While installing Red Hat Linux is a straightforward process, taking some time prior to starting the installation can make things go much more smoothly. In this chapter, we'll discuss the steps that should be performed before you start the installation.
Please Note: If you are currently running a version 2.0 (or greater) Red Hat Linux system, you can perform an upgrade. Skim this chapter to review the basic issues relating to installation, and read the following chapters in order, following the directions as you go. The upgrade procedure starts out identically to the installation procedure; you will be directed to choose an installation or upgrade after booting the installation program and answering a few questions.
There are five tasks you should perform prior to installing Red Hat Linux:
Make sure you have sufficient documentation to effectively use your Red Hat Linux system after the installation (please refer to the Official Red Hat Linux Reference Guide for more information).
Make sure you have access to the Red Hat Linux components required for installation.
Make sure you know your computer's hardware configuration and networking information (see the Official Red Hat Linux Reference Guide for more help).
Decide, based on the first two tasks, what method you will use to install Red Hat Linux.
Determine where on your hard drive(s) Red Hat Linux will reside.
Let's start by making sure you have the correct components needed for your Red Hat Linux installation.
If you've purchased the Red Hat Linux boxed set, you're ready to go! However, mistakes occasionally happen, so now is a good time to double-check the contents of your boxed set. If you haven't purchased a Red Hat Linux boxed set, skip to the section called No Boxed Set? No Problem!.
The Red Hat Linux boxed set contains the following items:
The Official Red Hat Linux Installation Guide
The Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide
The Official Red Hat Linux Reference Guide
The Official Red Hat Linux Alpha/SPARC Installation Addendum, only in Red Hat Linux/Alpha and Red Hat Linux/SPARC boxed sets.
Red Hat Linux CDs 1 and 2.
The Linux Applications Library, only in Red Hat Linux/Intel Deluxe and Professional boxed sets.
Boot diskette, only in Red Hat Linux/Intel boxed sets.
License and Registration information.
Let's take a quick look at each item:
The Official Red Hat Linux Installation Guide is what you're currently reading. It contains the information necessary to install Red Hat Linux.
The Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide contains information on what to do after the installation has taken place. We believe it is both well written and informative, and will guide you through the necessary steps of actually using your system once the installation is in place.
The Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide covers topics ranging from learning the basics of your system, to navigating your system, to GNOME, to connecting to the Internet.
The Official Red Hat Linux Reference Guide contains information on configuring your system, text-mode installations, package list information, and more. Once you have installed your system and mastered the basics of navigation, you can use this guide to help you configure and fine tune Red Hat Linux to your specific needs.
Alpha, SPARC: The Official Red Hat Linux Alpha/SPARC Installation Addendum contains information of interest to owners of Alpha- and SPARC-based computer systems that will make installation of Red Hat Linux more straightforward. (The Official Red Hat Linux Alpha/SPARC Installation Addendum is only included in Red Hat Linux/Alpha and Red Hat Linux/SPARC boxed sets.)
These compact discs contain the entire Red Hat Linux distribution, including source code. CD 1 contains all the binary packages built for your type of computer (Intel, Alpha, or SPARC). CD 2 contains the source packages that were used to build the binary packages on CD 1.
Intel: This compact disc library contains demonstration versions of a number of commercial Linux software products. If you purchased Red Hat Linux/Intel Deluxe, you will receive the workstation edition. If you purchased Red Hat Linux/Intel Professional, you will receive the workstation and server edition of the Linux Applications Library. For more information, please refer to the README file in this library.
Please Note: This CD-ROM library and its contents are completely unsupported by Red Hat, Inc.. All questions and issues concerning any software in this pack should be directed to the responsible company, and not Red Hat, Inc.
Intel: This diskette is used to start the installation process for Red Hat Linux/Intel. Depending on your computer's configuration and the type of installation you select, you may or may not need this boot disk. Instead, you may require a PCMCIA or a Network boot disk, again depending on your system's hardware configuration, and the installation method you choose. When we discuss the different installation methods later in this chapter, we'll explain which diskettes are needed for each type of installation, and give you instructions for producing any diskettes you require.
Alpha, SPARC: SPARC and Alpha owners should refer to the Official Red Hat Linux Alpha/SPARC Installation Addendum for information on which diskettes are required.
As a Red Hat Linux 6.1 owner, you are entitled to the benefits of support once you have registered. Our new registration program offers you free priority FTP access and your own home base at www.redhat.com.
Sign up by going to www.redhat.com/now and entering your personal product ID found in your Red Hat Linux boxed set. Once that has been done, you can go to www.redhat.com/support for further support-related information.
If you've purchased the Official Red Hat Linux boxed set from Red Hat, Inc., (or one of its distributors) and you're missing one or more of the items listed above, please let us know!
One thing to keep in mind is that Red Hat partners with companies (international and domestic) so that we can make Red Hat Linux available to you in the most convenient form. Because of this, you might find that your Red Hat Linux boxed set may not have been actually produced by Red Hat.
Not sure how to identify our official boxed set? Here's how: The bottom of our box has an ISBN number next to one of the bar codes. That ISBN number should be in this form:
1-58569-xx-y
(The xx and y will be unique numbers.) If your box has an ISBN number in this form, and you're missing something, feel free to call us at 1-888-733-4281 (+1-919-547-0012 outside the USA), or to send mail to <presales@redhat.com>.
If your box has a different ISBN number (or none at all), you'll need to contact the company that produced your boxed set. Normally, third-party producers will include their logo and/or contact information on the outside of the box; an official Red Hat Linux boxed set has only our name and contact info on the outside.
If your Red Hat Linux boxed set is complete, please skip ahead to the section called Checking for Updated Diskette Images.
Of course, not everyone purchases a Red Hat Linux boxed set. It's entirely possible to install Red Hat Linux using a CD created by another company, or even via FTP. In these cases, you may need to create one or more diskettes to get started.
Intel: For people installing Red Hat Linux/Intel, you may need a boot disk, or if using a PCMCIA device during the installation (such as a laptop), a PCMCIA boot disk. It may also be possible to start the installation directly from the CD. We'll discuss this in more detail when we outline the various installation methods.
Alpha, SPARC: People with Alpha-based systems should refer to the Official Red Hat Linux Alpha/SPARC Installation Addendum for additional information on the diskettes they may need.
From time to time, we find that the installation may fail, and that a revised diskette image is required in order for the installation to work properly. In these cases, we make special images available via the Red Hat Linux Errata.
Since this is a relatively rare occurrence, you will save time if you try to use the standard diskette images first, and then review the Errata only if you experience any problems completing the installation.
There are two ways to review the Errata:
World Wide Web -- By pointing your Web browser at http://www.redhat.com/errata, you can read the Errata on-line, and download diskette images easily.
Electronic Mail -- By sending an empty mail message to <errata@redhat.com>, you will receive a mail message containing a text listing of the complete Errata. Also included are URLs to each updated package and diskette image in the Errata. By using these URLs, you can then download any necessary diskette images. Remember to use binary mode when transferring a diskette image!
For now, concentrate only on the Errata entries that include new diskette images (the filenames always end in .img). If you find an entry that seems to apply to your problem, get a copy of the diskette images, and create them using the instructions in Appendix B.