Configure the system with YaST using various YaST modules. Depending on the hardware platform and the installed software, there are different ways to access YaST in the installed system.

In KDE or GNOME, start the YaST Control Center from the SUSE menu (‘System’+‘YaST’). The individual YaST configuration modules are also integrated in the KDE Control Center. Before YaST starts, you are prompted to enter the root password, because YaST needs system administrator permissions to change the system files.

To start YaST from the command line, enter the commands su (for changing to the user root) and yast2. To start the text version, enter yast instead of yast2. Also use the command yast to start the program from one of the virtual consoles.

	Tip
To change the language of YaST, select ‘System’+‘Language Selection’ in the YaST Control Center. Choose a language, exit the YaST Control Center, log out of the system, then log in again. The next time you start YaST, the new language setting is used.

For hardware platforms that do not support a display device of their own and for remote administration on other hosts, run YaST remotely. First, open a console on the host on which to display YaST and enter the command ssh -X root@<system-to-configure> to log in to the system to configure root and redirect the X server output to your terminal. Following the successful SSH login, enter yast2 to start YaST in graphical mode.

To start YaST in text mode on another system, use ssh root@<system-to-configure> to open the connection. Then start YaST with yast.

3.1. The YaST Control Center

When you start YaST in the graphical mode, the YaST Control Center, as shown in Figure 3.1, “The YaST Control Center”, opens. The left frame contains the available categories. When you click a category, its contents are listed in the right frame. Then select the desired module. For example, if you select ‘Hardware’ and click ‘Sound’ in the right frame, a configuration dialog opens for the sound card. The configuration of the individual items usually consists of several steps. Press ‘Next’ to proceed to the following step.

The left frame of most modules displays the help text, which offers suggestions for configuration and explains the required entries. To get help in modules without a help frame, press F1 or choose ‘Help’. After selecting the desired settings, complete the procedure by pressing ‘Accept’ on the last page of the configuration dialog. The configuration is then saved.

Figure 3.1. The YaST Control Center