What You Need

This book covers two different Linux systems: Fedora Core 6 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4. To follow along with this book, you can install the complete Fedora Core 6 software found on the accompanying DVD. If you don't have a DVD drive, you can start a network install from the Fedora Live CD (CD #1) that is also included with the book. Or you can follow along with your Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 system, which you can obtain with a subscription from Red Hat, Inc.

To install Fedora Core 6, you need a PC with the following general configuration:

• An Intel Pentium or compatible CPU, 200Mhz Pentium or better (for text mode); 400Mhz Pentium II or better (for GUI mode). Fedora Core 6 has been optimized for Pentium 4 processors. (Intel 486 computers will not work with Fedora Core 6.)

• At least 64MB of RAM (text-based install) or 128MB of RAM (graphical install). To run the GNOME or KDE desktop 192MB are needed, although the Fedora Project recommends 256MB.

• At least 620MB of hard disk space (you have to select a minimal install). You need 2.3GB of hard disk space for a personal desktop install, 3.0GB for a typical workstation installation, or at least 1.1GB of space for a server installation. To install everything, you need about 6.9GB of space.

• A DVD or CD drive. This is recommended for installation (because we give you the installation DVD), although you can install from CD (we provide an installation CD), over a network, or from a local hard disk instead. For network and hard disk installs , booting installation from a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive is no longer supported (beginning with Fedora Core 2). Chapter 2 describes methods of launching installation if you don't have a bootable DVD drive: Once the install is started, you need either an extra hard disk partition or another computer (that can be reached over the network) that has packages or images of the Fedora Core distribution on it. (I tell you how to do that later, in case you're interested.)

Not every piece of PC hardware works with Fedora. While there is no official hardware compatibility list as there is for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (available at http://bugzilla.redhat.com/hwcert/ ), overall hardware support should be improved in Fedora Core 6.