Significance of Rescue system

[rbaalaji_84]

Hi,

I like to know about the significance of Rescue system option in Suse Linux.

If we try to install the OS from cd, the software which are already there will be erased. If we use the rescue system option will the software be retained? will it only remove the faults in the system or erase the data and software also.

I am new to linux and hence help me.

Bare with me if my question is silly.

Regards,
Balaji.R

[gogalthorp]

I believe that the major difference is that an install reformats the partition before installing the default software. The default software being the base system plus any additional software you have selected.

The Rescue option does not reformat but does a reinstall of all packages. Note any package not installed via RPM or Yast may not be included in this refresh. This has the effect of resetting the configuration of all the packages and presumable fixing configuration problems. This is like going into Yast and doing a reinstall of all the installed packages. Note that if Yast (or the rpm database) does not know of the package it will not get refreshed. An example is VMware and also if you installed a video driver outside of Yast. These examples would need to be manually reinstalled.

Because the rescue comes from a DVD or CD set the version of packages can be older!!! IIRC there is a warning to that effect before you proceed.

I alway simply do a full install and tell the installer to not format the home partition or other data partitions I have set up. Just reformat root. This has the effect of removing all the apps I have installed and never use. I normally flag the installer to install things I know I'll need and if I miss something I just reinstall when I discover that I need it. I also do this on upgrades rather then use the upgrade option.

It was not a silly question at all