Gathering Information About the System

It is not difficult to install and bring up a Linux system, but the more you know about the process before you start, the easier it will be. The installation software collects information about the system and can help you make decisions during the installation process. However, the system will work better when you know how you want your disk partitioned rather than letting the installation program create partitions without your input. The screen will be easier to use if you know what resolution you want. There are many details, and the more details you take control of, the more pleased you are likely to be with the finished product. Finding the information that this section asks for will help ensure that you end up with a system you understand and know how to change when necessary. More and more, the installation software probes the hardware and figures out what you have. Newer equipment is more likely to report on itself than older equipment is.

It is critical to have certain pieces of information before you start. One thing Linux can never figure out is all the relevant names and IP addresses (unless you are using DHCP, in which case the addresses are set up for you).

Following is a list of items you may need information about. Get as much information on each item as you can: manufacturer, model number, size (megabytes, gigabytes, and so forth), number of buttons, chipset (for boards), and so on. Some items, such as the network interface card, may be built into the motherboard.

• Hard disks.

• Memory (you don't need it for installation, but it is good to know).

• SCSI interface card.

• Network interface card (NIC).

• Video interface card (including the amount of video RAM/memory).

• Sound card and compatibility with standards, such as SoundBlaster.

• Mouse (PS/2, USB, AT, and number of buttons).

• Monitor (size, maximum resolution).

• IP addresses and names, unless you are using DHCP (page 431), in which case the IP addresses for the system are automatically assigned. Most of this information comes from the system administrator or ISP.

  • System hostname (anything you like)

  • System address

  • Network mask (netmask)

  • Gateway address (the connecting point to the network or Internet) or a phone number when you use a dial-up connection

  • Addresses for nameservers, also called DNS addresses

  • Domain name (not required)