE-Module-Basesystem15-SP4-Pool

Instead of searching for packages, you can also view the list of packages that belong to a module or extension. Start the YaST Software Management module and click View › Services. Select an entry to display the list of packages that belong to this module or extension.

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