With openSUSE Leap, the free and Linux-based operating system for PC, laptop or server, it is easy to surf the Web, manage your e-mails and photos, do office work, play videos or music. OpenSuSE Leap 15.0, based on SUSE Enterprise Linux 15 operating system series, was released on May 25th, 2018. It attracted attention because it was the first release of the openSUSE free and open-source computer operating system after its version numbering scheme change by syncing with upstream SLE (SUSE Enterprise Linux) releases.
The end of 1.5 years of lifetime
According to Marcus Meissner, SUSE Security and openSUSE Maintenance, on November 30th, 2019 openSUSE Leap 15.0 will reach its end of support after 1.5 years of lifetime. Therefore, the new version, openSUSE Leap 15.1 is already published, it is important for the users to upgrade the actual version as soon as possible.
Marcus Meissner added that “openSUSE Leap 15.0 will receive no further maintenance or security updates after that date. It is recommended for openSUSE Leap users to upgrade to the current release openSUSE Leap 15.1″
Upgrade to openSUSE Leap 15.1
The details about openSUSE Leap 15.1 has been released on May 22nd, 2019. openSUSE Leap 15.1 operating system is based on the SUSE Linux Enterprise 15 SP1 (Service Pack 1) release. The new features are as followed:
- Improved installer
- Updated kernel
- Graphics stacks with improved support for AMD Vega GPUs
- NetworkManager by default for both laptop and desktop machines
- Improved YaST functionality
In addition to these new features, compared with the latest version and OpenSuSE Leap 15.0, it can be seen that some packages were changed and some of them have been removed such as git-annex, erlang-rebar, iksemel and more.
It is available to download the openSUSE Leap 15.1 images to install openSUSE from scratch. Also, it is possible to upgrade by using the built-in update manager if you’re running openSUSE Leap 15.0
FAQ
What is the latest version of openSUSE?
The latest version of openSUSE is openSUSE Leap 15.4 and it was released on 08 June 2022.
How to upgrade openSUSE from an older version?
To upgrade openSUSE from an older version, you can use the "zypper dup" command. This command will upgrade your system to the latest version of openSUSE while preserving your user data and settings. Before you begin, it is important to backup your important data, and also make sure your system is fully up-to-date by running "zypper update". Then, open a terminal and run the command "sudo zypper dup" to begin the upgrade process. The command will update the system, download and install the new packages, and remove the packages that are no longer needed.
What is the difference between SUSE and openSUSE?
SUSE is a commercial Linux distribution that is developed and maintained by the company SUSE and it is closed-source, while openSUSE is a community-driven and open-source Linux distribution that is based on SUSE. openSUSE is developed and maintained by a community of volunteers and it is open-source. Both distributions provide different levels of support and services.
What is the difference between openSUSE Leap and Tumbleweed?
In summary, openSUSE Leap is a stable version of openSUSE that follows a regular release schedule, it aims to provide a consistent environment and a set of packages that are known to work well together, making it suitable for enterprise and production use. On the other hand, openSUSE Tumbleweed is a rolling release version of openSUSE that always contains the latest versions of packages available, it aims to provide the latest features and software, making it suitable for users who want the newest features installed on their systems.
Is openSUSE free?
openSUSE is a free and open-source operating system that can be used for any purpose, including commercial use, without the need of paying any licensing fees. It is widely adopted and supported by the openSUSE community and SUSE company, which makes it a reliable and stable choice for businesses and organizations.
How is openSUSE governed and managed?
openSUSE is governed and managed by the openSUSE Project, which is a community-driven and open-source project. It has a board of directors, a council, and several teams that work together to ensure the overall direction and development of the distribution, as well as a large community of contributors and volunteers who contribute to the project with different aspects.
Why is openSUSE not popular?
openSUSE is a reliable and stable distribution that has a dedicated user base and community, but it may not be as popular as some other distributions due to factors such as market share, enterprise focus, lack of mainstream software, and limited commercial support.
What desktop environment does openSUSE use?
openSUSE uses the KDE Plasma desktop environment by default, but it also offers the option to use other desktop environments such as GNOME, Xfce, and LXDE during the installation process.
Can openSUSE be installed on a virtual machine?
Yes, openSUSE can be installed on a virtual machine. A virtual machine (VM) allows you to run an operating system within another operating system. This means that you can install openSUSE on a virtual machine and run it on top of your current operating system, without the need to replace it or partition your hard drive. To install openSUSE on VMWare, you can refer to our article: How to create VM and install a Linux distro on VMWare Workstation