LINUX Red Hat 8.0 Install Guide

Introduction

Points to note:

• If you wish to use FDISK before hand, check out this guide.
• If you wish to Multi-Boot, check out this guide.
• This install guide should not be a substitute for the outstanding documentation found on redhat.com. However, this information provides a supplement to those directions.

1) Red Hat Linux Boot screen: (Image 1.1)   After configuring the system for booting from a CD, the Red Hat Linux Boot screen appears. At this point, press Enter for the graphical Setup.

2) Welcome to Red Hat: (Image 1.2)   The "Welcome to Red Hat" screen appears with the option of Hiding the help pane (left side) or viewing the Release Notes. Select Next when ready.

3) Language Selection: (Image 1.3)   The Language Selection screen displays all of the languages available to install Red Hat with. I chose English here, then Next.

4) Keyboard Configuration: (Image 1.4)   Keyboard Configuration is next. Highlight the best match for your particular system. Usually, the default works best. Select Next when complete.

5) Mouse Configuration: (Image 1.5)     Mouse Configuration is next. Again, highlight the best match for your particular system. Select Next when finished.

6) Installation type: (Image 1.6)   Selection of a standard installation type is now available. The options include Personal Desktop, Workstation, Server, or Custom. For this particular guide, I selected Personal Desktop and then Next.

7) Partitioning your system: (Image 1.7)   You are now faced with the option of automatically partitioning your system with the default values or selecting a more expert approach of choosing exactly what values each partition will be. I chose Automatic, then selected Next.

8) Warning dialog box: (Image 1.8)   If this is a new hard drive or a hard drive that no partitions currently exist, a warning dialog box will appear. Select Yes to continue..

9) Automatic Partitioning: (Image 1.9)     Here are the options of deleting all Linux partitions, deleting all partitions, or keep the disk structure as it already is. If this is a new drive, any options work just fine, but, if you already have partitions defined, as in a Multi-Boot environment, be careful as to which selection and drive volume you choose. Also, check the Review and modify box at the bottom to retain control over what happens to the hard drive and view the recommended configuration.

10) New hard drive structure: (Image 1.10)   If you checked the Review and modify box, the new hard drive structure is displayed. This fits my purposes, so I chose Next to continue.

11) Boot loader options: (Image 2.1)

 

Boot Loader options are displayed.

If this is the only OS to be installed, I recommend to install a boot loader, such as Grub (the default).
If this is part of a Multi-Boot System, I recommend to not install a boot loader and use a boot floppy, created later on in the install process, instead.

Important: If you chose to NOT install a boot loader and NOT make a boot floppy, your Red Hat installation will NOT work.

12) Install a boot loader: (Image 2.2)   Please view my Multi-Boot Guide for more information about Boot Floppies.

13) Network setup: (Image 2.3)   Network setup options are next. Enter in the required information for your particular setup, here. I chose the default, DHCP setup, then selected Next.

14) Firewall setup: (Image 2.4)   Firewall setup is very important! If this system will be connected directly to the internet, choose High to start out with. If this system is already behind a hardware firewall or router, choose Medium as a good starting point.

15) Language Selection: (Image 2.5)   Additional Language options are also available. Since I understand no other language besides English, the default was fine.

16) Time Zone Selection: (Image 2.6)   Configure your Time Zone with this display. Being on the West Coast, Pacific Time was selected here. Choose what is right for your location and then select Next to continue.

17) Create a root or administrator password: (Image 2.7)   Another important part of the installation process is to create a root or administrator password and a "normal" user account for everyday tasks. DO NOT leave your root password as blank or easily guessable.

18) Add users: (Image 2.8)   After acceptance of your root password, select the Add button to create an additional account for everyday tasks. Do not worry. If at anytime you need to use the root account to change system settings, you can. You will be prompted for the password even if you are logged in as a regular user. After creating a new account and selecting a "good" password, select the OK button.

19) Add as many users as you wish: (Image 2.9)   Your display could look something like this. Add as many users as you wish, then select Next to continue.

20) Default package configuration: (Image 2.10)   Here, you have the option of accepting the default package configuration, or selecting exactly what applications and services you desire. If you wish, you can skip this step and select Next as the default option and your system will be configured accordingly. However, if you desire to add or subtract particular applications, choose the Customize packages to be installed button and select Next.

21) Selecting exactly what packages: (Image 2.11)   Here you will have the option of selecting exactly what packages and applications you wish to install. Detailed descriptions about each are also available, after selecting the check box on the left of the category, by selecting the details button. Upon completing your options, select Next to continue. 22) Installation will now start: (Image 3.1)   Installation will now start after selecting the Next button. 23) Formatting of the hard drive: (Image 3.2)   Formatting of the hard drive or partitions will begin. Depending on the size of the hard drive, this may take much time. 24) Transfer of the install image: (Image 3.3)   Transfer of the install image to the hard drive now takes place. Again, if you selected many packages, this could take some time. 25) Installation of all selected packages: (Image 3.4)   Installation of all selected packages and applications are now underway. Depending on what was selected and system configuration, this could take 15 minutes to over an hour. 26) Insert the next CD soon: (Image 3.5)   Do not go far, though, as you may be required to insert the next CD soon. 27) Boot floppy creation: (Image 3.6)   If this is the only OS to be installed, I recommend to install a boot loader previously, such as Grub (the default). This does NOT mean that you should forget about creating a boot floppy, also. If this is part of a Multi-Boot System, I recommend a boot floppy, created here, and not to use a boot loader. Important: If you chose to NOT install a boot loader and NOT make a boot floppy, your Red Hat installation will NOT work. 28) Graphics card setup: (Image 3.7)   Select your graphics card setup and memory configuration here. Chose Next after highlighting your selection. 29) Monitor Setup: (Image 3.8)   Enter the proper values or highlight the model of your display here. After selecting the configuration for your system, chose Next. 30) Desktop resolution: (Image 3.9)   Choose your desktop resolution and bit-depth. Capabilities beyond your card should not be displayed. 31) Install complete: (Image 3.10)   Installation is completed and the system will reboot after selecting Next. 32) Grub boot loader: (Image 4.1)   Upon reboot, the Grub (if selected previously in the install process) is displayed with the option of booting your Linux installation. If you opted for a boot floppy, ensure that your system is configured to boot from "A:" first, then your hard drive, otherwise, your system may skip to your previous OS by default. 33) Boot Red Hat: (Image 4.2)   Keep in mind, while the OS is loading, Linux is famous for allowing the USER to choose exactly what, how and why everything happens. This is not Windows. You will see all kinds of information about the internal workings of your system. Do not be alarmed. You will come to enjoy that information in due time. :) 34) Logon: (Image 4.3)   If you opted for a graphical install screen, the user name prompt is displayed. Log in as one of the users you created previously (not root) and enter in your password (not blank). 35) Gnome Desktop: (Image 4.4)   The Red Hat 8.0 default desktop is now displayed. If you selected KDE and not Gnome, your view will be slightly different. Remember, anything that you wish to do, you can, including messing with system files. When in doubt, think twice. : I had to fire up Mozilla 1.0.1 to ensure my internet connectivity functioned, and it worked great! Thank you for viewing my install guide and I hope it has helped you gain an insight to what may be required before taking the Red Hat plunge.