SUSE Studio: Build Your Customized OS in a Few Clicks

openSUSE and Enterprise SUSE have always been words associated with ease of use and fast setup amongst Linux users, specially those who are having a hard time migrating from Windows.

Many users regard openSUSE as the most user friendly Linux distribution, and it is not a bad description for it, since SUSE developers at Novell have been trying to focus on delivering not only what every other distro could bring, but also:

• An easy to use control-panel-like tool called YASU.
• Maximum compatibility with a wide range of hardware.
• Intuitive interface.
• Most popular out-of-the-box software for general purpose usage.

And I can confirm this as a Windows user, having installed openSUSE in three different machines never had the need to pull out the console screen to configure anything except for having fun and learning the basic commands.

But this ease of use and broad compatibility also brought a problem to openSUSE: every new release was a heavier download than the previous. Sure if you need software that can be installed on nearly every machine available today, its download file will be above 4 or 5 gigabytes and it will take quite long to install since the OS will have to search an extensive driver database to locate and deploy the drivers to your own hardware. Also delivering a huge driver and utilities/applications database sometimes can cause the user to get lost finding what he needs upon installation.

The guys at Novell have been trying very hard to workaround this problem and make it easy for users to find their desired programs and installing only their exact drivers but it all grew in complexity over time with the diversification of hardware. Now you should be able to install an OS also in laptops, netbooks, and all the hardware available in the market. And here is when I need to introduce a new concept before continuing.

"Appliance:" A configured, customized and ready to deploy operating system. It is by definition smaller than a full OS since it contains software aimed to cover one user's or business' needs.

The new solution that SUSE developers designed to overcome the weight problem and simplify the installation of Linux is allowing you to design your own appliances ONLINE! Yes, now you can set up your Linux distribution from the SUSE Studio website. The resulting appliance will only contain what you need, your drivers, your utilities, your theme, and you can download it in a file that has no more weight than a CD.

SUSE Studio Overview

SUSE Studio allows you to set up, configure and customize your own Linux distribution, not only of openSUSE but also of SUSE Enterprise Edition, the business oriented version of the OS. Being a newcomer you can start by picking a template, or as an expert you can choose to build your Linux from scratch. The system allows you to build nearly everything from general purpose systems to web servers and add any application you want to it by picking them from a repository.

A neat and friendly interface with wizards, tips and information will be your companion during the process to prevent you from getting lost in the deep Linux universe. As you add packages and components to your Appliance the wizard will calculate the space required to generate your design.

More advanced users will also find interesting tools for them, you can upload your own packages in case the default Novell repository does not have what you are looking for. Also if you are planning to use your OS in a business across several terminals, you can opt to give your Appliance a business look by picking your name and logo, which will be displayed once installed.

After you finished building your Linux Appliance (a process that according to the splash page, can only take a few clicks) you have the option to download it in any format you want (ISO images for installing, LiveCDs, etc). And if you are not absolutely sure about the resulting software, you can give it a test drive right there in the browser!

SUSE Studio is free to use, but due to the high traffic that it generates on the Novell Servers in the process of generating the Appliances, at the moment it is in closed beta and only accessible through invitations. Though you can sign up for a notification when the system is open to the public.

There is an enormous potential in Software Appliances, and Novell is determined to make the most of it. SUSE Studio is an idea that brings a new layer of satisfaction to an already satisfying experience created by the whole SUSE software family.

Recommended reading: SUSE Studio FAQs