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Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

Installation Guide

Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 for all architectures

Edition 3

Legal Notice

Copyright © 2008 . This material may only be distributed subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Open Publication License, V1.0 or later (the latest version of the OPL is presently available at https://www.opencontent.org/openpub/).

Red Hat and the Red Hat "Shadow Man" logo are registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.

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Phone: +1 919 754 3700
Phone: 888 733 4281
Fax: +1 919 754 3701
PO Box 13588 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA

Abstract

This Installation Guide documents relevant information regarding the installation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

Introduction

1. What's New in this Edition?

2. Architecture-specific Information

3. Document Conventions

4. More to Come

4.1. Send in Your Feedback

5. Where to Find Other Manuals

I. x86, AMD64, Intel® 64 and Itanium- Installation and Booting

1. Itanium System Specific Information

1.1. Itanium System Installation Overview

1.2. Itanium Systems — The EFI Shell

1.2.1. Itanium Systems — EFI Device Names
1.2.2. Itanium Systems — EFI System Partition

2. Steps to Get You Started

2.1. Upgrade or Install?

2.2. Is Your Hardware Compatible?

2.3. Do You Have Enough Disk Space?

2.4. Can You Install Using the CD-ROM or DVD?

2.4.1. Alternative Boot Methods
2.4.2. Making an Installation Boot CD-ROM

2.5. Preparing for a Network Installation

2.5.1. Preparing for FTP and HTTP installation
2.5.2. Preparing for an NFS install

2.6. Preparing for a Hard Drive Installation

3. System Specifications List

4. Installing on Intel® and AMD Systems

4.1. The Graphical Installation Program User Interface

4.1.1. A Note about Virtual Consoles

4.2. The Text Mode Installation Program User Interface

4.2.1. Using the Keyboard to Navigate

4.3. Starting the Installation Program

4.3.1. Booting the Installation Program on x86, AMD64, and Intel® 64 Systems
4.3.2. Booting the Installation Program on Itanium Systems
4.3.3. Additional Boot Options

4.4. Selecting an Installation Method

4.5. Installing from DVD/CD-ROM

4.5.1. What If the IDE CD-ROM Was Not Found?

4.6. Installing from a Hard Drive

4.7. Performing a Network Installation

4.8. Installing via NFS

4.9. Installing via FTP

4.10. Installing via HTTP

4.11. Welcome to Red Hat Enterprise Linux

4.12. Language Selection

4.13. Keyboard Configuration

4.14. Enter the Installation Number

4.15. Disk Partitioning Setup

4.16. Advanced Storage Options

4.17. Create Default Layout

4.18. Partitioning Your System

4.18.1. Graphical Display of Hard Drive(s)
4.18.2. Disk Druid 's Buttons
4.18.3. Partition Fields
4.18.4. Recommended Partitioning Scheme
4.18.5. Adding Partitions
4.18.6. Editing Partitions
4.18.7. Deleting a Partition

4.19. x86, AMD64, and Intel® 64 Boot Loader Configuration

4.19.1. Advanced Boot Loader Configuration
4.19.2. Rescue Mode
4.19.3. Alternative Boot Loaders
4.19.4. SMP Motherboards and GRUB

4.20. Network Configuration

4.21. Time Zone Configuration

4.22. Set Root Password

4.23. Package Group Selection

4.24. Preparing to Install

4.24.1. Prepare to Install

4.25. Installing Packages

4.26. Installation Complete

4.27. Itanium Systems — Booting Your Machine and Post-Installation Setup

4.27.1. Post-Installation Boot Loader Options
4.27.2. Booting Red Hat Enterprise Linux Automatically

5. Removing Red Hat Enterprise Linux

6. Troubleshooting Installation on an Intel® or AMD System

6.1. You are Unable to Boot Red Hat Enterprise Linux

6.1.1. Are You Unable to Boot With Your RAID Card?
6.1.2. Is Your System Displaying Signal 11 Errors?

6.2. Trouble Beginning the Installation

6.2.1. Problems with Booting into the Graphical Installation

6.3. Trouble During the Installation

6.3.1. No devices found to install Red Hat Enterprise Linux Error Message
6.3.2. Saving Traceback Messages Without a Diskette Drive
6.3.3. Trouble with Partition Tables
6.3.4. Using Remaining Space
6.3.5. Other Partitioning Problems
6.3.6. Other Partitioning Problems for Itanium System Users
6.3.7. Are You Seeing Python Errors?

6.4. Problems After Installation

6.4.1. Trouble With the Graphical GRUB Screen on an x86-based System?
6.4.2. Booting into a Graphical Environment
6.4.3. Problems with the X Window System (GUI)
6.4.4. Problems with the X Server Crashing and Non-Root Users
6.4.5. Problems When You Try to Log In
6.4.6. Is Your RAM Not Being Recognized?
6.4.7. Your Printer Does Not Work
6.4.8. Problems with Sound Configuration
6.4.9. Apache-based httpd service/Sendmail Hangs During Startup

7. Driver Media for Intel® and AMD Systems

7.1. Why Do I Need Driver Media?

7.2. So What Is Driver Media Anyway?

7.3. How Do I Obtain Driver Media?

7.3.1. Creating a Driver Diskette from an Image File

7.4. Using a Driver Image During Installation

8. Additional Boot Options for Intel® and AMD Systems

9. The GRUB Boot Loader

9.1. Boot Loaders and System Architecture

9.2.1. GRUB and the x86 Boot Process
9.2.2. Features of GRUB

9.3. Installing GRUB

9.4. GRUB Terminology

9.4.1. Device Names
9.4.2. File Names and Blocklists
9.4.3. The Root File System and GRUB

9.5. GRUB Interfaces

9.5.1. Interfaces Load Order

9.6. GRUB Commands

9.7. GRUB Menu Configuration File

9.7.1. Configuration File Structure
9.7.2. Configuration File Directives

9.8. Changing Runlevels at Boot Time

9.9. Additional Resources

9.9.1. Installed Documentation
9.9.2. Useful Websites
9.9.3. Related Books

10. Additional Resources about Itanium and Linux

II. IBM POWER Architecture - Installation and Booting

11. Steps to Get You Started

11.1. Upgrade or Install?

11.2. Preparation for IBM eServer System p and System i

11.3. Do You Have Enough Disk Space?

11.4. Can You Install Using the CD-ROM or DVD?

11.5. Preparing for a Network Installation

11.5.1. Preparing for FTP and HTTP installation
11.5.2. Preparing for an NFS install

11.6. Preparing for a Hard Drive Installation

12. Installing on IBM System i and IBM System p systems

12.1. The Graphical Installation Program User Interface

12.2. Booting the IBM System i or IBM System p Installation Program

12.3. A Note about Linux Virtual Consoles

12.4. Using the HMC vterm

12.5. The Text Mode Installation Program User Interface

12.5.1. Using the Keyboard to Navigate

12.6. Beginning Installation

12.6.1. Installing from DVD/CD-ROM

12.7. Installing from a Hard Drive

12.8. Performing a Network Installation

12.9. Installing via NFS

12.10. Installing via FTP

12.11. Installing via HTTP

12.12. Welcome to Red Hat Enterprise Linux

12.13. Language Selection

12.14. Keyboard Configuration

12.15. Enter the Installation Number

12.16. Disk Partitioning Setup

12.17. Advanced Storage Options

12.18. Create Default Layout

12.19. Partitioning Your System

12.19.1. Graphical Display of Hard Drive(s)
12.19.2. Disk Druid 's Buttons
12.19.3. Partition Fields
12.19.4. Recommended Partitioning Scheme
12.19.5. Adding Partitions
12.19.6. Editing Partitions

12.20. Network Configuration

12.21. Time Zone Configuration

12.22. Set Root Password

12.23. Package Group Selection

12.24. Preparing to Install

12.24.1. Prepare to Install

12.25. Installing Packages

12.26. Installation Complete

13. Driver Media for IBM POWER Systems

13.1. Why Do I Need Driver Media?

13.1.1. So What Is Driver Media Anyway?
13.1.2. How Do I Obtain Driver Media?
13.1.3. Using a Driver Image During Installation

14. Troubleshooting Installation on an IBM POWER System

14.1. You are Unable to Boot Red Hat Enterprise Linux

14.1.1. Is Your System Displaying Signal 11 Errors?

14.2. Trouble Beginning the Installation

14.2.1. Problems with Booting into the Graphical Installation

14.3. Trouble During the Installation

14.3.1. No devices found to install Red Hat Enterprise Linux Error Message
14.3.2. Saving Traceback Messages Without a Diskette Drive
14.3.3. Trouble with Partition Tables
14.3.4. Other Partitioning Problems for IBMTM POWER System Users
14.3.5. Are You Seeing Python Errors?

14.4. Problems After Installation

14.4.1. Unable to IPL from *NWSSTG
14.4.2. Booting into a Graphical Environment
14.4.3. Problems with the X Window System (GUI)
14.4.4. Problems with the X Server Crashing and Non-Root Users
14.4.5. Problems When You Try to Log In
14.4.6. Your Printer Does Not Work
14.4.7. Apache-based httpd service/Sendmail Hangs During Startup

15. Additional Boot Options for IBM Power Systems

III. IBM System z Architecture - Installation and Booting

16. Steps to Get You Started

16.1. Pre-Installation

16.2. Additional System z Hardware Preparation for Installation Notes

16.3. Basic Overview of the Boot Method

16.4. Preparing for a Network Installation

16.4.1. Preparing for FTP and HTTP installation
16.4.2. Preparing for an NFS install

16.5. Preparing for a Hard Drive Installation

16.6. Installing under z/VM

16.7. Installing in an LPAR using the Red Hat Enterprise Linux LPAR CD

16.8. Installing in an LPAR without the Red Hat Enterprise Linux for System z CD-ROMs

16.9. Installing in an LPAR (Common Steps)

16.10. Do You Have Enough Disk Space?

17. Installing on IBM System z Systems

17.1. The Graphical Installation Program User Interface

17.2. The Text Mode Installation Program User Interface

17.2.1. Using the Keyboard to Navigate

17.3. Running the Installation Program

17.3.1. Installation using X11 Forwarding
17.3.2. Installation using VNC

17.4. Installing from a Hard Drive (DASD)

17.5. Installing via NFS

17.6. Installing via FTP

17.7. Installing via HTTP

17.8. Welcome to Red Hat Enterprise Linux

17.9. Language Selection

17.10. Enter the Installation Number

17.11. Disk Partitioning Setup

17.12. Advanced Storage Options

17.12.1. FCP Devices

17.13. Create Default Layout

17.14. Partitioning Your System

17.14.1. Graphical Display of DASD Device(s)
17.14.2. Disk Druid 's Buttons
17.14.3. Partition Fields
17.14.4. Recommended Partitioning Scheme
17.14.5. Editing Partitions

17.15. Network Configuration

17.16. Time Zone Configuration

17.17. Set Root Password

17.18. Package Group Selection

17.19. Preparing to Install

17.19.1. Preparing to Install

17.20. Installing Packages

17.21. Installation Complete

18. Removing Red Hat Enterprise Linux

19. Sample Parameter Files

20. Additional Boot Options

21. Troubleshooting Installation on an IBM System z System

21.1. You are Unable to Boot Red Hat Enterprise Linux

21.1.1. Is Your System Displaying Signal 11 Errors?

21.2. Trouble During the Installation

21.2.1. No devices found to install Red Hat Enterprise Linux Error Message
21.2.2. Trouble with Partition Tables
21.2.3. Other Partitioning Problems
21.2.4. Are You Seeing Python Errors?

21.3. Problems After Installation

21.3.1. Remote Graphical Desktops and XDMCP
21.3.2. Problems When You Try to Log In
21.3.3. Your Printer Does Not Work
21.3.4. Apache-based httpd service/Sendmail Hangs During Startup

22. Additional Information for IBM System z Users

22.1. The sysfs File System

22.2. Using the zFCP Driver

22.3. Using mdadm to Configure RAID-Based and Multipath Storage

22.3.1. Creating a RAID Device With mdadm
22.3.2. Creating a Multipath Device With mdadm

22.4. Configuring IPL from a SCSI Device

22.4.1. IPL the SCSI Disk

22.5. Adding DASD

22.6. Adding a Network Device

22.6.1. Adding a qeth Device
22.6.2. Quick Reference for Adding Network Devices

22.7. Kernel-Related Information

IV. Common Tasks

23. Upgrading Your Current System

23.1. Determining Whether to Upgrade or Re-Install
23.2. Upgrading Your System

24. Activate Your Subscription

24.1. RHN Registration

24.1.1. Provide a Red Hat Login
24.1.2. Provide Your Installation Number
24.1.3. Connect Your System

25. An Introduction to Disk Partitions

25.1. Hard Disk Basic Concepts

25.1.1. It is Not What You Write, it is How You Write It
25.1.2. Partitions: Turning One Drive Into Many
25.1.3. Partitions within Partitions — An Overview of Extended Partitions
25.1.4. Making Room For Red Hat Enterprise Linux
25.1.5. Partition Naming Scheme
25.1.6. Disk Partitions and Other Operating Systems
25.1.7. Disk Partitions and Mount Points
25.1.8. How Many Partitions?

V. Basic System Recovery

26. Basic System Recovery

26.1. Common Problems

26.1.1. Unable to Boot into Red Hat Enterprise Linux
26.1.2. Hardware/Software Problems
26.1.3. Root Password

26.2. Booting into Rescue Mode

26.2.1. Reinstalling the Boot Loader

26.3. Booting into Single-User Mode

26.4. Booting into Emergency Mode

27. Rescue Mode on POWER Systems

27.1. Special Considerations for Accessing the SCSI Utilities from Rescue Mode

VI. Advanced Installation and Deployment

28. Disk Encryption Guide

28.1. What is block device encryption?

28.2. Encrypting block devices using dm-crypt/LUKS

28.2.1. Overview of LUKS
28.2.2. How will I access the encrypted devices after installation? (System Startup)
28.2.3. Choosing a Good Passphrase

28.3. Creating Encrypted Block Devices in Anaconda

28.3.1. What Kinds of Block Devices Can Be Encrypted?
28.3.2. Limitations of Anaconda's Block Device Encryption Support

28.4. Creating Encrypted Block Devices on the Installed System After Installation

28.4.1. Create the block devices
28.4.2. Optional: Fill the device with random data
28.4.3. Format the device as a dm-crypt/LUKS encrypted device
28.4.4. Create a mapping to allow access to the device's decrypted contents
28.4.5. Create filesystems on the mapped device, or continue to build complex storage structures using the mapped device
28.4.6. Add the mapping information to /etc/crypttab
28.4.7. Add an entry to /etc/fstab

28.5. Common Post-Installation Tasks

28.5.1. Set a randomly generated key as an additional way to access an encrypted block device
28.5.2. Add a new passphrase to an existing device
28.5.3. Remove a passphrase or key from a device

29. Installing Through VNC

29.1. VNC Viewer

29.2. VNC Modes in Anaconda

29.2.1. Direct Mode
29.2.2. Connect Mode

29.3. Installation Using VNC

29.3.1. Installation Example
29.3.2. Kickstart Considerations
29.3.3. Firewall Considerations

29.4. References

30. Kickstart Installations

30.1. What are Kickstart Installations?

30.2. How Do You Perform a Kickstart Installation?

30.3. Creating the Kickstart File

30.4. Kickstart Options

30.4.1. Advanced Partitioning Example

30.5. Package Selection

30.6. Pre-installation Script

30.6.1. Example

30.7. Post-installation Script

30.7.1. Examples

30.8. Making the Kickstart File Available

30.8.1. Creating Kickstart Boot Media
30.8.2. Making the Kickstart File Available on the Network

30.9. Making the Installation Tree Available

30.10. Starting a Kickstart Installation

31. Kickstart Configurator

31.1. Basic Configuration

31.2. Installation Method

31.3. Boot Loader Options

31.4. Partition Information

31.4.1. Creating Partitions

31.5. Network Configuration

31.6. Authentication

31.7. Firewall Configuration

31.7.1. SELinux Configuration

31.8. Display Configuration

31.8.1. General
31.8.2. Video Card
31.8.3. Monitor

31.9. Package Selection

31.10. Pre-Installation Script

31.11. Post-Installation Script

31.11.1. Chroot Environment
31.11.2. Use an Interpreter

31.12. Saving the File

32. Boot Process, Init, and Shutdown

32.1. The Boot Process

32.2. A Detailed Look at the Boot Process

32.2.1. The BIOS
32.2.2. The Boot Loader
32.2.3. The Kernel
32.2.4. The /sbin/init Program

32.3. Running Additional Programs at Boot Time

32.4. SysV Init Runlevels

32.4.1. Runlevels
32.4.2. Runlevel Utilities

32.5. Shutting Down

33. PXE Network Installations

33.1. Setting up the Network Server

33.2. PXE Boot Configuration

33.2.1. Command Line Configuration

33.3. Adding PXE Hosts

33.3.1. Command Line Configuration

33.4. TFTPD

33.4.1. Starting the tftp Server

33.5. Configuring the DHCP Server

33.6. Adding a Custom Boot Message

33.7. Performing the PXE Installation

VII. Appendix

A. Revision History

NextIntroduction

Published under the terms of the GNU General Public License Design by Interspire