What's installed on your openSUSE server?
- openSUSE Leap 16, from the project's official Minimal VM image
- zypper and NetworkManager; wicked isn't installed
- The SELinux policy in place, and no AppArmor
- No firewalld or Cockpit by default: add them with zypper if you want them
- curl, wget, sudo and Python 3.13, ready to use
- OpenSSH: root logs in with the password, and you can add an SSH key at any time
- cloud-init and the QEMU guest agent: the IP and password are set at first boot, and the root partition grows to fit
- No web server, database or panel: you add what you need with zypper
What size do you need for openSUSE?
openSUSE's hardware page lists 1 GB of RAM for a minimal install, and Leap 16 also needs a CPU with x86-64-v2 support, which our servers have. In our tests a clean system took about 1 GB of disk, and the image itself is 2 GB. As a rule of thumb, start with 1 GB for a small service, 4 GB for a website with a database and 8 GB for heavier work. RAM and CPU move both ways, and the disk only grows.
| Use | Size | Price | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1 GB RAM · 1 vCore · 25 GB NVMe | $2.58/mo | |
| Medium | 4 GB RAM · 2 vCore · 60 GB NVMe | $6.89/mo | |
| Powerful | 8 GB RAM · 4 vCore · 120 GB NVMe | $13.62/mo |
Who is it for?
- Admins at home with zypper and the SUSE world
- Anyone who may later move to SUSE Linux Enterprise
- People who want a stable base and don't mind a new minor release each year
- Anyone who wants browser-based admin through Cockpit, which replaced YaST in Leap 16
What happens after you order?
- Set the size and complete your payment. The release on the list today is openSUSE Leap 16.
- Once it has started, open your server from My servers in your panel. The IP Address, Username and Password are on the Overview tab.
- In a terminal, type ssh root@your-ip and paste the password.
- Update the system with zypper refresh and zypper update.
- For a firewall, install firewalld with zypper or use the Firewall Rules tool in your panel. Then add your software.
With every server
- Daily backups included in the price
- Unlimited traffic
- Full root access
- Scale RAM and CPU up or down later, and grow the disk
- Location: Istanbul · IST-1.
Good to know
- Each minor release gets 24 months of community support, and a new one arrives every year. Leap 16.0 is maintained until at least October 2027, and after that you need to move to a newer minor release.
- YaST and wicked steps from older guides don't apply to Leap 16. System administration moved to Cockpit, and networking to NetworkManager.
- New installs use SELinux as the security module. Steps that assume AppArmor won't work, though you can switch to AppArmor afterwards if you prefer.
- A clean system has no firewall and no fail2ban, so writing the rules is up to you.
- Reinstalling from the panel wipes the disk and keeps the IP address. To move to a new minor release, use openSUSE's migration tool instead.
openSUSE questions and answers
How long is openSUSE Leap 16 supported?
Each minor release gets 24 months of community support, and a new one arrives every year. Leap 16.0 is updated until at least October 2027. openSUSE plans the final release of the Leap 16 series for fall 2031.
How do I move to Leap 16.1?
openSUSE's release notes recommend opensuse-migration-tool and suggest a dry run first. Experienced users can run zypper --releasever 16.1 dup instead. Check your backups in the panel before you start.
How much RAM does openSUSE need?
openSUSE's hardware page lists 1 GB of RAM for a minimal install. Seturack's smallest size meets that and is enough for a small service. As a rule of thumb, start with 4 GB for a website with a database.
Where is YaST in openSUSE Leap 16?
Leap 16 moved from YaST to Cockpit. Cockpit isn't in the image, so you add it with zypper install cockpit. Package work goes through zypper and networking through NetworkManager.
Can I install Tumbleweed?
The list today has only openSUSE Leap 16, not Tumbleweed. If you want a continuously updated system, take a look at the Arch Linux option.
How does Leap differ from SUSE Linux Enterprise?
Leap is a free community distribution built from SUSE Linux Enterprise sources, with 24 months of support per minor release. If you need longer support, openSUSE's migration tool can move you to paid SUSE Linux Enterprise.