Agama, the new still-in-development Linux installer from openSUSE, released its new version 11, bringing several new features and improvements. Above all, it now introduces openSUSE Slowroll as a newly supported installation operating system.
Another highlight is the significant reorganization of the web interface. In previous versions, you had to dive into the “Users” section to set up root authentication and then manually return to the “Overview” page to begin installation—hardly the most intuitive flow.
Agama 11 makes this a thing of the past: as soon as you select the operating system, you will be prompted to set your root password. Once your credentials are established, you will see a refreshed main screen where the all-important “Install” button is always just a click away.
Better yet, the button visually alerts you with an exclamation mark if any configuration issues are detected, and it points you to the precise section that needs fixing.
Another big news is that Agama is set to become the official installer for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 16 and SLES for SAP Applications. Since early builds of these require user registration to access software repositories, Agama now automatically detects if registration is needed and offers a straightforward interface to walk you through the process.
Similar to registration, users aiming to install SLES must comply with a license agreement. Because of this requirement, Agama 11 introduces the license acceptance step right after you select an enterprise product. The good news is that openSUSE users can simply skip this new feature and keep moving forward without interruption.
Furthermore, Agama 11 extends the capabilities of its command-line interface. In light of this, you can now run the tool on one machine while installing another, thanks to the new --api parameter, thus opening the door to scenarios like remote installations or using scripts that automate tasks across multiple systems.
For fans of unattended installations, it’s now possible to embed scripts before and after the installation process, as well as during the new system’s first boot. This setup mimics the approach many have relied on with AutoYaST, ensuring you can tailor automation precisely to your requirements.
It’s worth noting that Agama’s configuration format has received notable enhancements on the storage side, offering a more consistent and concise approach to defining LVM volume groups. Now, you can specify the disks to be used as physical volumes, and Agama handles partition creation automatically.
In addition, TPM-based unlocking for encrypted devices is now fully supported. Users who need the utmost security—especially in automated deployments—can opt for TPMv2 to unlock all encrypted devices seamlessly.
Lastly, just to mention, the above features only scratch the surface of what’s changed between Agama 10 and 11. Alongside countless bug fixes and minor improvements, the team has updated to the latest versions of the three programming languages powering Agama (plus their respective libraries).
Refer to the official announcement to review all changes in openSUSE’s new Agama v11 installer. For those eager to see it in action, the project has released testing images of the Agama Live ISO.
These can be booted on both virtual and bare-metal systems, allowing users to experience the new interface and features firsthand.
