STEPS FOR INSTALLING LINUX

To explain the steps involved in the installation of Linux, RED HAT LINUX 8.0 has been chosen. The following information represents the minimum hardware requirements necessary to successfully install Red Hat Linux:

CPU:
(1) Minimum: Pentium-class, (2) Recommended for text-mode: 200 MHz Pentium-class or better (3) Recommended for graphical: 400 MHz Pentium II or better
Hard Disk Space :
1) Custom Installation (minimum): 475MB, 2) Server (minimum): 850MB 3) Personal Desktop: 1.7GB, 4) Workstation: 2.1GB, 5) Custom Installation (everything): 5.0GB

Memory:
1) Minimum for text-mode: 64MB, 2) Minimum for graphical: 128MB, 3)Recommended for graphical: 192MB

Ø INSTALLATION STEPS:
1. Insert the Linux install CD into the CD-ROM drive and reboot your system. The computer will automatically boot from the CD and a text-based menu will be displayed.

2. You will then need to choose an installation environment. The default is the graphical installation (GUI). If you prefer a text-based install, type "text" at the prompt and hit the Enter key.

3. Next step is to select the Language for installation programmer. Default language is English.

4. Select your keyboard layout and Mouse type. Accepting the default (US English) should work in most cases.

5. Select the type of installation (Workstation /Server/Custom). If you have a previous installation, the option of updating it will also be provided.

6. Choose Disk Druid or fdisk. Partition sizes and numbers may vary with your set up, but as a bare minimum, you will need to create a ‘/’ (root) and a swap partition.

7. Enter the details of configuration of your network interfaces.

8. The firewall configuration screen offers a choice of firewall configurations. Choose 'Medium Firewall' for the time being without worrying too much as this stage about the concept of a firewall.


9. For time zone selection for India, choose "Asia/Calcutta". There is also option of setting the UTC to +5.

10. Enter a root password when prompted. Do not forget it. You should create a user account here, which you will be using to work on your machine. It is not advisable to work as root at all times.

11. Select the packages that you want to install. You get to choose from installing KDE, GNOME and a collection of other utilities.

12. Select the video card that you have, the installer would try to auto detect the card for you, failing which you can select it manually.

13. If your monitor type is not listed, select custom and enter your monitor specifications manually. Select the colour depth and the screen resolution that you wish to run the X Window system in, after installation. Choose your default desktop environment and whether you want a graphical or a text-based login. You can test the X Window configuration after installation and then switch to graphics based login.

14. The installer will now format the Linux partitions and will install the required packages. You can watch the progress of the formatting by switching to the virtual terminals using Alt+ 1 to Alt+5 (if you are doing a text based install) or by using Ctrl+Alt+2 to Ctrl+Alt+5 (for graphics based install).

15. After some time you would be prompted to insert other CD’s one - by - one. Insert this as prompted by the installation.

16. Once all the packages are installed, you will be given the opportunity create a book disk. It is strongly recommended that you create one at this stage.

17. At this point, the installation is completed. Remove the CD – ROM from drive and reboot using the Linux system that you have just installed.