If at any time in the past thirty years you’ve explored the world of Linux, you’ve likely at least heard mention of something called openSUSE. Maybe you even recognize its iconic green reptilian mascot. Let’s take a look at this unique Linux distribution.

What Exactly Is openSUSE?

Jordan Gloor / How-To Geek

openSUSE is an operating system based on the Linux kernel, making it a Linux distribution. Like many Linux distributions, also called distros, you can install and use openSUSE as an alternative to Windows, macOS, or ChromeOS. It’s free to download and use thanks to its GNU general public licenses, and the code for the operating system is entirely open source, meaning anyone can review it or contribute to it if they want.

Looks-wise, how openSUSE appears can vary a bit depending on which desktop environment you choose, but all of them have the distinctive chameleon logo and green colorway. You’re also able to install openSUSE without a desktop interface at all and use it as a headless server.

openSUSE has been around for a long time. In fact, it’s one of the oldest Linux distros still in existence, with a lineage going all the way back to 1994. It was the first to be marketed to enterprises like Red Hat Enterprise Linux is. While openSUSE is freely available to general public with an open source license, it has a cousin distribution sold exclusively to businesses called SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE).

openSUSE’s name comes from the German company that sponsors it, SUSE S.A. The acronym SUSE, pronounced “soo-suh,” stands for “Software und System-Entwicklung” which is German for “Software and Systems Development.” The company is able to fund openSUSE’s development while in part by its sales of SLE.

What Makes openSUSE Different?

There are a lot of Linux distros out there, so naturally you might be curious how openSUSE stands apart from the rest. It does share some similarities with others you might know. For example, like Fedora Linux it primarily uses the RPM package management system.

One way it stands apart though is its diversity of offerings. There are actually three different openSUSE distributions to choose from. The differences mostly come down to their package repositories, the place where most of the software you can install on openSUSE are found

• openSUSE Leap: Packages for Leap are thoroughly tested by openSUSE’s developers before updates are made available. This is similar to Ubuntu Linux’s release cycle, with major point releases happening once a year.
• openSUSE Tumbleweed: Rolling release cycle like Arch Linux. You get package updates faster, with less testing beforehand. That makes Tumbleweed more appealing for those who like to have the latest software and don’t mind the risk of a potentially unstable operating system
• openSUSE MicroOS: An immutable distro, meaning you cannot permanently change the underlying system, and updates are applied as a system-wide image rather than individual package updates.

openSUSE also stands out from others for its collection of system management tools called YaST. The tools make it easy to configure just about any aspect of your computer system you can imagine. It comes in both graphical applications and as command line tools. Many Linux distributions come with custom in-house system utilities, but there aren’t many as mature and diverse as YaST.

openSUSE is also one of those distributions, like Arch Linux and Ubuntu, that has absolutely extensive documentation to it. Go to the openSUSE documentation hub and you’ll find detailed instructions on everything from troubleshooting bootloader problems to adding a printer.

How You Can Install openSUSE

Like most Linux distributions, the simplest way you install openSUSE is by downloading an ISO, writing it to a USB, and booting.

First, go to the official openSUSE website and click the “Install” button for the version of openSUSE you want, whether it’s Tumbleweed, Leap, or microOS. In the Download tab, you’ll be presented with several download options. If you aren’t sure which one you need, go for the x86_64. Choosing between the “Offline” or “Network” image is up to you. They’ll both take you to same destination, but I’m going to choose the Network version so that my initial download time is less.

You’ll then need to make a bootable drive with the ISO file. Plug the bootable drive in and choose your USB drive in your BIOS’ boot menu. You should then see an openSUSE boot menu. Choose “Installation.”

Next, openSUSE will scan your hardware, which may take a few minutes. This lets openSUSE know how you’ll be interacting with it and thus which drivers it needs to install.

After all your hardware is detected, it’s time to proceed with installation. You’ll have an opportunity to select your language and keyboard layout, plus test that layout to make sure you can type everything you need to type. You’ll also need to review and agree to the software license.

Follow the prompts to set the timezone, create your username and password, and partition the drive. If your needs are simple, the default partition configuration should be fine. However, I had to fiddle with it a bit because I have a complex dual boot setup.

Finally, you have a chance to review all your installation choices before taking the plunge. You should make absolutely sure at this point that you’re not overwriting any important data you don’t have backed up.

Now the installation will happen. This can take a while, depending on your computer’s resources.

When it’s done, your computer should reboot into the full openSUSE experience.

Hands on With an openSUSE Tumbleweed PC

If you’re curious what it’s like to use openSUSE, I can give you an idea from experience running openSUSE Tumbleweed with the KDE Plasma desktop for a few weeks.

For one thing, there’s no ignoring YaST, openSUSE’s collection of system management tools. Whether you want to find software, configure a mail server, or set up virtual machines, openSUSE has a YaST interface for that. You can use YaST either via graphical windows or the terminal; the choice is up to you and what your needs and preferences are. I found it to be a power user’s dream.

For that reason though the openSUSE experience can also get a little confusing. For example, there are a few different interfaces for managing software, and I got a bit turned around sometimes figuring out which one I should be using, or even if it mattered. On top of that, I was using KDE Plasma, which has its own software management tool, and it sometimes threw weird errors when I tried to install or update software with it.

I eventually learned that openSUSE recommends using only the command zypper dup in the terminal to update the Tumbleweed edition. That made software management easier for me, but I also know plenty of folks won’t feel comfortable using the terminal just to keep their software up to date.

With that said, I was impressed with how easy it was to find answers to questions I had, thanks to how well openSUSE is established as a distro. It was pretty easy to find answers. Since openSUSE isn’t a fork of another better-established distro, there’s no fussing with whether your problem is a problem with the distro or one with the upstream distro.

Should You Use openSUSE?

Based on my experience with it, I recommend installing openSUSE if you’re a power user looking for a Linux distribution that’s well-supported with extensive documentation and an established community. Its long history and corporate backing means you can expect few surprises, yet openSUSE’s multiple forms means you get to take your pick of release cycles and systems. If you get tired of one, you can switch without entirely changing ecosystems.

openSUSE is decidedly a Linux distro for PC fans who know what they want, or at least enjoy tinkering and exploring a powerful operating system. If you’re just dipping your toes into Linux for the first time ever and have a more casual relationship with your PC, I’d say you might find another distro less overwhelming. Trying Linux Mint or elementary OS first might be a better approach.