| Red Hat Linux 7.1: The Official Red Hat Linux x86 Installation Guide |
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| Prev | Chapter 2. Steps to Get You Started | Next |
Usually, Red Hat Linux is installed on its own disk partition or set of
partitions, or over another installation of Linux.
 | Warning |
|---|
| | Installing Red Hat Linux over another installation of Linux (including Red Hat Linux)
does not preserve any information (files or data)
from a prior installation. Make sure you save any important files! If
you are installing this way, and you want to preserve the current data
on your existing system, you need to back up your data and/or consider
performing an upgrade instead.
|
Red Hat Linux provides five different classes, or types, of installations:
- Workstation
A workstation-class installation is most appropriate if you are
new to the world of Linux, and would like to give it a try. By
answering a few installation questions, you can be up and running
Red Hat Linux in no time!
- Server
A server-class installation is most appropriate for you if you
would like your system to function as a Linux-based server, and
you do not want to heavily customize your system configuration.
- Laptop
A laptop-class installation has been designed to make installing
Red Hat Linux on laptops even easier. Much like a workstation-class
installation, it will make sure you have the appropriate packages
needed, as well as offer you an automated installation
environment.
- Custom
A custom-class installation allows you the greatest flexibility
during your installation. You choose your partitioning scheme,
which packages you want and more. Custom-class installations are
most appropriate for those users more familiar with Red Hat Linux
installations and for those afraid of losing complete flexibility.
- Upgrade
If you already have a version of Red Hat Linux (3.0.3 or greater)
running on your system and you want to quickly update to the
latest packages and kernel version, then an upgrade is most
appropriate for you.
 | Note |
|---|
| | The custom-class installation allows you the most flexibility. The
workstation- and server-class installations go through the
installation process for you and omit certain steps. However,
partition flexibility has been added to workstation- and server-class
installations, so you can now partition your drives manually during
those classes of installations, if you choose to.
|
These classes give you the option of simplifying the installation
process (with some potential for loss of configuration flexibility), or
retaining flexibility with a slightly more complex installation
process. Next, take a detailed look at each class, so you can see which
one is right for you.
| Note |
|---|
| | If you are planning to perform a partitionless installation, you will
also need to choose an installation class. However, you can disregard
the warnings regarding which partitions will be removed; these
warnings are intended for users who are performing a typical
installation. If you perform a partitionless installation, you do not
have to worry about losing any information on your system. A
partitionless installation will not remove existing partitions.
|
Most suitable for new users, the workstation-class installation will
install your choice of the GNOME or KDE desktop environments, or both,
and the X Window System.
| Warning |
|---|
| | Do not choose this method if you are sharing a disk with Windows NT;
if you do, LILO will write over NT's boot loader and you will be
unable to boot NT. If you are installing Red Hat Linux to share a disk with
NT, you must perform a custom-class installation and configure LILO so
that it is not installed on the Master Boot Record (MBR).
To create a dual-boot environment on a system that currently has NT,
you must install LILO on the first sector of the root partition, not
the MBR. Please be sure to create a boot disk. You will either need
to use the boot disk, or configure the NT system loader to boot LILO
from the first sector of the root partition. Review http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/mini/Linux+NT-Loader.html for more information on setting up LILO and NT.
|
| Warning |
|---|
| | A workstation-class installation will erase all
information in all Linux-related
partitions from every one of your
computer's hard drive(s).
|
Below are the minimum recommended disk space requirements for a
workstation-class installation.
Workstation choosing GNOME: 1.2 GB
Workstation choosing KDE: 1.2 GB
Workstation choosing both GNOME and KDE, and games: 1.5 GB
If you plan to choose all group packages (for example, GNOME is a group
of packages), as well as select additional individual packages, you may
want to allow yourself 1.5 GB or more of disk space. If you provide this
extra space, you will have room for additional data, if needed.
| Note |
|---|
| | Unlike workstation-class installations previous to Red Hat Linux 7.0,
performing a Red Hat Linux 7.1 workstation-class installation will not
install the network daemon xinetd (inet
services). When xinetd is not installed,
you will have a more secure installation. However,in-bound
network-related services such as finger,
telnet, talk,
and FTP will not work.[1] If you require these types of services,
please go back and choose a server- or a custom-class installation.
|
If you choose automatic partitioning, a workstation-class installation
removes all Linux-related partitions on all installed hard drives (and
uses all free unpartitioned disk space) to create the following
partitions:
A 64 MB swap partition.
A 16 MB partition (mounted as /boot) in which
the Linux kernel and related files reside.
A variable-sized root partition (mounted as
/) in which all other files are stored (the
exact size of this partition is dependent on your available disk
space).
A server-class installation is most appropriate for you if you would
like your system to function as a Linux-based server, and you do not
want to heavily customize your system configuration.
The recommended disk space requirements for a server-class
installation are as follows:
If you plan to choose all group packages, as well as select additional
individual packages, you may want to allow yourself 1.2 GB or more of
disk space. This will provide space where additional data may be
written.
| Warning |
|---|
| | A server-class installation will erase all
partitions (both Linux and non-Linux) from
every one of your computer's hard drive(s).
|
During the server-class installation, the X Window System is
not configured and no GUI will be loaded when the system
boots, unless you choose to install the appropriate packages during
package selection. If you choose automatic partitioning, the
installation program deletes all data in all existing
partitions of any kind and decides how to partition the disk
for the new version.
If you choose automatic partitioning, a server-class installation
removes ALL existing partitions on ALL installed hard
drives, so choose this installation class only if you are
sure you have nothing you want saved! When the installation is
complete, you will find the following partitions:
A 256 MB swap partition. A 256 MB partition (mounted as /). A partition of at least 512 MB (mounted as
/usr).
A partition of at least 512 MB (mounted as
/home).
A 256 MB partition (mounted as /var). A 16 MB partition (mounted as /boot) in
which the Linux kernel and related files are kept.
This disk partitioning scheme results in a reasonably flexible
filesystem configuration for most server-class tasks.
The laptop-class installation will install your choice of the GNOME or
KDE desktop environments, or both, and the X Window System.
| Warning |
|---|
| | Do not choose this method if you are sharing a disk with Windows NT;
if you do, LILO will write over NT's boot loader and you will be
unable to boot NT. If you are installing Red Hat Linux to share a disk with
NT, you must perform a custom-class installation and configure LILO so
that it is not installed on the Master Boot Record (MBR).
To create a dual-boot environment on a system that currently has NT,
you must install LILO on the first sector of the root partition, not
the MBR. Please be sure to create a boot disk. You will either need
to use the boot disk, or configure the NT system loader to boot LILO
from the first sector of the root partition. Review http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/mini/Linux+NT-Loader.html for more information on setting up LILO and NT.
|
| Warning |
|---|
| | A laptop-class installation will erase all
information in all Linux-related
partitions from every one of your
computer's hard drive(s).
|
Below are the minimum recommended disk space requirements for a
laptop-class installation.
Laptop choosing GNOME: 1.2 GB
Laptop choosing KDE: 1.2 GB
Laptop choosing both GNOME and KDE: 1.5 GB
If you plan to choose all group packages (for example, GNOME is a group
of packages), as well as select additional individual packages, you may
want to allow yourself 1.7 GB or more of disk space. If you provide this
extra space, you will have room for additional data, if needed.
If you choose automatic partitioning, a laptop-class installation
removes all Linux-related partitions on all installed hard drives (and
uses all free unpartitioned disk space) to create the following
partitions:
A 64 MB swap partition.
A 16 MB partition (mounted as /boot) in which
the Linux kernel and related files reside.
A variable-sized root partition (mounted as
/) in which all other files are stored (the
exact size of this partition is dependent on your available disk
space).
This installation will remove all existing Linux
partitions on all hard drives in your system;
non-Linux partitions will not be removed.
A laptop-class installation will install your choice of the GNOME or
KDE desktop environments (or both), and the X Window System.
| Note |
|---|
| | Performing a Red Hat Linux 7.1 laptop-class installation will not
install the network daemon xinetd (inet
services). Withholding xinetd results in
a more secure installation[2]; network-related services such as
finger,
telnet, talk,
and FTP will not work. If you require
these types of services, choose a server- or a custom-class
installation.
|
The custom-class installation allows you the most
flexibility during your installation. The workstation-class and
server-class installations automatically go through the installation
process for you and omit certain steps. During a custom-class
installation, you must decide how disk space should
be partitioned. You have complete control over the packages that will
be installed on your system. You can also determine whether
you will use LILO (the LInux LOader) to boot your system. Unless you
have prior Linux experience, you should not select the custom-class
installation method.
The recommended disk space requirements for a custom-class
installation are as follows:
As you might guess from the name, a custom-class installation puts the
emphasis on flexibility. During a custom-class installation, you can
choose how disk space should be partitioned. You have complete control
over which packages will be installed on your system. You also
determine whether you will use LILO (the LInux LOader) to boot your
system.
The following list may help those of you who are trying to decide
which installation class will better suit your needs. If you think
you will have trouble performing any of the tasks on this list, you
should not perform a custom-class installation without reading through
this manual and clarifying any questions you may have.
Selecting and Installing Packages — This step is performed
after your partitions have been configured and selected for
formatting. You are allowed to select groups of packages,
individual packages, a combination of the two, or choose an
Everything install.
LILO Configuration — In a custom-class installation, you are
able to choose where you would like LILO to be installed: either
on the master boot record (MBR) or on the first sector of your
root partition. Alternatively, you can choose not to install LILO
at all.
Authentication Configuration — During a custom-class
installation, you can set up network passwords using
authentication configuration.
If you choose automatic partitioning, a custom-class installation
removes all Linux-related partitions on all installed hard drives (and
uses all free unpartitioned disk space) to create the following
partitions:
A 64 MB swap partition.
A 16 MB partition (mounted as /boot) in which
the Linux kernel and related files reside.
A variable-sized root partition (mounted as
/) in which all other files are stored (the
exact size of this partition is dependent on your available disk
space).
Upgrading Red Hat Linux 3.0.3 (or greater) will not delete any
existing data. The installation program updates the modular 2.2.x
kernel and all currently installed software packages. See Chapter 4 and Appendix A for those
instructions.
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