openSUSE for Banana Pi

openSUSE Linux on Banana Pi board

Summary

openSUSE is a well-established RPM-based Linux distribution that brings enterprise-grade reliability to the Banana Pi single-board computer. Available in two editions — Tumbleweed (rolling release with the latest packages) and Leap (stable release with long-term support) — openSUSE offers flexibility for both developers and production deployments. Its signature YaST configuration tool simplifies system administration, making it an excellent choice for users who want a polished Linux experience on ARM hardware.

Who This Is For

This guide is intended for intermediate to advanced Linux users who prefer the openSUSE ecosystem and want to run it on Banana Pi hardware. It is especially useful for those familiar with RPM-based distributions, system administrators who rely on YaST for configuration, and developers who need access to rolling-release packages via Tumbleweed.

What You'll Do

You will download the openSUSE ARM image for Banana Pi, verify its integrity, flash it to a microSD card, complete the first boot configuration, and perform essential post-installation tasks including package management with zypper.

Requirements

  • Banana Pi board (M1 or compatible model)
  • A microSD card (8 GB or larger, Class 10 recommended)
  • A reliable 5V/2A micro-USB power supply
  • A computer with a microSD card reader for flashing
  • Ethernet cable or compatible USB Wi-Fi adapter
  • HDMI display and USB keyboard for initial setup (or SSH access if using headless mode)

Download and Verification

Download the openSUSE ARM image for Banana Pi from mirror.lemaker.org or the official openSUSE download portal. Choose between Tumbleweed for rolling updates or Leap for stability. After downloading, verify the image checksum using sha256sum on Linux/macOS or a checksum utility on Windows. Compare the output against the checksum file provided alongside the download to ensure the image has not been corrupted or tampered with.

Flash Procedure

Insert your microSD card into the card reader. On Linux, identify the device with lsblk and write the image using dd if=opensuse-bananapi.img of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress. On Windows, use a tool such as Etcher or Win32DiskImager. Ensure you select the correct target device to avoid overwriting other drives. Safely eject the card once writing is complete.

First Boot Steps

Insert the flashed microSD card into the Banana Pi and connect power, display, and keyboard. The board will boot into the openSUSE initial setup wizard. Follow the on-screen prompts to set the root password, configure timezone and locale, and establish a network connection. The first boot may take several minutes as the system expands the filesystem and generates SSH host keys.

Post-Boot Configuration

After logging in, update the system immediately by running sudo zypper refresh && sudo zypper update. Use the YaST control centre (sudo yast) to manage network settings, firewall rules, services, and user accounts. Install additional packages with sudo zypper install <package>. Enable SSH for remote access with sudo systemctl enable --now sshd.

Troubleshooting

  • Board does not boot: Re-flash the image and verify the checksum. Try a different microSD card.
  • No network connectivity: Check Ethernet cable seating and confirm DHCP is available on your network. Use YaST network module to configure a static IP if needed.
  • Package conflicts after update: Run sudo zypper verify to check system integrity and resolve dependency issues.
  • Slow performance: Disable unnecessary services and consider using a lightweight desktop environment or running headless.

Related Guides

Author: LeMaker Documentation Team
Last updated: 2026-02-10