Red Hat Linux Distribution Installation Notes

Version - Red Hat 7.2

ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/7.2/en/os/i386/

bootnet floppy

On an existing Linux box:
# fdformat /dev/fd0H1440 # format floppy if necessary
# dd if=bootnet.img of=/dev/fd0 bs=512 conv=sync; sync
boot installation machine from floppy

Example Installation

Initial text dialog

Choose a Language: English
Keyboard Type: us
Installation Method: NFS image
Configure TCP/IP: [*] use dynamic IP configuration (BOOTP/DHCP)
NFS Setup: NFS sever name: (fill in); Red Hat directory: (fill in)

Graphical dialog continues

Mouse Configuration: Generic 3 button mouse (PS/2)
Welcome
Installation Type: (*) Install (*) Custom - Workstation-class installations no longer install the inetd "super server." This means that the following network-related services(server daemon) will not be available if you perform a workstation-class installation: ftp, telnet, shell, login, talk, finger
Disk Partition Setup: (*) Manually Partition with Disk Druid
Disk Setup: (discussion of disk partition strategy, ext3)
Boot Loader Configuration: (*) Use LILO as the boot loader - conversion to GRUB pending; Install Boot Loader record on: (*) /dev/hda Master Boot Record (MBR); Partition (defaults)
Network Configuration: eth0; [v] Configure using DHCP; [ ] Activate on boot
Firewall Configuration: (*) No firewall
Additional Language Support: Choose the default language for this system: English (USA)
Time Zone Selection: [ ] (not) System clock uses UTC
Account Configuration: [ ] (dont) Enable MD5 Passwords; [ ] (dont) Enable Shadow Passwords; NIS: [ ] (don't) Enable NIS
Package Group Selection: [x] Everything
Graphical Interface (X) Configuration
Installing Packages
Boot Disk Creation
Monitor Configuration
Customize Graphics Configuration: Please choose your default desktop environment: (*) KDE; Please choose your login type: (*) Graphical
Congratulations: eject diskette, reboot, login as root

Important Bugfix

Couldn't login after RH7.2 upgrade - editing a pam file fixed it: # ed /etc/pam.d/system-auth; auth sufficient /lib/security/pam_pwdb.so likeauth nullok

Network Configuration

Various GUI tools are available for configuring the system, but the underlying files are noted here.
Replace bold items with your values.

Example Manual DHCP Configuration

# ed /etc/sysconfig/network
NETWORKING=yes
HOSTNAME=yourhostname
# ed /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0
DEVICE=eth0
BOOTPROTO=dhcp
ONBOOT=yes

Example Manual Static Configuration

# cd /etc/sysconfig
# ed network
NETWORKING=yes
HOSTNAME=yourhostname
GATEWAY=4.3.2.1
# ed network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0
DEVICE=eth0
BOOTPROTO=static
IPADDR=4.3.2.2
NETMASK=255.255.255.0
BROADCAST=4.3.2.255
NETWORK=4.3.2.0
ONBOOT=yes

Example Manual NIS Configuration

# ed /etc/sysconfig/network
NISDOMAIN=yournisdomain
# ed /etc/yp.conf # broadcast or: domain NISDOMAIN server HOSTNAME
domain yournisdomain broadcast

Cleanup/Pending

Some "minor" installation fixes

better documentation is pending

/etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf - update
/etc/init.d/autofs - update for Sun-style auto.indirect, prog="autofs"
/etc/init.d/xfs - chkconfig xfs on
/etc/printcap - remove :sf:
/var/adm - chmod a+rx /var/adm
/etc/init.d/wine - add RETVAL=$? and exit $RETVAL for [OK] versus [failed]

Pending

endpoint sigma.o checking?

Old

This may be needed for some older RedHat installations

Enabling SystemV Shared Memory for 2.4.x

file:/usr/src/linux/Documenation/Changes
# mkdir /dev/shm
# echo "none /dev/shm shm defaults 0 0" >> /dev/fstab
# reboot

NoBell Home - gjm - last update 1/23/2002