Linux Installation Chapter II

Linux Distributions Pre-packaged, installable Linux Anyone can compile a distribution, have to inculde GPL Available for free download (most) or cheap mail Several available Choose according to customization provided support applications included package management great resource

Linux Distros (continued) Popular Distributions Fedora : very popular, well supported, comprehensive Ubuntu: great community, well developed, good support, free CDs Mandrake: good customization for a general user Suse: good hardware support Gentoo: hacker-friendly, extreme customization possible Live CDs great way to try Linux Knoppix

Installation - Types CD/DVD : most popular Hard Drive Network Internet Unattended installations

Installation - Major Steps Get hard drive ready Download ISO of your distribution Burn it on CD / DVD Restart computer and boot from CD Partition your hard drive Select packages Select boot - loader Install Reboot

Hard Drive Preparation Usually very simple if Linux is to be installed by itself Need to be careful if desired setup is dual-boot Always install Windows first Backup, backup, backup! Verify backup! Easiest dual-boot install - second hard drive Second easiest dual boot install - seperate partition on same hard drive Second partition different from main Windows partition

Hard Drive - Resizing Resizing required if Windows occupies the only hard drive’s only partition Dual boot is needed Most popular tool for resizing - Partition Magic expensive Another alternative - parted qtparted Use it through a Live CD (Knoppix) Resize Windows partition Leave space for Linux - 2 GB - 10 GB Including Swap space

Downloading Downloads available from main websites; Distrowatch Closest mirror Choose proper ISO image (usually x86, 32-bit, CD/DVD) Use an FTP client if possible Download Burn on to a CD / DVD (depending on type of ISO)

Installation: Bootup Restart computer with the Linux install CD loaded Check BIOS for boot order Boot from CD (hit enter at LILO prompt) can pass boot options: linux paramaters memory size SCSI discs mouse interface video adapter specification much more...

Installation Walkthrough Assumptions Backed up data Already existing partition space: maybe unformatted Used qtparted or Partition Magic, etc. Burnt Fedora install CD BIOS allows boot from CD Connected to the Internet

Boot Screen

Language Selection

Installation Type

Installation Type (contd.) Use with caution First 3 options may erase whole hard drive before installation Personal - good for single home user Workstation - for programmer, admin Server - installs all server features. With or without GUI (Graphical User Interface) Use Custom for most option (safest, though detailed)

Automatic Partitioning

Disk Druid Partitioning

Partitioning Basics Master Boot Record (MBR) - partition table Types of partitions Primary - only 4 under Windows (poor design) Extended - only 1 per drive, container Logical Filesystem Every filesystem is on a seperate partition / is the root filesystem, everything under /. Other filesystems (/usr, /home, /dev, etc..) may or may not be on seperate partitions of the hard drive Safety, upgrade, consolidate storage At least one partition is needed, root: / Swap file

Filesystem - Partitions Can arrange in different ways

Boot loader Used to boot Linux Very useful for multi-boot machines Can be used to pass startup options LILO (LInux LOader) GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader) GRUB is most pravelent

GRUB installation

Network installation

Installation