This guide is a summary of the steps I take to customize a default installation of openSUSE.

This particular guide was rewritten for openSUSE 11.2, but most stuff should be applicable to other versions as well.

first: repos

first, type

# zypper lr -d

delete source and debug repos and installation dvd repo

zypper rr < number of repo or name of repo or alias of repo>

add community repo: Packman

zypper ar -f http://packman.inode.at/suse/openSUSE_12.1 packman

In the end you should have the following repos:

# zypper lr --uri
# | Alias                              | Name                               | Enabled | Refresh | URI                                                         
--+------------------------------------+------------------------------------+---------+---------+-------------------------------------------------------------
1 | Updates-for-openSUSE-12.1-12.1-1.4 | Updates for openSUSE 12.1 12.1-1.4 | Yes     | Yes     | http://download.opensuse.org/update/12.1/                   
2 | packman                            | Packman repository (openSUSE_12.1) | Yes     | No      | http://packman.inode.at/suse/openSUSE_12.1                  
3 | repo-non-oss                       | openSUSE-12.1-Non-Oss              | Yes     | Yes     | http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/12.1/repo/non-oss/
4 | repo-oss                           | openSUSE-12.1-Oss                  | Yes     | Yes     | http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/12.1/repo/oss/

Kernel stuff

Install this stuff now, because sooner or later you will need them. And sometimes the install/compile of a kernel module will fail without these

zypper in -y kernel-source linux-kernel-headers kernel-syms make gcc

utils

zypper in -y mc findutils-locate nmap yakuake krusader chromium clementine vlc unetbootin p7zip krename

For multimedia stuff & codecs:

# zypper in -y flash-player flashplayer-kde4 mplayer ffmpeg a52dec mencoder x264 faac w32codec-all lame kdemultimedia4-thumbnailers

optional:

# zypper in -y gstreamer-0_10-plugins-good xine-browser-plugin swfdec-browser-plugin gxine-browser-plugin gstreamer-0_10-plugins-bad gstreamer-0_10-plugins-ugly mplayerplug-in libxine1-codecs k3b-codecs gstreamer-0_10-ffmpeg

for windows movies in webbrowser:

# zypper in gnome-mplayer gecko-mediaplayer

fonts

To install MS fonts so that LibreOffice documents looks closer to those on my colleagues' screen, execute the following (as root):

zypper in fetchmsttfonts

Language:

zypper in -y ispell-dutch myspell-dutch

If you have installed from liveCD, localization may be missing:

zypper in -y kde4-l10n-nl kde4-l10n-nl-data kde4-l10n-nl-doc

firefox:

install add-ons: adblock, xmarks
add 'new tab' button in buttonbar
configuration:
- download location always ask, close when ready etc
- start with blank page
- do not remember history, suggest from bookmarks
- search for text when I start typing
- no check my spelling as I type
- no check to see if FF is default browser
==>install silverlight plugin http://go-mono.com/moonlight-beta/<== maybe not
type about:config in addressbar and change:
- network.dns.disableIPv6 -> true
- create this one: content.notify.backoffcount -> 5
- also create nglayout.initialpaint.delay -> 0
- network.http.pipelining true
- network.http.proxy.pipelining true
- network.http.pipelining.maxrequests 8

KDE:

edit /etc/sysconfig/windowmanager and change this option to 'no'

KDE_USE_IPV6="no"

(probably already is)

taskbar:
- add system monitor CPU usage widget
- digital clock: add day of week
add yast2 and configure desktop to quick start area (next to suse-icon)
configure desktop - personal settings:
- region and language: region: dutch. add dutch to languages
- advanced -> session manager: start KDE with empty session
- autostart: yakuake konversation pidgin
- desktop screensaver: random
desktop: add analogue clock widget
configure powermanagement
configure kwin
configure fonts

Yast2:

configure NTP settings 194.109.22.18 (XS4All time server) or choose from pool.ntp.org

Things to do after a fresh installation of openSUSE 12.1