Banshee and SUSE Linux
Banshee has been included with openSUSE since version 10.0. With SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10, Helix Banshee is included, which is the Banshee core combined with RealPlayer backend support. The last section of this page provides more details about updates regarding Helix Banshee.
In both distributions, one of the two variations of Banshee is a part of the default package selection for GNOME.
While being included directly in the distributions, Banshee updates outside the distribution's update channel are now available which mirror upstream releases.
Banshee Updates
Updates from the default update repositories for openSUSE or SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop generally will only be to patch security and stability issues rather than for include new versions and new features.
To update to newer versions of Banshee, you can manually download and install the latest Banshee RPM files, or you can enable automated updates by adding the location of the RPMs as an update repository.
Getting the RPM Files
To get the latest version of Banshee for various SUSE Linux versions (openSUSE and SUSE Linux Enterprise), there is an official (but unsupported) repository.
The latest packages are available for download at the update repositories for Banshee, which are available at software.openSUSE.org (http://software.opensuse.org) in the /download/Banshee/ (http://software.opensuse.org/download/Banshee/) folder.
- openSUSE 10.2: http://software.opensuse.org/download/Banshee/openSUSE_10.2/
- SUSE 10.1/SLED 10: http://software.opensuse.org/download/Banshee/SUSE_Linux_10.1/
Enabling Automated Updates
You can also add the Banshee Software Repository at openSUSE.org to your preferred software update tool. Here are some ways to do it.
Note: These instructions are for openSUSE. For SLED or SUSE 10.1, you will need to adapt the instructions to use the correct repository for SUSE 10.1 above.
Use YaST
For a quick graphical summary of the steps below, check out this screenshot:
- Start YaST
- Start the Installation Source tool
- Add a new FTP repository
- For "Server Name," enter: software.opensuse.org
- For "Directory on Server," enter /download/Banshee/openSUSE_10.2/
- Finish out the additional repository, then use YaST's Software Manager tool (or similar) to update the Banshee packages.
- Note: Make sure you consider whether you need to add some of the packages that Banshee uses. Not all of them are hard-set dependencies, and if you do not add them, certain Banshee capabilities may be impaired by their absence.
Use the Software Updater (ZENworks)
For a quick graphical summary of the steps below, check out this screenshot:
- Open the Software Updater by clicking the Software Updater icon in the system tray.
- Click the Configure button
- In the Configuration window's Services tab, click the Add Service... button
- Change the Service Type selector to ZYPP
- For "Service URI," enter: http://software.opensuse.org/download/Banshee/openSUSE_10.2/
- For "Service Name," you can enter any name, such as "Banshee Updates"
- After adding the repository, switch to the Catalogs tab and make sure that the checkbox for "Banshee Updates" is enabled.
- Finally, refresh the Software Updater tool. If there are newer Banshee packages, the updater will show them. (In some cases, this may require restarting the Software Updater daemon.)
What about Helix Banshee?
Helix Banshee can currently only be distributed with non-open source variations of the SUSE Linux platform. For instance, Helix Banshee is distribtued with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop and on the DVD release of openSUSE 10.2, which includes proprietary add-on packages.
As such, updates to Helix Banshee currently cannot be acquired from outside the primary update channel for the distribution, meaning it is not possible to get new versions and features of Helix Banshee without waiting for the next distribution release.
If you currently have Helix Banshee installed, you can update by using the methods above, but be aware that you will be updating to the open source/upstream version of Banshee, which does not come with Helix/RealPlayer support. You will lose MP3 encoding and MP3/AAC decoding support unless you manually install this support for the GStreamer platform.
In the near future, we hope to provide updates to Helix Banshee in parallel with upstream Banshee releases, which will be available at the Helix Banshee web site in Helix Community (http://helix-banshee.helixcommunity.org).
