Installing Linux


All the Linux distributions I describe in the section, "Choosing a Linux Distribution," earlier in this chapter, include an installation program that simplifies the task of installing Linux on your computer. The installation program asks you a series of questions about your hardware, what components of Linux you want to install, and how you want to configure certain features. Then it copies the appropriate files to your hard drive and configures your Linux system.

Tip 

If the thought of installing Linux gives you hives, you can buy computers with Linux preinstalled, just as you can buy computers with Windows already installed.

Before you begin to install Linux, I recommend several planning steps:

  • Make a list of all the hardware components on your computer and how they're configured.

    Tip 

    Be as specific as you can: Write down each component's manufacturer and model number, as well as configuration information, such as the component's IRQ and I/O address, if appropriate.

  • Decide how you want to partition your hard drive for Linux.

    Although Windows is usually installed into a single disk partition, Linux installations typically require at least three hard-drive partitions:

    • A boot partition: This should be small-16MB is recommended. The boot partition contains the operating system kernel and is required to start Linux properly on some computers.

    • A swap partition: This should be about twice the size of your computer's RAM. For example, if the computer has 64MB of RAM, allocate a 128MB swap partition. Linux uses this partition as an extension of your computer's RAM.

    • A root partition: This, in most cases, uses up the remaining free space on the disk. The root partition contains all the files and data used by your Linux system.

    You can also create additional partitions if you wish. The installation program includes a disk-partitioning feature that lets you set up your disk partitions and indicate the mount point for each partition. (For more information about disk partitions, see the sidebar, "I can't see my C drive!," earlier in this chapter.)

    Tip 

    Linux is happy to share your hard drive with another operating system, such as Windows. However, you may have to repartition your disk to install Linux without erasing your existing operating system. If you need to repartition your hard drive, I recommend you pick up a copy of PowerQuest's PartitionMagic (http://www.powerquest.com) or a similar partitioning program, which will allow you to juggle your partitions without losing your existing operating system.

  • Decide which optional Linux packages to install along with the Linux kernel:

    • If you have enough drive space, install all the packages that come with your distribution. That way, if you decide you need to use a package, you won't have to figure out how to install the package outside of the installation program.

    • If you're tight on space, make sure that you at least install the basic network and Internet server packages, including Apache, Sendmail, FTP, and Samba.

  • Set the password for the root account.

  • In most distributions, you choose whether to create at least one user account.

    Tip 

    Create at least one user account during installation so you can log on to Linux as a user (not with the root account). As a user, you can experiment with Linux commands without accidentally deleting or corrupting a needed system file.




Networking For Dummies
Networking For Dummies
ISBN: 0470534052
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 254
Authors: Doug Lowe

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