I'm Stuck... How to Install RHEL 5

[uRamirez87]

Hi,

I am new to Linux and off to a bad start. I'm having trouble installing RHEL 5 onto my computer. I currently have XP and 2 hard drives. I plan on keeping the XP on my main 40gb IDE Hard drive, and installing Linux onto my slave 250gb IDE Western Digital.

I am using the "RHCT Study guide" by Michael Jang, as my guide to learning Linux. although the book is made for RHEL 3, i believe the installation process should be the same for RHEL 5.

I reached as far as creating partitions, but did not succeed. In the Disk Druid, I try'd creating a new partition (/boot) but it did not go through, instead an error message popped up. It said something to the extent of: The Root directory (/ ) has not been defined.

The book requires me to create a NFS (before partitioning my hard drive) and shows me how. I skipped that step because i believe in order to create a NFS a Network was needed. I am not part of a network. I just want to Install the damn OS onto my Hard drive.

Is the NFS-Step Hindering me from Installing RHEL onto my computer? Or am I doing something wrong?

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.

[pavlo_7]

I am using the "RHCT Study guide" by Michael Jang, as my guide to learning Linux. although the book is made for RHEL 3, i believe the installation process should be the same for RHEL 5.

Use this guide:
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

I reached as far as creating partitions, but did not succeed. In the Disk Druid, I try'd creating a new partition (/boot) but it did not go through, instead an error message popped up. It said something to the extent of: The Root directory (/ ) has not been defined.

If you want separate partition for boot, then you need to create another big partition for root (that's where most of the files will be installed) and set the "Mount Point" to / . Otherwise, instead of /boot, use / .

To make it simpler, create 3 partitions:
1) /boot (2 GB)
2) SWAP (your amount of RAM x 2, or just make it 2 GB)
3) / (use the rest of the space left on the drive. This partition should be the largest. Or you can leave some of the space unpartitioned if you want to install something else in there later)

The book requires me to create a NFS (before partitioning my hard drive) and shows me how. I skipped that step because i believe in order to create a NFS a Network was needed. I am not part of a network. I just want to Install the damn OS onto my Hard drive.

Is the NFS-Step Hindering me from Installing RHEL onto my computer? Or am I doing something wrong?

Skip NFS part if you are installing from CD/DVD.

[devils casper]

There is no need to allocate 2GB space to /boot partition. 102MB is a default size. I dont prefer to create separate /boot partition.
If you have 1GB or more RAM, no need to create SWAP partition. To be on safer side, I would suggest to create 512MB Swap partition no matter how much RAM you have.

1) / (root) ext3 filesystem, allocate as much space as you can. ( 8 to 12GB is enough)
2) SWAP, 512MB

[pavlo_7]

There is no need to allocate 2GB space to /boot partition. 102MB is a default size. I dont prefer to create separate /boot partition.
If you have 1GB or more RAM, no need to create SWAP partition. To be on safer side, I would suggest to create 512MB Swap partition no matter how much RAM you have.

I agree, if it's for home use, and if you have 1 Gig RAM, you don't need SWAP at all.

[uRamirez87]

Thanks for the advice. The whole Partitioning was a piece of cake. I don't know how I screwed up the process.

I am Now in Linux posting the reply (lol) so this is where my "Linux-Journey" Begins.

I want to pursue Linux as a career. So If anyone can refer or recommend any books or study guides for the RHCT Exam, I would appreciate it.

Thank you guys for all the Help, you will be hearing from me more often