I just read that Novell has released a downloadable DVD iso of SUSE 9.2. Does this include the full install for both x86_64 and i386 on one iso, or is there one iso for each? I noticed that FTP is in the iso filename. What does this mean?

Question 1:
There is a DVD for each architecture.
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/x86_64/9.2/iso/
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/i386/9.2/iso/

Question 2:
The distinction of FTP in the name is because despite what they say in the readme, it isn't the same as you get when you buy the retail version. Commercial apps aren't included in the free versions.

From this file:

ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/x86_64/9.2/iso/README.txt

MD5SUM for DVD is:

ab648822abbd89906adb66f7cddd6bc2

From this file:

ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/i386/9.2/iso/README.txt

ab648822abbd89906adb66f7cddd6bc2

They are in fact the same ISO. Distrowatch says that the DVD contains packages for both x86_64 and i386.

What I'm wondering is, how come it takes 2 DVDs (double sided) in the boxed set to include both i386 and x86_64 support whereas this DVD somehow has both in 3GB???? That doesn't make sense to me. Does it download the rest from the net as you install??? There can't be that much commercial software cut out of this version.

I'll stand corrected on them being the same, and until someone verifies it I still doubt that is the 64bit version. I seriously doubt they can fit both on a 3.6GB disc.

There probably isn't that much commercial packages, but legally they should remove them from the FTP release.

there is a two iso files i have them one is 7.6gb and another one is 4.7gb

Someone might have pointed out well before this that its a live dvd meant to run the system off the disk. Not supposed to be an install disk.

The downloadable DVD is not a live DVD. It boots directly into the SuSE installation setup program.

I have found the new dvd's now. A change in suse's attitude I see...

The dvd available on the ftp is a stripped down dvd...it contains 849 packages compared to over 2000 on the ftp site itself...it won't have any of the commercial packages either but is suitable for an install and you can add additional packages from the ftp.

So, by the way you're describing it, it's better to download the mini-9.2 install FTP iso and install via FTP, which will give you all the commercial packages? This makes sense to me, as it's what I did with 9.1.

Good to know there's a difference between the DVD and the FTP install. Thanks!

Doing a ftp install does not give you the commercial packages..the only way you get them is to PURCHASE Suse....there is no difference in doing an ftp install and downloading the dvd..installing it and then adding the ftp site as a yast source and adding the additional packages you want.