Step 5 - Which Installation Class is Best For You?
Usually, Red Hat Linux is installed on its own disk partition or set of partitions, or over another installation of Linux.
 | Warning |
|---|---|
Installing Red Hat Linux 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 any important files! If you are installing this way, and you want to preserve the current data on your existing system, you need to back up your data and/or consider performing an upgrade instead. |
Red Hat Linux provides five different classes, or types, of installations:
- Workstation
A workstation-class installation is most appropriate if you are new to the world of Linux, and would like to give it a try. By answering a few installation questions, you can be up and running Red Hat Linux in no time!
- Server
A server-class installation is most appropriate for you if you would like your system to function as a Linux-based server, and you do not want to heavily customize your system configuration.
- Laptop
A laptop-class installation has been designed to make installing Red Hat Linux on laptops even easier. Much like a workstation-class installation, it will make sure you have the appropriate packages needed, as well as offer you an automated installation environment.
- Custom
A custom-class installation allows you the greatest flexibility during your installation. You choose your partitioning scheme, which packages you want and more. Custom-class installations are most appropriate for those users more familiar with Red Hat Linux installations and for those afraid of losing complete flexibility.
- Upgrade
If you already have a version of Red Hat Linux (3.0.3 or greater) running on your system and you want to quickly update to the latest packages and kernel version, then an upgrade is most appropriate for you.
 | Note |
|---|---|
The custom-class installation allows you the most flexibility. The workstation- and server-class installations go through the installation process for you and omit certain steps. However, partition flexibility has been added to workstation- and server-class installations, so you can now partition your drives manually during those classes of installations, if you choose to. |
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 see which one is right for you.
| Note |
|---|---|
If you are planning to perform a partitionless installation, you will also need to choose an installation class. However, you can disregard the warnings regarding which partitions will be removed; these warnings are intended for users who are performing a typical installation. If you perform a partitionless installation, you do not have to worry about losing any information on your system. A partitionless installation will not remove existing partitions. |
Workstation-Class Installations
Most suitable for new users, the workstation-class installation will install your choice of the GNOME or KDE desktop environments, or both, and the X Window System.
| Warning |
|---|---|
Do not choose this method if you are sharing a disk with Windows NT; if you do, LILO will write over NT's boot loader and you will be unable to boot NT. If you are installing Red Hat Linux to share a disk with NT, you must perform a custom-class installation and configure LILO so that it is not installed on the Master Boot Record (MBR). To create a dual-boot environment on a system that currently has NT, you must install LILO on the first sector of the root partition, not the MBR. Please be sure to create a boot disk. You will either need to use the boot disk, or configure the NT system loader to boot LILO from the first sector of the root partition. Review http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/mini/Linux+NT-Loader.html for more information on setting up LILO and NT. |
| Warning |
|---|---|
A workstation-class installation will erase all information in all Linux-related partitions from every one of your computer's hard drive(s). |
Below are the minimum recommended disk space requirements for a workstation-class installation.
Workstation choosing GNOME: 1.2 GB
Workstation choosing KDE: 1.2 GB
Workstation choosing both GNOME and KDE, and games: 1.5 GB
If you plan to choose all group packages (for example, GNOME is a group of packages), as well as select additional individual packages, you may want to allow yourself 1.5 GB or more of disk space. If you provide this extra space, you will have room for additional data, if needed.
| Note |
|---|---|
Unlike workstation-class installations previous to Red Hat Linux 7.0, performing a Red Hat Linux 7.1 workstation-class installation will not install the network daemon xinetd (inet services). When xinetd is not installed, you will have a more secure installation. However,in-bound network-related services such as finger, telnet, talk, and FTP will not work.[1] If you require these types of services, please go back and choose a server- or a custom-class installation. |
What a Workstation-Class Installation Will Do
If you choose automatic partitioning, a workstation-class installation removes all Linux-related partitions on all installed hard drives (and uses all free unpartitioned disk space) to create the following partitions:
A 64 MB swap partition.
A 16 MB partition (mounted as /boot) in which the Linux kernel and related files reside.
A variable-sized root partition (mounted as /) in which all other files are stored (the exact size of this partition is dependent on your available disk space).
Server-Class Installations
A server-class installation is most appropriate for you if you would like your system to function as a Linux-based server, and you do not want to heavily customize your system configuration.
The recommended disk space requirements for a server-class installation are as follows:
Server (minimum): 650 MB
Server (choosing everything): 1.2 GB
If you plan to choose all group packages, as well as select additional individual packages, you may want to allow yourself 1.2 GB or more of disk space. This will provide space where additional data may be written.
| Warning |
|---|---|
A server-class installation will erase all partitions (both Linux and non-Linux) from every one of your computer's hard drive(s). |
What a Server-Class Installation Will Do
During the server-class installation, the X Window System is not configured and no GUI will be loaded when the system boots, unless you choose to install the appropriate packages during package selection. If you choose automatic partitioning, the installation program deletes all data in all existing partitions of any kind and decides how to partition the disk for the new version.
If you choose automatic partitioning, a server-class installation removes ALL existing partitions on ALL installed hard drives, so choose this installation class only if you are sure you have nothing you want saved! When the installation is complete, you will find the following partitions:
A 256 MB swap partition.
A 256 MB partition (mounted as /).
A partition of at least 512 MB (mounted as /usr).
A partition of at least 512 MB (mounted as /home).
A 256 MB partition (mounted as /var).
A 16 MB partition (mounted as /boot) in which the Linux kernel and related files are kept.
This disk partitioning scheme results in a reasonably flexible filesystem configuration for most server-class tasks.
Laptop-Class Installations
The laptop-class installation will install your choice of the GNOME or KDE desktop environments, or both, and the X Window System.
| Warning |
|---|---|
Do not choose this method if you are sharing a disk with Windows NT; if you do, LILO will write over NT's boot loader and you will be unable to boot NT. If you are installing Red Hat Linux to share a disk with NT, you must perform a custom-class installation and configure LILO so that it is not installed on the Master Boot Record (MBR). To create a dual-boot environment on a system that currently has NT, you must install LILO on the first sector of the root partition, not the MBR. Please be sure to create a boot disk. You will either need to use the boot disk, or configure the NT system loader to boot LILO from the first sector of the root partition. Review http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/mini/Linux+NT-Loader.html for more information on setting up LILO and NT. |
| Warning |
|---|---|
A laptop-class installation will erase all information in all Linux-related partitions from every one of your computer's hard drive(s). |
Below are the minimum recommended disk space requirements for a laptop-class installation.
Laptop choosing GNOME: 1.2 GB
Laptop choosing KDE: 1.2 GB
Laptop choosing both GNOME and KDE: 1.5 GB
If you plan to choose all group packages (for example, GNOME is a group of packages), as well as select additional individual packages, you may want to allow yourself 1.7 GB or more of disk space. If you provide this extra space, you will have room for additional data, if needed.
What a Laptop-Class Installation Will Do
If you choose automatic partitioning, a laptop-class installation removes all Linux-related partitions on all installed hard drives (and uses all free unpartitioned disk space) to create the following partitions:
A 64 MB swap partition.
A 16 MB partition (mounted as /boot) in which the Linux kernel and related files reside.
A variable-sized root partition (mounted as /) in which all other files are stored (the exact size of this partition is dependent on your available disk space).
This installation will remove all existing Linux partitions on all hard drives in your system; non-Linux partitions will not be removed.
A laptop-class installation will install your choice of the GNOME or KDE desktop environments (or both), and the X Window System.
| Note |
|---|---|
Performing a Red Hat Linux 7.1 laptop-class installation will not install the network daemon xinetd (inet services). Withholding xinetd results in a more secure installation[2]; network-related services such as finger, telnet, talk, and FTP will not work. If you require these types of services, choose a server- or a custom-class installation. |
Custom-Class Installations
The custom-class installation allows you the most flexibility during your installation. The workstation-class and server-class installations automatically go through the installation process for you and omit certain steps. During a custom-class installation, you must decide how disk space should be partitioned. You have complete control over the packages that will be installed on your system. You can also determine whether you will use LILO (the LInux LOader) to boot your system. Unless you have prior Linux experience, you should not select the custom-class installation method.
The recommended disk space requirements for a custom-class installation are as follows:
Custom (minimum): 300 MB
Custom (choosing everything): 2.4 GB
What a Custom-Class Installation Will Do
As you might guess from the name, a custom-class installation puts the emphasis on flexibility. During a custom-class installation, you can choose how disk space should be partitioned. You have complete control over which packages will be installed on your system. You also determine whether you will use LILO (the LInux LOader) to boot your system.
The following list may help those of you who are trying to decide which installation class will better suit your needs. If you think you will have trouble performing any of the tasks on this list, you should not perform a custom-class installation without reading through this manual and clarifying any questions you may have.
Selecting and Installing Packages — This step is performed after your partitions have been configured and selected for formatting. You are allowed to select groups of packages, individual packages, a combination of the two, or choose an Everything install.
LILO Configuration — In a custom-class installation, you are able to choose where you would like LILO to be installed: either on the master boot record (MBR) or on the first sector of your root partition. Alternatively, you can choose not to install LILO at all.
Authentication Configuration — During a custom-class installation, you can set up network passwords using authentication configuration.
If you choose automatic partitioning, a custom-class installation removes all Linux-related partitions on all installed hard drives (and uses all free unpartitioned disk space) to create the following partitions:
A 64 MB swap partition.
A 16 MB partition (mounted as /boot) in which the Linux kernel and related files reside.
A variable-sized root partition (mounted as /) in which all other files are stored (the exact size of this partition is dependent on your available disk space).
Upgrading Your System
Upgrading Red Hat Linux 3.0.3 (or greater) will not delete any existing data. The installation program updates the modular 2.2.x kernel and all currently installed software packages. See Chapter 4 and Appendix A for those instructions.