Installing Linux – Prep Work

Preparing

Which distribution?

Which version?

Which media?
CD?
Network/Kickstart?
Medusa?

Installing Linux – Prep Work

Preparing

Where to get the media?

CD – Easy ISOs from cyclops.iastate.edu or rhn.redhat.com

Kickstart – installation script automating setup, installation and post-installation. Useful for large numbers of systems

Medusa – download and burn the ISO corresponding to the current distribution
More info at http://cyclops.iastate.edu/MEDUSA/

Installing Linux – Prep Work

Preparing

Know Thy System

Is your hardware supported?

Hardware How-To

RAM

Hard disk

SCSI and/or IDE

Amount of space (not so much of a problem anymore)

Installing Linux – Prep Work

Preparing

Know Thy System

Monitor

Model and make

Horizonal and Vertical refresh rates

Video card

Memory

Resolution

Be careful! That burning smell may make you cry

Installing Linux – Prep Work

Preparing

Know Thy System

Network card

Keyboard

Two button or three button mouse?

Installing Linux – Prep Work

Media

Burn the CDs

For network installs

FTP or Web Server address
Example: cyclops.iastate.edu

Location of the Red Hat directory
Example: /net-install/RHEL5/x86/Server/

Installing Linux – Prep Work

Network Information

Static address or DHCP?

Static address:

Reserve static address via ASW

DNS server addresses

Subnet gateway address

Installing Linux – Prep Work

Network Information

For network installs - must NetReg the network cards in the
machine ahead of time.

Two ways:

Get MAC address and call the Solution Center 4-4000

If dual booting, NetReg in Windows first, then install Linux

Installing Linux – Prep Work

Disk Partitions

Size of disk

Server or desktop?

Multi-user or single user?

How much logging?

Single boot or dual boot?

Installing Linux – Prep Work

Partitions

Typical setup for a desktop
/boot
/
(swap)

Installing Linux – Prep Work

Partitions

Good setup for a server

/boot	/

/usr	/usr/local

/var	/tmp

/home

(swap)

Installing Linux – Prep Work

Get Started!

Insert the CD

Loads a Linux kernel and an installation program

Network installs – network drivers will be loaded from the CD

Follow the instructions!

2004-01-27T15:48:55