| Taking KDE 3.5 for a ride with SUSE |
by Steven J. Vaughan Nichols (Dec. 19, 2005)
 If you're like a lot of KDE users, you probably want to give the latest and greatest version of the popular Linux desktop environment a try. However, if you're like a lot of newer users, you're also not quite sure how to go about upgrading your desktop.
Fortunately, if you're a SUSE user, you're in luck. Not only does SUSE make it easy in general to upgrade programs with its YaST system administration program, SUSE is one of the few distributions for which there are already pre-complied binary packages so you don't need to compile the desktop yourself.
The other blessed distributions are, by the way, Arch Linux, Kubuntu 5.1 (Breezy), and Slackware. Binary packages for other distributions are expected shortly.
For SUSE, in particular, KDE 3.5 binaries are available for SUSE 9.1 and higher.
In my own test case, I updated a copy of SUSE 10 from KDE 3.4 to 3.5. The system I installed it on is an inexpensive Insignia 300a, Best Buy's house brand desktop PC. This box comes with a 2.8 GHz Pentium IV, 512 MB RAM, and an Ultra ATA/100, 7200 RPM, 60 GB hard drive.
Locating a complete set of binaries
Next, I needed to find a complete set of the KDE 3.5 binaries. While I could just grab the dozens of SUSE RPMs themselves from any of the many KDE 3.5 mirror sites, life is too short for that. Instead, I used YaST for the job.
To use YaST, however, I needed to find a site that's set up for YaST. Novell makes it easy, again, with its LinuKS page.
Once you've found your particular SUSE distribution, walk down the Web directory tree for the directory that contains the "yast.directory" file, and make a note of it. Better still, copy it.
Next, start up YaST. That's "Menu > System > Control Center (YaST)" on your toolbar. To use it, you'll need your system's root password.
Some people like Jem Matzan in his very useful guide on Hacking OpenSUSE, recommend saving the root password at this window, I would never do that. Once saved on the system, anyone who comes by while you're out to lunch could launch themselves as root and cause any kind of havoc.
No thanks!
Once you're in YaST, you should already be looking at the software page. From here, click on "Installation Source."
This will bring you to the "Software Source Media" window. Next, you click on Add and choose the type of source. This will be either ftp or http in this case.
Selecting a software source
Now the next window may look simple, but I can't begin to count the number of people who've crashed and burned here, so pay close attention.
First, you make sure the type of server is correct. Then you need to type in the server name. Do not include the server type. So, for example, it's "ftp.suse.com" -- not "ftp://ftp.suse.com."
Next, you enter in the appropriate directory. This is the directory that contains the yast.directory; file it. The directory name should not include a leading slash. So, "pub/suse/i386/supplementary/KDE/update_for_10.0/yast-source" would be correct, but "/pub/suse/i386/supplementary/KDE/update_for_10.0/yast-source" will only get you that popular error message: Unable to create installation source from URL
Details:
ERROR(InstSrc:E_no_instsrc_on_media) Once you have the server and directory entered properly, it will appear in your Software Source Media window. You can then close these windows and get back to the YaST software window. Here, you should open "Software Management."
Performing the upgrade
The easiest way to install KDE 3.5 from here is to display your installed packages. To do this, select "Package Groups" from the top left-hand display window.
From here, head down to the bottom of the new display of installed packages and choose "zzz all packages."
This will mark all the installed packages. You may be tempted to just update the KDE GUI packages. These can be found under "System > GUI > KDE." Don't do it!
KDE is an entire family of GUI programs and applications. You'll avoid the likelihood of compatibility problems if you upgrade the entire KDE family across your system by selecting all possible packages.
Once you've selected the files, go to the YaST menu bar and click "Package > All in this List > Update if Newer Version is Available." From here, click the autocheck radio button on the bottom of the screen. This checks for any situation where you may need an extra file for KDE 3.5 to run properly -- a file that isn't actually part of the new KDE package.
Once that done, click on "Accept," and away you should go.
If you run into any software conflicts -- I haven't on the SUSE systems I've upgraded -- solve each conflict in the order in which they come. One fix may take care of several conflicts.
You may also need some additional programs from your installation files, so keep your SUSE CDs or DVD handy.
Once that's done, KDE will start installing. This can take a while, since the total download can be in the range of 500 MB. This is a case where the more bandwidth you have, the better.
The actual installation should go without a hitch. Once downloaded and installed, KDE 3.5 should automatically start running. If for some reason it doesn't, a reboot will bring it up.
Enjoying the result
Is it worth it all this time and trouble?
For me, it certainly has been. I really like the look and feel of KDE 3.5. I also like the additional functionality of Konqueror, the KDE Web browser; Kopete, the KDE IM client that now includes some VoIP and video support; and so on. Finally, while I can't prove it, the desktop also seems to be a bit faster than 3.4.
All in all, for me, upgrading was a no-brainer. If you want the most from your KDE-powered SUSE, you'll be installing it, too.
 About the author: Ziff Davis Internet senior editor Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols has been using and writing about technology and business since the late '80s and thinks he may just have learned something about them along the way. He can be reached at sjvn@vna1.com.
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