SuSE Looks Great...but why does it run off the CD?

[jpbtennisman]

I just installed SuSE 7.1 from a CDR I burned, and it looks really cool, etc, but why does it run off the CD? Maybe because I only have 250 megs free on my C drive (I have 2.5GB free on D drive), but it wouldn't let me install to drive d. It did not install a boot-loader or anything. Why is this?

[Marcel2008]

This is a evaluation cd you have...
Buy SuSe or download something else

[jpbtennisman]

How do I crack it?

[killerasp]

you windows--> linux newbies, not everything is crackable. Just go out and buy it or try something else

[FoBoT]

you could also do an ftp install of the real suse 7.1, but you would have to learn some linux stuff to do that

[jpbtennisman]

Hey wait a minute...what is all this business about Linux being free?

So what you are saying is...they give away the source code for the operating system, but you have to buy the operating system?

[mychl]

No, the way it works is this, you can download any of the versions of Linux from the net, or you can spend a whole $30 bucks to get all the CD's and a book of documentation with it. The $ would go towards the development of other projects(linux related). But by no means do you have to pay for linux. Unfortunately SuSE for some reason only provides a version that runs off CD, if you want SuSE and you want it to be fully functional, then spend $30. If you don't care what distro you use, then download one from linuxiso.org.

I usually wouldn't mind spending $30 even just to save me from having to download so much. ANyway you look at it, its better than spending 150-200 bucks for winders.... get it??

[bugfix]

In other words: get another distro, just about any distro except SuSE.

[jpbtennisman]

Originally posted by mychl:
<STRONG>No, the way it works is this, you can download any of the versions of Linux from the net, or you can spend a whole $30 bucks to get all the CD's and a book of documentation with it. The $ would go towards the development of other projects(linux related). But by no means do you have to pay for linux. Unfortunately SuSE for some reason only provides a version that runs off CD, if you want SuSE and you want it to be fully functional, then spend $30. If you don't care what distro you use, then download one from linuxiso.org.

I usually wouldn't mind spending $30 even just to save me from having to download so much. ANyway you look at it, its better than spending 150-200 bucks for winders.... get it??</STRONG>

I see. But Mandrake was so horrible and SuSE was so great...I can't see myself using another distro. I will probably buy SuSE if I can do everything I can do on Windows on it, and do it better. Of course, that is highly unlikely, but I'll give it a shot.

Yes, but why do you have to be a network admin to use Linux? The simplicity of Windows is why people buy it.

[Travis Shofner]

Network admin? I'm by NO MEANS a network admin but I know almost as much about SuSE as I do Windows, and I know enough about the Linux kernel to get around, install sources, change my basic settings, etc (though I'm still learning and post here often).

Linux is Free. Distros like SuSE and Redhat AREN'T Linux, they're different packages that come on top of the Linux kernel. (just to clarify if it needed)

[jpbtennisman]

It isn't LINUX?? So are you saying that I just downloaded a Linux imitation that costs $30, and I can't even figure out how to get PCMCIA Card Services installed?

Hmm...well I'll play with it anyway. As soon as I get my network card to work, while it will not be my primary OS (Windows 2000 livez on 4ever) I may find a use for it.

[Craig McPherson]

Originally posted by J.P. Balletta:
<STRONG>It isn't LINUX??</STRONG>

Linux is a kernel.

Linux distributions (Redhat, SuSE, Debian, et all) are operating systems that all happen to use Linux as their kernel, and that tend to include (mostly) the same set of software.

If you go to cheapbytes.com, you can buy CD-R's of just about any distro for about a couple dollars per CD, but some distros like SuSE choose not to allow distribution of burned copies of their CD's, and some also don't provide ISO downloads of the full version, either. Most distros, though, allow full copying and redistribution of all CDs and other media under the terms of the GPL.

[janneo]

Here's the deal with Linux:

Literally, "Linux" refers to the kernel. Actual OS consists of the Kernel and applications that run on top of it (that is why some people call Linux OS's GNU/Linux).

Yes, Linux is free, even your SuSE. When you buy a SuSE Linux (or any distro for that matter) you are free to do whatever you want with it. And you can make copies of it and you can install it to as many computers as you want.

Sure, the downloadable version of SuSE is rather limited. But it might also be because of the fact that SuSE linux takes up 7 CD's (or one DVD)! It could be mighty difficult to download it all! So it wise for 'em to offer a evaluation copy of the OS.

If you want to install Windows on 5 machines, you need 5 licenses of Windows (which is expensive). If you want to install Linux on 5 machines, you can buy one copy of Linux and install it to those machines. Or you could borrow your friends copy of Linux and install it. All perfectly legal.

[jpbtennisman]

I got my Suse evaluation off of ftp.linuxberg.com. Where can I get a full working version off the Internet?

[FoBoT]

http://linuxcentral.com/catalog/index.php3?prod_code=D000-123&id=i3gpW53VVZrTo

[bdg1983]

Hey wait a minute...what is all this business about Linux being free?

Think about it. Would you invest millions of bucks to start a company to give everything away for free? Yes, you can download most distros for free, but if you want the printed manuals, extra software such as a limited version of Partition Magic and other commercial linux software, then fork out the $30 and buy the retail package.

Still cheaper than the alternative and usually all the software you will ever need is already included.

[Aikidoka]

Originally posted by J.P. Balletta:
<STRONG>How do I crack it?</STRONG>

LOL

[Yvraine]

Free as in speech, not as in beer.

Even when downloading it, you're investing time and bandwidth, and getting something in exchange.

But once you've got it, you can do practically anything you like with it: tweak it, give away copies of it, whatever. The only thing you can't do is restrict the freedom of the people you give it to -- this is what the GPL is there to ensure.

(This is a very general explanation and probably not perfect, RMS will demand my head now, I'm sure. :eek: )

[jpbtennisman]

Originally posted by Aikidoka:
<STRONG>LOL</STRONG>

Don't get the joke...I downloaded every piece of MS software I have...do you think I paid for it?

I don't like MS at all, not so much because of crashes (Win2k is very stable) just because of all their schemes... I guess in my position, I just have to learn to like it since it is a monopoly.

[mychl]

I think the joke is that there is nothing to crack, no code that will miraculously turn it into a full version. Its an operating system that can run with or without certain things, some of the things you will need to run off HD are not there....

[Daedra]

why dont you try slackware :D

[jpbtennisman]

Originally posted by mychl:
<STRONG>I think the joke is that there is nothing to crack, no code that will miraculously turn it into a full version. Its an operating system that can run with or without certain things, some of the things you will need to run off HD are not there....</STRONG>

too bad. Maybe I'm just used to everyone else's lousy protection :D

[Dave Anderson]

Go away Mr. Bad *** pirate.

You got your answers.

[jpbtennisman]

With all the overpriced software in the world of Windows, one must pirate!

And of course, if I REALLY love SuSE, I would buy it. When you download, it doesn't come with any manuals.

Since the evaluation doesn't let me edit any config files (all config files are on the CD), so I can't really get it to do what I want it to do.

[bdg1983]

Most distros have online user/administrator guides available in html or pdf format that you are welcome to d/l and view or print.

[jpbtennisman]

OK OK OK, tell me where to get Suse for free!

[bdg1983]

And of course, if I REALLY love SuSE, I would buy it.

Then what's the problem. If you like the SuSE evaluation copy, then buy the full version. If not, then download and try another.