md5sums are very useful. From most linux installations you can just use the shell command "md5sum /path/to/folder/filename.iso"(or /dev/cdrom) and verify md5sums. It is good to do after normal DL(bittorrent has that kind of file checking built in, which is why often you recieve more than 100% of a file in terms of downloaded size.) And again after burning to verify that everthing is okay.

In windows, many free tools are available, I use the one from www.nero.com, just search and you will find one.

Well I think I agree with both you and RedShirt on this one. It probably is just a "fragment from the past," but I don't think CD is still the new guy on the block. Its just companies are used to making it that way be default and see no need to change the order just because of new media.


This on the other hand is something I'm goina have to try out. I think my Knoppix CD will accompany me to the library next time I visit here at Marshall.

Hey ratzius:-) Here's a nifty little utility that you can install on your windows box that'll check your md5 checksums for you. Simply download, install this utility, then run it.
Use the interface to navigate to your download directory and click open once you've selected your iso. the winmd5sum utility will determine the md5sum for your iso file. Then go to your download page and copy, paste the checksum for your iso that is listed. If the two checksums match you can safely burn your iso. Remember to choose the file type as .iso and to burn as an image. Don't just copy the file. If you burn as an image the CD will be bootable.
Suse also has an excellent feature that allows you to run a media check once you successfully boot your first install CD that way you can determine that your install CDs are all okay before you partition your HD. I've run many distros over the last three years; Suse 10.0 OSS is awesome imho:-)

http://www.nullriver.com/index/products/winmd5sum

Ralzius, re md5: if you want to verify md5 checksums under Windows, there is a freeware program called "DigestIt".

To get back on topic:

It has been said earlier in this post: you need to burn the ISOs in a different way than just putting it on a disc. If you have NERO (which is common for Windows) then when it starts cancel out of the wizard as you don't need it. Under the Recorder menu select burn image.

An image is a representation of the entire CD/DVD contents along with their LBA map (where the files are physically placed on the CD/DVD). You have to burn the image using a program similar to Nero, Alcohol 120%, Record Now, etc.

BTW- There are copies of the SuSE manual on the DVD, the only thing you are not getting in the download version that you get on the Retail version is the web, phone support.

If you still want to get the retail version, I personally thank you for supporting SuSE and making what I take for granted possible. Thank You.

Good Luck.

Techincally, the Retail DVD is dual layered and has 4 gigs more software which isn't on the normal discs of download in any style or the retail CDs. You can get all the software of repos anywho, but it could come in handy if you don't have a good network.

Not quite true; The DVD is dual layer 8.(5?) GB because it includes both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of SuSE.

There is probably a couple hundred megabytes of packages on the DVD that is not on the CD. At MOST. In any event if you install from CD the rest of the packages can be downloaded from Novell's FTP site using YaST.

- Novell.com

Here is a list of the software you only get on retail DVD:
http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/tip/16076.html
That is 1691 packages, in case you were interested.

FYI, that is only the noarch and 32bit differences, there are more on 64 as well, but:

Wow! You can't get PHP4, PHP5, various Apache components, the KDE extra base utilities, and the other listed packages from their FTP site as I previously mentioned? I call BS - or I misunderstand your point.

They're listing the differences between the DVD and the CD, not what can't be had from their FTP site by simply adding it as an installation source for YaST.

You TOTALLY misundestood my point. OF COURSE you can download ANYTHING from the web. But which is more convinient:
1)Downloading every package you want, when for almost 1700 packages you are talking about gigs and gigs...at least a few hours of downloading.
2)Having every package you could ever want right there for you to acess any time you want it with no waiting.

My point was the DUAL LAYER disc has A TON more, not a few megs worth of uniteresting worthless software, but a massive archive of stuff at your fingertips.

Now, if you want to fight, go ahead, but I could care less. If you want to try and convince everyone there has been nor will ever be any benefits to having the retail and supporting SuSE because there are no benefits, please continue with your totally enlightened point of view. Otherwise stop arguing over something which doesn't concern you and you obviously don't understand(supporting opensource authors and the community). Thanks Kim, appreciate it and await your other wordly and misguided response.

meeeooow-

First of, lets thank anyone who buys the retail version of SuSE because they are making what others take for granted possible. Sure there are TONS of stuff on the retail DVD, but OpenSuse has made it so that people with the know how can live without it.

Why are you arguing the point Kim?

Besides we are all way OFF TOPIC. As a reminder, the topic is burning and booting an ISO.

If the OP decides to buy the retail version, that is his choice and I, for one, am grateful to him for that.

I happily pay for every new release from SuSE and will continue to do so. Its a small price to pay for virtually every piece of software I can conceive of using. Open source is all about freedom and the cooperation of the user community -- not about free. True the GPL packages, an impressive list, can be had for free. Those of us that can't afford to financially support open source still get to participate in the benefits and are provided the opportunity for constructive participation. Just like with taxes, the few pay for the many. Unlike taxes, free will controls who pays -- not the law.

Thanks for all of your posts. I am sticking to my guns and purchasing 10.1. It's a hell of a lot cheaper than dishing out cash for Windows, that's for sure. It goes to a good cause as well, so it's really a small price to pay, and quite reasonable. As for the release date of 10.1 does anyone know what time frame that might be?

If their six-month release cycle holds true, the middle of March.

Based on current progress, 2nd or 3rd Thursday in March. Of course being as Beta 4 was pushed back a week, that assumes beta 4 lasts only 1 week, beta 5 lasts only 1 week and there is only 1 or 2 Release Candidates and they only last a week. I wouldn't count on anything now before end of March, possibly pusing into April, but it is all about progress, code freeze, and stability during the testing.