Continuing the Installation

You usually install Red Hat Linux on a clean 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 worried about saving the current data on your existing system (without making a backup on your own), you should consider performing an upgrade instead.

In choosing a full installation, you must also choose the class of the installation. Your options include: Workstation, Server or Custom.

Most suitable for new users, the workstation-class installation will install your choice of a GNOME or KDE desktop environment (or both), and the X Window System.

Warning

Do not choose this method if you're sharing a disk with Windows NT; if you do, you will be unable to boot Windows NT. LILO will write over NT's boot loader and you will be unable to boot 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. In a case such as this, 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. Be sure to check out 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 -- 900M

• Workstation choosing KDE -- 900M

• Workstation choosing both GNOME and KDE -- 1.1G

If you plan to choose all group packages (for example, GNOME is one package group), as well as select additional individual packages, you may want to allow yourself 1.7G or more of disk space. This is also allow for some room where additional data may be written.

Please Note

Unlike previous workstation-class installations, performing a Red Hat Linux 7.0 workstation-class installation will not install the network daemon xinetd (inet services). Not installing xinetd results in a more secure installation; however,in-bound[1], network-related services such as finger, telnet, talk, and FTP will not work. If you require these types of services, please go back and choose a server- or a custom-class installation.

A server-class installation is most appropriate for you if you'd like your system to function as a Linux-based server, and you don't want to heavily customize your system configuration.

Below are the recommended disk space requirements for a server-class installation.

• Server (minimum) -- 450M

• Server (choosing everything) -- 1G

If you plan to choose all group packages, as well as select additional individual packages, you may want to allow yourself 1.7G or more of disk space. This is also allow for some room 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).

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, it is up to you 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'll use LILO (the LInux LOader) to boot your system. Unless you have prior Linux experience, you should not select the custom-class installation method.

Below are the recommended disk space requirements for a custom-class installation.

• Custom (minimum) -- 250M

• Custom (choosing everything) -- 1.7G

If you would like to know what steps are omitted by not performing a custom-class installation please refer to Step 7 - Which Installation Type is Best For You? in the Official Red Hat Linux Installation Guide.