El openSUSE project has unveiled the release of Agama 17, the installer that replaces the classic SUSE and openSUSE installation interface. This new system makes a fundamental difference by separating the user interface from YaST's internal components, allowing the installation to be managed even from a web interface.
The installer, released under the GPLv2 license, is developed in Ruby, Rust, and JavaScript/TypeScript, and is positioned as a modern, adaptable tool designed to offer a clearer and more robust experience.
Main new features of Agama 17
Among the main new features is the redesigned wired network interface configuration, which now more accurately represents situations where multiple devices share a single connection.
La storage device management It has also been improved and in this new version The section listing the disks available for installation has been reorganized to be clearer and more understandable. In addition, Added the ability to directly use a pre-existing disk or RAID without the need to create partitions, along with a new option to rescan physical and logical devices, such as LVM groups or newly attached disks.
There is also a New option to rescan the system if new hardware devices have been connected, new logical devices have been created (RAID line or LVM volume groups), or the user needs a second chance to enter an encryption password. Last but not least, the user interface can now detect when a configuration has been loaded of Agama which affects the storage configuration.
In addition, in this new version the installer now allows you to register the system not only in SUSE Customer Center, but also on custom RMT servers, expanding options for enterprise deployments.
As for the security, Both SUSE Linux Enterprise 16 and openSUSE Leap 16 will use SELinux as the security module by default. However, Agama 17 offers flexibility to uninstall SELinux and install alternatives such as AppArmor, adapting to the preferences of each environment.
Advanced configuration with JSON
One of Agama's greatest strengths is the ability to define installations using JSON configurations, allowing for the creation of highly customized unattended processes. The new version extends this approach with support for VLAN configuration, zFCP device activation, dynamic modification of software patterns, and even the ability to manage automatic responses to installer requests through the questions section.
El automated mode has also been strengthened. Now, If Agama encounters a problem loading a configuration file, it displays a warning to allow the user to decide whether to retry instead of proceeding silently. Additionally, the inst.auto_insecure and inst.script_insecure parameters have been added, allowing TLS verification to be bypassed in controlled environments, simplifying the implementation of internal tests or configurations.
Customization through DUD and RPM
Another One of the great new features of Agama 17 is the possibility of modifying the installation process with additional RPM packages or DUD (Driver Update Disk) images. These images can include custom files, scripts, or packages that are copied to the installation media and executed during the installation process. The mkdud utility allows you to create custom images, and the new inst.dud_insecure parameter allows them to be loaded even in environments with self-signed certificates.
Finally, it's worth mentioning that for those interested in trying out the new installer, live builds are available for x86_64, ppc64le, s390x, and ARM64. These versions include the beta of openSUSE Leap 16, as well as ongoing builds of Tumbleweed and Slowroll, in addition to the container-based MicroOS edition and openSUSE Leap Micro 6.2.
The roadmap indicates that Agama 17 will officially integrate with openSUSE Leap 16 and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16, both already in beta testing. This confirms that the new installer will be the recommended option for the next generation of SUSE's enterprise distribution.
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