Redhat ENTERPRISE LINUX AS User Manual

Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 2.1

The Official Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS

Installation Guide

ISBN: N/A

Red Hat, Inc.

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iii

Contents

Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 2.1

Introduction................... .................. ..................... ..................... .... ix

Document Conventions.................................................................... ix

How to Use This Manual .................................................................. xii

Part I Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS .. ..................... . 15

Chapter 1 Steps to Get You Started. ..................... ................. 17

1.1 Do You Have the Right Components?.......................................... 17

1.2 Is Your Hardware Compatible?.................................................. 18

1.3 Do You Have Enough Disk Space?............................................. 18

1.4 Can You Install Using the CD-ROM?........................................... 19

1.5 Which Installation Class is Best For You?...................................... 22

Chapter 2 System Requirements Table................ ................. 27

Chapter 3 Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS...... ......... 31

3.1 The Installation Program User Interface ....................................... 31

3.2 Starting the Installation Program................................................ 32

3.3 Selecting an Installation Method ................................................ 35

3.4 Beginning the Installation........................................................ 35

3.5 Language Selection .............................................................. 37

3.6 Keyboard Configuration.......................................................... 38

3.7 Mouse Configuration ............................................................. 40

3.8 Welcome to Red Hat Linux ...................................................... 42

3.9 Install Options..................................................................... 42

3.10 Disk Partitioning Setup........................................................... 43

3.11 Automatic Partitioning............................................................ 44

3.12 Partitioning Your System......... ..................... ..................... ...... 45

3.13 Partitioning with fdisk............................................................. 52

3.14 Boot Loader Installation.......................................................... 53

3.15 GRUB Password.................................................................. 57

3.16 Network Configuration ........................................................... 58

3.17 Firewall Configuration............................................................ 59

3.18 Language Support Selection .................................................... 63

3.19 Time Zone Configuration ........................................................ 64

3.20 Account Configuration ........................................................... 65

3.21 Package Group Selection........................................................ 67

3.22 X Configuration — Video Card.................................................. 72

3.23 Preparing to Install ............................................................... 73

3.24 Installing Packages............................................................... 74

3.25 Boot Disk Creation ............................................................... 75

3.26 X Configuration — Monitor and Customization................................ 75

3.27 Installation Complete............................................................. 78

Chapter 4 Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS via Text

Mode

4.1 Things You Should Know ........................................................ 81

4.2 The Installation Program User Interface ....................................... 83

4.3 Starting the Installation Program................................................ 86

4.4 Installation Cross-Reference Table ............................................. 87

4.5 Installing from a Hard Drive ..................................................... 89

4.6 Installing over a Network......................................................... 90

............... ..................... ..................... ................... 81

Part II Configuring Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS .......... ......... 95

Chapter 5 Introduction............... ..................... ..................... .... 97

5.1 Technology Overview ............................................................ 97

5.2 Basic Configurations ............................................................. 98

Chapter 6 Linux Virtual Server Overview..... ..................... .... 101

6.1 A Basic LVS Configuration....................................................... 101

6.2 A Three Tiered LVSConfiguration.............................................. 104

6.3 LVS Scheduling Overview ....................................................... 105

6.4 Routing Methods ................................................................. 107

6.5 Persistence and Firewall Marks................................................. 109

6.6 LVS Cluster — A Block Diagram................................................ 110

Chapter 7 Initial Configuration ................. .................. ............ 115

7.1 Configuring Services on the LVS Routers ..................................... 115

7.2 Setting a Passwordfor the Piranha Configuration Tool....................... 116

7.3 Starting the Piranha Configuration Tool Service .............................. 117

7.4 Limiting Access To the Piranha Configuration Tool ........................... 118

7.5 Turning on Packet Forwarding................................................... 119

7.6 Configuring Services on the Real Servers..................................... 120

Chapter 8 Setting Up a Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS LVS

Cluster

8.1 The NAT LVS Cluster............................................................. 121

8.2 Configuring Network Interfaces for a NAT LVS Cluster....................... 123

8.3 Multi-port Services and LVSClustering ........................................ 126

8.4 FTP In an LVSCluster ........................................................... 129

8.5 Saving Network Packet Filter Settings ......................................... 132

.............. ..................... ..................... ................. 121

Chapter 9 Configuring the LVS Routers with Piranha

Configuration Tool

9.1 Necessary Software.............................................................. 133

9.2 Logging Into the Piranha Configuration Tool................................... 133

9.3

9.4

9.5

9.6

9.7 Synchronizing Configuration Files .............................................. 149

9.8 Starting the Cluster............................................................... 151

CONTROL/MONITORING............ ..................... ..................... .... 134

GLOBAL SETTINGS .... ..................... ..................... ................. 136

REDUNDANCY............. ..................... ..................... .............. 138

VIRTUAL SERVERS ............... ..................... ..................... ...... 140

............... ..................... ................. 133

Part III Appendixes....... ..................... ..................... ..................... . 153

Appendix A Additional Resources for LVS Clustering ........... 155

Appendix B A Sample /etc/sysconfig/ha/lvs.cf File .... ............ 157

Appendix C Removing Red Hat Linux...................... ................. 161

Appendix D Getting Technical Support......... ..................... ...... 163

D.1 Remember to Sign Up ........................................................... 163

D.2 An Overview of Red Hat Support............................................... 163

D.3 Scope of Red Hat Support ...................................................... 164

D.4 How to Get Technical Support .................................................. 165

D.5 Questions for Technical Support................................................ 166

Appendix E Troubleshooting Your Installation of Red Hat

Enterprise Linux AS

E.1 You are Unable to Boot Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS........................ 169

E.2 Trouble Beginning the Installation............................................... 171

E.3 Trouble During the Installation .................................................. 172

E.4 Problems After Installation....................................................... 174

.............. ..................... ............ 169

Appendix F An Introduction to Disk Partitions .............. ......... 179

F.1 Hard Disk Basic Concepts....................................................... 179

Appendix G Driver Disks..... ..................... ..................... .............. 201

G.1 Why Do I Need a Driver Disk? .................................................. 201

vii

viii

Section 0.1:Document Conventions ix

Introduction

Welcome to the Official Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS Installation Guide. This guide contains useful information to assist you during the installation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS. From fundamental concepts such as installation preparation to the step-by-step installation procedure, this book will be a valuable resource as you install Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS.

This manual will walk you through a typical installation using the Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS CD-ROMs. Once you have completed the installation as outlined in this manual, you will have a fully functioning Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS system.

Document Conventions

When you read this manual, you will see that certain words are represented in different fonts, typefaces, sizes, and weights. This highlighting is systematic; different words are represented in the same style to indicate their inclusion in a specific category. The types of words that are represented this way include the following:

command

Linux commands (and other operating system commands, when used) are represented this way. This style should indicate to you that you can type the word or phrase on the command line and press displayedin a different style on their own(suchas filenames). Inthese cases, they are considered to be part of the command, so the entire phrase will be displayed as a command. For example:

Use the cat testfile command to view the contents of a file, named testfile, in the current working directory.

filename

Filenames, directory names, paths, and RPM package names are represented this way. This style should indicate that a particular file or directory exists by that name on your Red Hat Linux system. Examples:

The .bashrc file in your home directory contains bash shell definitions and aliases for your own use.

The /etc/fstab file contains information about different system devices and filesystems. Install the webalizer RPM if you want to use a Web server log file analysis program.

application

This style should indicate to you that the program named is an end-user application (as opposed to system software). For example:

[Enter] to invoke a command. Sometimes a command contains words that would be

x Introduction

Use Netscape Navigator to browse the Web.

[key]

A key on the keyboard is shown in this style. For example:

[Tab] completion, type in a character and then press the

To use

[Tab] key. Your terminal will

display the list of files in the directory that start with that letter.

[key]-[combination]

A combination of keystrokes is represented in this way. For example: The

[Ctrl]-[Alt]-[Backspace] key combination will restart the X Window System.

text found on a GUI interface

A title, word, or phrase found on a GUI interface screen or window will be shown in this style. When you see text shown in this style, it is being used to identify a particular GUI screen or an element on a GUI screen (such as text associated with a checkbox or field). Example:

Selectthe

RequirePasswordcheckbox if you wouldlikeyourscreensaverto requirea password

before stopping.

top level of a menu on a GUI screen or window

When you see a word in this style, it indicates that the word is the top level of a pulldown menu. If you click on the word on the GUI screen, the rest of the menu should appear. For example:

Settings on a GNOME terminal, you will see the following menu items: Preferences,

Under

Reset Terminal, Reset and Clear, and Color selector.

If you need to type in a sequence of commands from a GUI menu, they will be shown like the following example:

Click on

button on a GUI screen or window

Programs=>Applications=>Emacs to start the Emacs text editor.

This style indicates that the text will be found on a clickable button on a GUI screen. For example:

Click on the

Back button to return to the webpage you last viewed.

computer output

When you see text in this style, it indicates text displayed by the computer on the command line. You will see responses to commands you typed in, error messages, and interactive prompts for your input during scripts or programs shown this way. For example:

Use the ls command to display the contents of a directory:

Section 0.1:Document Conventions xi

$ls Desktop axhome logs paulwesterberg.gif Mail backupfiles mail reports

The output returned in response to the command (in this case, the contents of the directory) is shown in this style.

prompt

A prompt, which is a computer’s way of signifying that it is ready for you to input something, will be shown in this style. Examples:

$ # [stephen@maturin stephen]$ leopard login:

user input

Text that the user has to type, either on the command line, or into a text box on a GUI screen, is displayed in this style. In the following example, text is displayed in this style:

To boot your system into the text based installation program, you will need to type in the text command at the boot: prompt.

Additionally,we use several different strategies to draw your attention to certain pieces of information. In order of how critical the information is to your system, these items will be marked as note, tip, important, caution, or a warning. For example:

Note

Remember that Linux is case sensitive. In other words, a rose is not a ROSE is not a rOsE.

Tip

The directory /usr/share/doc contains additional documentation for packages installed on your system.

xii Introduction

Important

If you modify the DHCP configuration file, the changes will not take effect until you restart the DHCP daemon.

CAUTION

Do not perform routine tasks as root — use a regular user account unless you need to use the root account for system administration tasks.

WARNING

If you choose not to partition manually, a server installation will remove all existing partitions on all installed hard drives. Do not choose this installation class unless you are sure you have no data you need to save.

How to Use This Manual

This manual focuses on a CD-ROM based installation, so it is ideal for users (both new and old) who want a quick and simple installation solution. It will help you prepare your system, walk you through the installation, and assist you in the configuration of Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS.

If you are an experienced user who wants to perform a Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS CD-ROM installation, and you do not need a review of the basics, you can skip ahead to Chapter 3, Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS to begin the installation process.

Tip

Refer to the Red Hat Frequently Asked Questions for answers to questions and problems that may occur before, during, or after the installation. You will find the FAQ online at:

http://www.redhat.com/support/docs/faqs/rhl_general_faq/

Section 0.2:How to Use This Manual xiii

We Need Feedback!

If you spot a typo in the Official Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS Installation Guide, or if you have thought of a way to make this manual better, we would love to hear from you! Please submit a report in Bugzilla ( http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/) against the component rhl-ig-as-x86.

Be sure to mention the manual’s identifier:

rhl-ig-as-x86(EN)-2.1-Print-RHI (2002-03-22T11:09-0400)

That way we will know exactly which version of the guide you have. If you have a suggestion for improving the documentation, try to be as specific as possible when de-

scribing it. If you have found an error, please include the section number and some of the surrounding text so we can find it easily.

If you have a support question (for example, if you need help configuring X, or if you are not sure how to partition your hard drive[s]), please register your product at http://www.redhat.com/apps/activate/ and use the online support system for those type of requests.

xiv Introduction

Part I Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS

Section 1.1:Do You Have the Right Components? 17

1 Steps to Get You Started

Before you install Red Hat Linux, you should perform the following steps:

1.1 Do You Have the Right Components?

If you have purchased an OfficialRed Hat Enterprise Linux AS product, you are ready to go. However, mistakes occasionally happen, so now is a good time to double-check the contents of your product.

A black, red, and white Registration Information card is included with your product. A list of the contents of your boxed set version is on the back of the card. Please read over the list and check to make sure that you have all the CDs and manuals that are included with the version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS that you purchased.

If you have purchased an Official Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS product from Red Hat, Inc. (or one of its distributors), and you are missing one or more of the items listed, please let us know. Contact information is also available on the Registration Information card.

How to identify our official boxed set: The bottom of our box has an ISBN number next to one of the bar codes. That ISBN number should be in this form:

1-58569-x-

(The x and y will be unique numbers.) Red Hat partners with companies (international and domestic) so that we can makeRed Hat Enterprise

Linux AS available to you in the most convenientform. Because of these partnerships, you might find that your Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS product may not have been actually produced by Red Hat.

If your product has a different ISBN number (or none at all), you will need to contact the company that produced it. Normally, third-party producers will include their logo and/or contact information on the outside of their box; an officialRed Hat Enterprise Linux AS boxed set lists only our name and contact information.

1.1.1 Where to Find Other Manuals

If your particular product did not include all of the printed Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS manuals, you can find them online or on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS Documentation CD included with your official Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS product.

To find the manuals in both HTML and PDF formats online, go to http://www.redhat.com/docs.

18 Chapter 1:Steps to Get You Started

1.1.2 Registering Your Product

If you have purchased an Official Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS product, you should register your product. Registration offers many useful services, such as installation support, access to Red Hat Network, and more.

To register your product, go to http://www.redhat.com/apps/activate/. You will find your Product ID on the Registration Information card in your Official Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS boxed set. Once registered, you will have access to all the extras that Red Hat provides to its registered users.

For more information on registering and the scope of Red Hat’s technical support offerings, see Appendix D, Getting Technical Support.

1.2 Is Your Hardware Compatible?

Hardware compatibility is particularly important if you havean older system or a system that you built yourself. Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 2.1 should be compatible with most hardware in systems that were factory built within the last two years. However, hardware specifications change almost daily, so it is hard to guarantee that your hardware will be 100% compatible.

The most recent list of supported hardware can be found at http://hardware.redhat.com/hcl/. Refer to the Red Hat Cluster Manager Installation and Administration Guide for specific details on

hardware installation and supplemental hardware information.

1.3 Do You Have Enough Disk Space?

Nearly every modern-day operating system (OS) uses disk partitions, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS is no exception. When you install Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS, you may have to work with disk partitions. If you have not worked with disk partitions before (or need a quick review of the basic concepts) read Appendix F, An Introduction to Disk Partitions before proceeding.

The disk space used by Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS must be separate from the disk space used by other OSes you may have installed on your system, such as Windows, OS/2, or even a differentversion of Linux. At least two partitions (/ and swap) must be dedicated to Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS.

Before you start the installation process, one of the following conditions must be met:

• Your computer must have enough unpartitioned prise Linux AS.

Unpartitioned disk space means that the hard drive(s) you are installing to have not been divided into sections

for data. When you partition a disk, each partition will behave like a separate disk drive.

disk space for the installation of Red Hat Enter-

Section 1.4:Can You Install Using the CD-ROM? 19

• You must have one or more partitions that may be deleted, thereby freeing up enough disk space to install Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS.

1.3.1 Installation Disk Space Requirements

Note

These recommendations are based on an installation that only installs one language (such as English). If you plan to install multiple languages to use on your system, you should increase the disk space requirements.

See Section 1.5, Which Installation Class is Best For You?, for further information regarding disk space requirements for your specific installation needs.

Advanced Server

An Advanced Server installation, choosing to install GNOME GB of free space. Choosing both GNOME and KDE requires at least 1.3 GB of free disk space.

Custom

A Custom installation requires 350 MB for a minimal installation (without the Advanced Server packages) and at least 3.2 GB of free space if every package is selected.

or KDE3, requires at least 1.0

If you are not sure that you meet these conditions, or if you want to know how to create free disk space for your Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS installation, please refer to Appendix F, An Introductionto Disk Partitions.

1.4 Can You Install Using the CD-ROM?

There are several methods that can be used to install Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS. This manual focuses on installing from the CD-ROM. For instructions on alternative installation methods, refer to Chapter 4, Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS via Text Mode.

Acronym for GNU Network Object Model Environment. GNOME is part of the GNU project and part of the free software, or open source, movement. GNOME is a Windows-like desktop system that works on UNIX and UNIX-like systems. The main objective of GNOME is to provide a user-friendly suite of applications and an easy-to-use desktop.

Acronym for K Desktop Environment. A network-transparent, contemporary desktop environment for UNIX workstations, KDE is part of the open source movement. It is free to anyone and its source code is available to anyone to modify.

20 Chapter 1:Steps to Get You Started

Installing from a CD-ROMrequires that you havepurchased a Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 2.1 product , or you have a Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS CD-ROM, and you have a CD-ROM drive. Most new computers will allow booting from the CD-ROM. If your system will support booting from the CD-ROM, it is an easy way to begin a local CD-ROM installation.

Your BIOS may need to be changed to allowbooting from your CD-ROM drive. For more information about editing your BIOS, see Section 3.2.1, Booting the Installation Program.

1.4.1 Alternative Boot Methods

If you cannot boot from the CD-ROM drive, the following alternative boot method is available:

Local Boot Disk

If you need a local boot disk is located in the images directory on your Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS CD-ROM. Refer to Section 1.4.2, Making Installation Diskettes, for more information on making a boot disk.

USB Floppies — You can also boot the Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS instal-

lation program using a USB floppy as a boot disk (if your system supports booting from a USB floppy).

, you must create it. The local boot disk image file, boot.img,

Note

Although it is not required to boot your installation, you may occasionally find that a driver disk is needed to continue with the installation. Appendix G, Driver Disks explains why a driver disk may be necessary for your installation, and how to obtain one if needed.

1.4.2 Making Installation Diskettes

You may need to create a diskette from an image file; for example, you may need to use updated diskette images obtained from the Red Hat Linux errata page ( http://www.redhat.com/apps/support/updates.html) or you may need to create a boot disk.

A boot disk is a diskette you create during an installation that can later be used to boot the operating system. Normally,yourcomputer boots from a hard disk, but if the hard disk is damaged, you can boot the computer from a bootable diskette.

Section 1.4:Can You Install Using the CD-ROM? 21

An image file contains an exact copy (or image) of a diskette’s contents. Since a diskette contains filesystem information in addition to the data contained in files, the image file is not usable until it has been written to a diskette.

To start, you will need a blank, formatted, high-density (1.44MB), 3.5-inch diskette. You will need access to a computer with a 3.5-inch diskette drive. The computer must be able to run either an MS-DOS program or the dd utility found on most Linux-like operating systems.

The images directory on your Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS CD-ROM contains the boot images for Red Hat Linux/x86. Once you have selected the proper image (such as boot.img for a CD-ROMbased installation or bootnet.img for a network installation), transfer the image fileonto a diskette.

Using the rawrite Utility

To make a diskette using MS-DOS, use the rawrite utility included on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS CD-ROM in the dosutils directory. First, label a blank, formatted 3.5-inch diskette appropriately (such as "Boot Disk" or "Updates Disk"). Insert it into the diskette drive. Then, use the following commands (assuming your CD-ROM is drive d:):

C:\> d: D:\> cd \dosutils D:\dosutils> rawrite Enter disk image source file name: ..\images\boot.img Enter target diskette drive: a: Please insert a formatted diskette into drive A: and press --ENTER-- : [Enter] D:\dosutils>

First, rawrite asks you for the filename of a diskette image; enter the directory and name of the imageyou wish to write (for example, ..\images\boot.img). Then rawrite asks for a diskette drivetowrite the image to; enter a:. Finally, rawrite asks for confirmation that a formatted diskette is in the drive you have selected. After pressing

[Enter] to confirm, rawrite copies the image file

onto the diskette. If you need to make another diskette, label that diskette, and run rawrite again, specifying the appropriate image file.

Using the dd Command

To make a diskette under Linux (or any other Linux-like operating system), you must have permission to write to the device representing a 3.5-inch diskette drive (known as /dev/fd0 under Linux).

First, label a blank, formatted diskette appropriately (such as "Boot Disk" or "Updates Disk"). Insert it into the diskette drive (but do not issue a mount

When you mount a floppy or CD-ROM, you make that device’s contents available to you. See the Official Red

Hat Linux Getting Started Guide for more information.

command). After mounting the Red Hat Enterprise

22 Chapter 1:Steps to Get You Started

Linux AS CD-ROM, change to the directory containing the desired image file, and use the following command (changing the name of the image file and diskette device as appropriate):

# dd if=boot.img of=/dev/fd0 bs=1440k

To make another diskette, label that diskette, and run dd again, specifying the appropriate image file.

1.5 Which Installation Class is Best For You?

Usually,Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS is installed on its own disk partition or set of partitions, or over another installation of Linux.

WARNING

Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS over another installation of Linux (including Red Hat Linux) does not preserve any information (files or data) from a prior installation. Make sure you save or back up any important files!

Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS provides two different classes, or types, of installations:

Advanced Server

An Advanced Server installation is specifically targeted at server installations capable of high levels of availablity through load balancing and failover capacities. The Advanced Server configurationincludes, at your option, the ability to install a default X WindowSystemenvironment with management, as well as the necessary components for clustering together two or more systems to achieve higher levels of performance to meet the demands of high performance server environments.

Custom

A Custom installation allows you the greatest flexibility during your installation. You choose your boot loader, which packages you want, and more. Custom installations are most appropriate for those users more familiar with Red Hat Linux installations and for those afraid of losing complete flexibility.

These classes give you the option of simplifying the installation process (with some potential for loss of configuration flexibility), or retaining flexibility with a slightly more complex installation process. Next, take a detailed look at each class, so you can decide which one is right for you.

Section 1.5:Which Installation Class is Best For You? 23

1.5.1 Advanced Server Installation

An Advanced Server installation is most appropriate for server installations capable of high levels of availablity through load balancing and failover capacities.

Below are the minimum recommended disk space requirements for an Advanced Server installation where only one language (such as English) will be installed.

Note

The minimum recommended disk space requirements as listed below, are just minimum recommendations for the installation itself. You should adjust these disk space requirements as appropriate for your specific computing needs (such as disk space for personal files, additional applications you may install at a later time, and so on).

• Advanced Server (minimum, no graphical interface): 800 MB

• Advanced Server (default, choosing GNOME or KDE): 1 GB

• Advanced Server (choosing GNOME and KDE): 1.3 GB

• Advanced Server (choosing everything, GNOME and KDE): 1.5 GB If you plan to choose all group packages, as well as select additional individual packages, you may

want to allow yourself 2.0 GB or more of disk space. This will provide space where additional data may be written.

What an Advanced Server Installation Will Do

An Advanced Server installation, with automatic partitioning, will create the following partitions:

Note

The partitions represented below were created on a system with 9 GB of hard drive space and 512 MB of RAM. Depending on the amount of hard drive space and memory you have available, these values may differ slightly.

• A 47 MB partition (mounted as /boot) in which the Linux kernel and related files are kept.

• A partition of at least 4877 MB (mounted as /usr).

24 Chapter 1:Steps to Get You Started

• The size of the swap partition is determined by the amount of RAM in your system and the amount

of space available on your hard drive. If youhave128 MB of RAM, then the swap partition created can be 128 MB – 256 MB (twice your RAM), depending on how much disk space is available.

For this example, a 1020 MB swap partition (mounted as <swap>) is created.

• A 2738 MB ext partition.

• A partition of at least 2094 MB (mounted as /home).

• A 384 MB partition (mounted as /).

• A 259 MB partition (mounted as /var). This partitioning scheme offers a reasonably flexible filesystem configuration for most server tasks.

1.5.2 Custom Installations

The Custom installation allows you the most flexibility during your installation. During a Custom installation, you have complete control over the packages that will be installed on your system.

The recommended disk space requirements for a Custom installation are as follows:

Note

• Custom (minimum, without Advanced Server packages): 350 MB

• Custom (minimum, with Advanced Server packages): 500 MB

• Custom (default): 1 GB

• Custom (choosing everything): 3.2 GB

What a Custom Installation Will Do

As you might guess from the name, a custom installation puts the emphasis on flexibility. You have complete control over which packages will be installed on your system.

If you choose automatic partitioning, a Custom installation will create the following partitions:

Section 1.5:Which Installation Class is Best For You? 25

Note

• The size of the swap partition is determined by the amount of RAM in your system and the amount of space available on your hard drive. If youhave128 MB of RAM, then the swap partition created can be 128 MB – 256 MB (twice your RAM), depending on how much disk space is available.

For this example, a 1020 MB swap partition (mounted as <swap>) is created.

• A 47 MB partition (mounted as /boot) in which the Linux kernel and related files reside.

• A 2609 MB root partition (mounted as /) in which all other files are stored (the exact size of this partition is dependent on your available disk space).

26 Chapter 1:Steps to Get You Started

System Requirements Table 27

2 System Requirements Table

The most recent list of supported hardware can be found at http://hardware.redhat.com/hcl/. Refer to the Red Hat Cluster Manager Installation and Administration Guide for specific details on

hardware installation and supplemental hardware information. This chapter provides you with a system requirements table, which will help you keep a record of your

current system settings and requirements. Enter information about your system in the table provided as a handy reference to help make your Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS installation go more smoothly.

Table 2–1 System Requirements Table

hard drive(s): type, label, size; ex: IDE hda=1.2 GB

partitions: map of partitions and mount points; ex:

/dev/hda1=/home, /dev/hda2=/ (fill this

in once you know where they will reside)

memory: amount of RAM installed on your system; ex: 64 MB, 128 MB

CD-ROM: interface type; ex: SCSI, IDE (ATAPI)

SCSI adapter: if present, make and model number; ex: BusLogic SCSI Adapter, Adaptec 2940UW

network card: if present, make and model number; ex: Tulip, 3COM 3C590

28 Chapter 2:System Requirements Table

mouse: type, protocol, and number of buttons; ex: generic 3 button PS/2 mouse, MouseMan 2 button serial mouse

monitor: make, model, and manufacturer specifications; ex: Optiquest Q53, ViewSonic G773

video card: make, model number and size of VRAM; ex: Creative Labs Graphics Blaster 3D, 8MB

sound card: make, chipset and model number; ex: S3 SonicVibes, Sound Blaster 32/64 AWE

IP, DHCP, and BOOTP addresses: four numbers,

separated by dots; ex:

10.0.2.15 netmask: four numbers,

separated by dots; ex:

255.255.248.0 gateway IP address: four

numbers, separated by dots; ex: 10.0.2.245

one or more name server IP addresses (DNS):

one or more sets of dot-separated numbers; ex: 10.0.2.1

System Requirements Table 29

domain name: the name given to your organization; ex: Red Hat’s would be

redhat.com

hostname: the name of your computer; your personal choice of names; ex: cookie,

southpark

If any of these networking requirements or terms are unfamiliar to you, contact your network administrator for assistance.

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