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Installing a Linux Distribution. Operating System Installation. Before a computer can be used, and Operating system should be present Operating system allows a user to interact with an utilize a system’s resources An OS is a compilation of many programs
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Operating System Installation • Before a computer can be used, and Operating system should be present • Operating system allows a user to interact with an utilize a system’s resources • An OS is a compilation of many programs • Operating System is normally local to a device. Exceptions always exist • Terminal servers • Live CDs • Boot Discs • Different Methods for OS installation exist
Install methods • Bootable CD/DVD • Over the Network • PXEBoot • Kickstarting vs Interactive mode • Imaging • “Live” CDs and DVDs
Selecting a Distro • Determine • The type of user, user’s experience level • The purpose of the machine • What sort of hardware the machine has • What sort of software you will use • Selection “Tools” • http://www.tuxs.org/chooser/ • http://polishlinux.org/choose/quiz/ • http://distrowatch.com/
PXE boot process • Required components • Hardware supporting PXEboot • DHCP server (for address assignment) • TFTP server (for transferring initial boot files, one block at a time via UDP) • Process • Get IP address, boot loader info from DHCP • Get boot loader (pxelinux.0), read config file(s) • Get kernel image and ram disk image • Start Installaller
Our Environment • The network cards in the Dells in our lab don’t support PXEBoot • Boot from a CentOS boot disc, start networking • Connect to file server via http for access to install files
Anaconda • RedHat/Fedora installer • Can Be run in both Text and Graphical modes • Additional consoles • No X: Alt + Function key • Within X: Alt + Ctrl + Function key • Can be used to troubleshoot installation
Anaconda Process Users will typically see • Media check • install language • Keyboard config • Install type • Disk partitioning • Boot loader configuration • Network configuration • Firewall and security configuration • System language • Time zone • Root password • Package customization (and minimal / everything)
Disk Partitioning • Dividing a single hard drive into multiple logical drives • Reasons for partitioning • Isolating data (protect from corruption) • Limiting data growth, protecting important partitions • Partition types • Primary partitions (4 max) • Logical partitions • Swap partitions • Foreign volumes
Common Partitions Physical disks (a.k.a device names) /dev/hda, /dev/hdb /dev/sda Partition names /dev/hda1, /dev/hda2 /dev/sda1 Logical partition names (a.k.a filesystems) / where everything goes /boot where boot files go swap your virtual memory
Logical Volume Management (LVM) • Higher level view – more abstraction • Gives sysadmins more flexibility in allocating storage • Resize partitions, extend partitions to new physical disks • Software RAID configurations • Terminology: “Volume Groups” contain “Logical Volumes” • No Bootloaders!
Homework • Look at http://tldp.org • Check out HOW-TOs: • Partitioning • Logical Volume Management