I have completed a set up for a USB remote control for OpenSuse. However, on another machine, I connect an IR receiver to the serial port, and try to set it up on OpenSuse 11.2. However, I just don't know how to set this thing up.

lirc.org says that a kernel needs to be compiled, and other steps. However, I don't know how old the document is. I am surprised that is needed due to serial ports are like dinosaur of computer connectivities.

I also try the Infrared Device configuration inside OpenSuse's control panel (Yast). I checked the Start IrDA and click Test. I got a message saying: "The testing application is not responding". Switching between /dev/ttyS1, ttyS0, etc, and they all behaves like that.