Yet another Setup Tool

Infobox Software
name = Yet another Setup Tool



caption = YaST 2.16.51 (included in openSUSE Linux 11.0)
collapsible =
author = SuSE
developer = Novell
released =
latest release version = 2.16
latest release date =
latest preview version =
latest preview date =
frequently updated =
programming language =
operating system = Linux
platform =
size =
language =
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genre = operating system setup and configuration tool
license = GNU General Public License
website = [http://en.opensuse.org/YaST en.opensuse.org/YaST]

Yet another Setup Tool [citeweb|title=YaST2 Resource Page|url=http://forgeftp.novell.com/yast/doc/SL11.1/|accessdate=2008-06-29] (YaST), is an operating system setup and configuration tool that is featured in the openSUSE Linux distribution, as well as Novell's derived commercial distributions. It is also part of the defunct United Linux. AutoYaST allows unattended and automated installation and is based on YaST. The first SuSE distribution that included YaST was released in May, 1996.

YaST is free software that Novell has made available under the GPL. [citeweb|title=Novell Launches Open Source Systems Management Project|url=http://www.novell.com/news/press/archive/2004/suse_archive/yast.html|publisher=Novell|accessdate=2008-03-01]

YaST2 is a tool for administering and maintaining a SUSE Linux installation. It allows administrators to install software, configure hardware, set up networks and servers, and more.

A feature of YaST is that it contains both GUI and ncurses front ends. This is especially useful for non-GUI installations, for system administration over slow Internet connections, and for when one is unable to boot into a graphical X server but still requires an advanced user interface to the package manager (for example, a novice user trying to downgrade an Xorg package to fix a graphical installation).

YaST's display configuration module is called SaX2 (which stands for SUSE Automated X configuration, version 2).

OpenSUSE 10.3 features a redesigned YaST for GNOME users. Among the new modules are the "Community Repositories" which is a tool to easily add much used repositories and the KIWI imaging tool which easily lets you roll out your own custom SUSE images.

YaST offers package management functionality through the ZYpp project. [citeweb|title=Libzypp|url=http://en.opensuse.org/Libzypp|publisher="opensuse.org"|accessdate=2008-04-27] The first ZYpp enabled package management YaST applications had performance problems and long start up times, but was improved in the 10.2 and 10.3 releases.Starting with openSUSE 11.0 alpha 3, ZYpp was integrated with the SAT solver project, moving YaST & zypper ahead of other rpm based package managers in terms of speed. [citeweb|title=fast package management|url=http://duncan.mac-vicar.com/blog/archives/296|publisher=duncan.mac-vicar.com|accessdate=2008-04-27]

AutoYaST is a system for installing one or more openSUSE systems automatically without user intervention. AutoYaST installations are performed using a control file with installation and configuration data. The profile of each current system is stored in /root/autoyast.xml. [citebook|title=openSUSE 10.3 Startup|publisher=Novell|date=September 7, 2007|pages=32]

References

External links

* [http://en.opensuse.org/YaST YaST at openSUSE]
* [http://developer.novell.com/wiki/index.php/YaST YaST at Novell]
* [http://www.novell.com/products/desktop/features/autoyast.html YaST, AutoYast and ZENworks Linux Management]
* [http://yastrs.hardon.co.il YaSTRS, YaST repositories index, and script generator]
* [http://news.opensuse.org/2007/09/20/sneak-peeks-at-opensuse-103-suse-polished-gnome-220/ Sneak Peeks at OpenSUSE 10.3: SUSE Polished GNOME 2.20]
* [http://news.opensuse.org/2007/10/02/sneak-peeks-at-opensuse-103-a-plethora-of-improvements/ Sneak Peeks at OpenSUSE 10.3:A Plethora of improvements]