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Redhat 9.0 Server - Installation

I am assuming you have Redhat 9 (RH9) on 3 CD's and know how to boot up from a CD (if you don't know how to do this you will have to search the 'net for an explanation - this doc is not intended to cover basics like that).

Ok....let's get started.....

  1. Insert CD 1 and boot up off it
  2. You will be asked "Do you want to install in graphical or text mode?" Choose graphical.
  3. You will be asked if you want to test the CD for errors before installation, or skip test. I skipped the test as I knew the CD was fine.
  4. RH then probes your computer for video card, monitor and mouse types. You do nothing here....just wait.
  5. When this is complete, you will get a 'Welcome to Redhat' screen. Press NEXT.
  6. Then select which language you want, and press NEXT.
  7. Select what sort of mouse you have, and press NEXT.
  8. RH will then search for any previous installation, and if it finds one you will get the choice of upgrading or a new install. I chose new install.
  9. You then get the choices to install a personal desktop, workstation, server or custom install. you will need to choose 'server' if you want a web-server etc.

The next screen will ask if you want to partition your disk(s) automatically, or manually with Disk Druid. I selected 'auto', since this works fine.

If you choose 'auto', you will be asked 'do you want auto-partition to....'

  1. Remove all Linux partitions on this system
  2. Remove all partitions on this system
  3. Keep all partitions on this system and use existing space

I selected #1 - Remove all partitions on this system.
Then there is a warning - "Remove all partitions?". Click YES.

You will see a screen with a partition table, just click NEXT to use the defaults (which will work fine).
Next is an option to use the GRUB Bootloader, or to change to another one. Leave it as the default.
Then there is an option to set a password for the bootloader - leave this unchecked.

Now it is time to configure your network card.

You can leave this as default if you want, but I find this is a good time to set your IP address etc. It saves doing it later. I did the following steps.....

  1. Uncheck "Configure using DHCP".
  2. Enter the IP address you want - I used 192.168.1.2 (one of addresss set aside for private use).
  3. Set the netmask - use 255.255.255.0 and click OK.
  4. Then you need to choose a hostname (the name of your server). Select 'manually' and type in a name.
  5. If you know a DNS servers IP address, enter it/them here, and if you don't, leave it blank (you can set it later if you want).
  6. Click NEXT

The next stage is to configure your firewall. Since this is going to be a server on a private network, you don't need to worry too much about a firewall, but you will need to change a few things.

  1. Click 'Trust Eth0"
  2. Tick "Allow Incoming" www, ftp, ssh, smtp.

Now choose the default language to use - I chose "New Zealand English". Click NEXT.
Select which time zone you are in.

Enter a password for the 'Root User" (the main administration user). Click NEXT.

Package Group Selection

There will now be a small wait as RH 'reads the package information', and when it is done you will get to choose which packages (software applications) you want to install. You will be presented with the following choices - I have shown which ones I ticked..

Desktops

X Windows Don't tick
Gnome Desktop Don't tick
KDE Desktop Don't tick

Applications

Editors Don't tick
Engineering & Scientific Don't tick
Graphical Internet Don't tick
Text Based Internet Tick

Office / productivity

Don't tick
Sound & Video Don't tick
Authoring & Publishing Don't tick
Graphics Don't tick
Games & Entertainment Don't tick

Servers

Server Configuration Tools Tick
Web Server Tick
Mail Server Tick
Windows File Server Tick
DNS Server Tick
FTP Server Tick
SQL Database Tick
News Server Don't tick
Network Server Don't tick

Development

Development Tools Don't tick
Kernel Development Don't tick
X Software Development Don't tick
Gnome Development Don't tick
KDE Development Don't tick

System

Administration Tools Tick
System Tools Tick
Printing Support Don't tick

Misc

Minimal Don't tick
Everything Don't tick

Click NEXT. There will be a wait while RH checks package dependencies. All should be OK. If there is a dependency issue, click "resolve dependencies", or something similar.

Click NEXT to begin installation. There will be a long wait while RH formats the file system, and install the packages you selected above. Near the end you will have to change CD's to disk 2, then 3.

RH will then perform a 'post install configuration, then install the boot loader.

You will then be asked if you want to create a boot disk. I said 'NO', but you may want to. Follow the instructions if you DO want to.

The next thing is a screen that says - "Congratulation - Install is complete", and the CD drawer should open. Remove the CD.

You will get a window that says "Press EXIT to reboot". Click EXIT and your PC will reboot.

Well done, you are now ready to logon.