Target Goals

• Know the requirements of a Linux installation
• Be able to install Linux
• Perform post-installation tasks

Installing Linux is linear and includes obtaining system information and documenting changes which ensures success and reduces risk of installation problems.

Installation Prep
Check for updates and HOWTOs in Linux's Hardware compatability list. The Linux HOWTOs are detailed "how to" documents on specific subjects.

A number of HOWTOs are available at www.tldp.org/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX/hardware.html#HW<Device>

Device	<DEVICE>
CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives	CDROM
Hard Drives	HWHD
Modems	MODEMS
Printers and scanner	PRINT
SCSI	SCSI
Serial Port	SERIALPORT
UPS	UPS

Things to consider about hardware

Hard Drive	Number of devices IDE or SCSI Drive size Number of cylinders
Drive Controller	IDE or SCSI Manufacturer
RAM	Ammount
CD-ROM	IDE SCSI If other make note of make and model
SCSI adapter	Note make and model
Network Card	Note make and model
Mouse	USB, PS2, Serial (record its port)
Monitor and adapter	Make and model Chipset RAM ammount

Compatibility sites:
Red Hat - http://bugzilla.redhat.com/hwcert
Linuxquestions.org - http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/index.php
SuSE - http://www.hardwaredb.suse.de/index.php?LANG=en_UK
Linux-friendly hardware - http://www.linux.org/hardware

Different distrubutions of Linux are tailored to different CPU types (e.g., AMD 64-bit CPU won't work with 32-bit Red Hat

Distributor Testing
After testing a distribution, HCL's (hardware compatibility lists) are released for the supported version. These lists have been tested under specific conditions and should be used only as a guideline.

Gathering Information

• Use the BIOS to create a hardware list
• Manuals and manufactorer's websites are good resources
• Devices may have info printed on them
• If not using DHCP, have the TCP/IP information available

Install Method

Source	Use and Hardware Requirements
CD-ROM, Hard Drive	Requires a boot disk, bootable CD-ROM or PCMCIA driver disk
FTP, HTTP, NFS Image	Requires network driver or PCMCIA driver

Local Install-Fastest and doesn't matter if network fails
Network Install-Doesn't require CD-Rom or large hard drive

Disk Partitioning
FDisk is used to create and manipulate partition tables Syntax: parition device name followed by partition number

IDE drives = /dev/hda1 or /dev/hda2
SCSI drives = /dev/sda1 or /dev/hda2

Default Linux Directories

/bin/	/dev/	/etc/	/home/
/lib/	/mnt/	/proc/	/root/
/sbin/	/tmp/	/usr/	/var/

Repartitioning

Partiton using FDISk or use a partitioning device to resize existing partitions

Destructive - delete and re-create partition using FDISk

NonDestructive - Third-Party patitioning software that can change sizes of partitions without destroying data. (e.g., Partition Magic or Partition-it)

Partitionless - Red Hat Linux 7.0 allows trying Linux without a full install. It requires a Formatted DOS FAT partition with enough free space for a workstation install (it is a limited install and requires a boot disk each time)

FIPS - First nondestructive Interactive Partition Splitting program (free utility comes with Red Hat and is used to resize the FAT table)

Creates two partitions one you resize and one FIPS creates

Limitations

• only works on DOS with 512 byte sectors
• FIPS does not split 12 bit FATs (i.e. a partition cannot be below 4,085 clusters since it would require writing 16 bit FAT as a 12 bit.
• Does not support extended partitions
• Requires a free partition

Bootloaders

• GRUB (Grand Unified Bootloader) - used by RedHat on x86 to install bootloader to MBR

GRUB load order = primary bootloader => secondary bootloader => OS
GRUB receieves instuctions from OS and transfers machine control to the OS
GRUB configuration - /boot/grub/grub.conf

Other Boot Loaders

Bootloader	Description
LILO	Boot from up to 16 different configurations (DOS, OS/2, NT, UNIX and LINUX partitions)
ELILO	EFI bootloader - FAT 32 filesystems and network booting via DHCP/TFTP
Loadlin	Requires users first boot DOS/Windows -- a "Logical reload" cuasing DOS to be completely overlaid with Linux
System Commander	3rd party bootloader/bootmanager. Controls boot environment, with boot manager and partitioning software
SysLinux	DOS based,similar to loadlin, not as general (used to simplify first-time Linux nstallation and create rescue disks)

Booting LILO
Two stages:

1. Moves itself into memory and sets up the stack
2. Loads the secondary bootloader and continues the boot process and displays LILO: prompt

Troubleshooting Failed LILO Process

LILO Display	First Stage Bootloader	Second Stage Bootloader	Description
L error	Loaded	Can't be loaded	A two-digit error code is displayed
LI	Loaded	Loaded but couldn't execute	Caused by a geometry mismatch
LIL	Loaded	Started but can't load descriptor table	Media Failure or Geometry Mismatch

Points of Interest
--LILO does not depend on a specific file system
--Can boot from multiple mediums
--Can be used as MBR (first sector of hard disk)

LILO config file = /etc/lilo.conf

Machine Purpose - what will the system do?

• workstation
• desktop system
• server
• Web Server with HTTP and FTP
• Mail Server
• Programming terminal
• Database Sever
• News Server

Unecessary services will slow the system down
Use custom insatllation to deviate from the standard workstation, desktop, or sevrer install
--provides freedom to pick and choose components
--if you install services you don't need stop and start in Red Hat in xinetd or /etc/rc.d using:

• chkconfig -- command line to turn services off and on at different runlevels
• ntsysv -- application to configure service activity at boot for each runlevel
• Services Configuration Tool -- GUI services configuration tool

Red Hat can be installed as a workstation, server, custom (for flexibility) and as an upgrade

Install process simplified

1. Boot from CD
2. Setup keyboard and language preferences
3. Create and determine partition settings
4. Select bootloader
5. Configure NICs
6. Configure firewall
7. Set location information
8. Set root password
9. Select install packages
10. Switch CDs as necessary (particularly with Red Hat)
11. Remove CD and Reboot

Post Installation

Document the installation proceedure and any changes to setups, configurations, topologies, adn histories that will help you troubleshoot future issues.

X Windows
The graphical interface can be configured for hardware devices other components through the primary configuration file. Other options include settings for the monitor, video card, keyboard, pointing device and more.

A X Windows HOWTO can be found at http://en.tldp.org/HOWTO/XWindow-User-HOWTO/

Determine your Runlevel
Text Login Screen = level 3
GUI Login Screen = level 5

Virtual Desktops
Default configuration provides 4 desktops
Use Ctrl+Tab or Ctrl+F1-F8 to cycle through

Documentation via log files

• /var/log/messages
• /var/log/dmesg
• /tmp/install