Installation of Linux Workstation

Note:

• This is a general guide to the installation of a workstation. If you already have a working system, you may continue with other guides to configure your system to host server applications.
• Caution: Do not use any example without consideration for your actual conditions!)

Preparation:

• Back up Windows partitions if you are installing Linux on the same hard disk. Do not install a BSD, especially FreeBSD, on the same hard disk as Windows unless you are absolutely sure that it will not write a BSD label on your hard disk.
• If you intend to install Linux on the same hard disk as Windows, make a partition of 10GB or more if you have a partitioning tool. Leave it as unallocated space or format it with ext2 or ext3 if you have no choice. If you do not have a partitioning tool, empty one Windows partition and use Windows disk manager to delete the empty partition. If you do not know what is said here, install Linux on a new hard disk.
• Scan the installation CDs for defects. Some distros let you do this during installation.
• Power up network connection devices, including internet.
• Power up attached peripherals, if any
• Find out whether your distro vendor has a net-install server.
• Activate DHCP server on your router.

During installation:

DO	DON'T
Do select workstation installation.	Don't select any server, except lisa if no choice.
Do select automatic partition (use unallocated space or existing Linux partition) and review partitions (and actually review them even if you do not understand)	Don't continue if your Windows partitions have disappeared.
Do agree to the creation of a swap partition.	Don't refuse if the installer wants to take space from Windows partition.
Do agree with the installer's choice of files system. If required, choose one partition for mount point / and the other /home. The third partition should be /swap. Fedora Core 5: Bootloader might not get installed if you accept the default virtual device file system. Manually delete all Linux partitions and create a swap partition and one ext3 partition. Mount the ext3 partition as /.	Don't do anything to NTFS partitions.
Do select your favourite applications.	Don't install all packages.
Do select Development packages, including gcc, make and gdb (for compiling C applications).
Do select KDE and optionally Gnome desktop	Don't select other graphical interface.
Do accept localhost as hostname.	Don't give a name to your host unless the installer insists. Host name should be the same as that before your domain name.
Do select DHCP at boot for your network interface If you want to configure static IP during installation, select manual configuration at the network configuration stage, key in your preferred IP, subnet, broadcast and submask.	Don't install ADSL if your host is attached to a router.
Do agree to install bootloader in MBR (master boot record).	Don't use your Windows multi-boot tool.
Do test the graphic driver. If your graphic card is not detected, choose VESA and monitor with 1024x768 resolution.	Don't skip configuration of graphic interface and don't quit installation at this stage.
Do create a boot floppy if you have a new one around.	Don't use an old floppy or one formatted on Windows. Use one which is formatted formatted on MSDOS.

Installation:

Preparation is difficult, installation is a piece of cake. Just put the CD (installation media) in the drive and install your distro, referring to the DO and DON'T when in doubt. Reboot after installation and you are the proud owner of a Linux system. Get familiar with your system before you move on to install other applications.

Overview of the Linux workstation:

• Linux kernel
• GNU C compiler
• KDE or Gnome GUI
• Console
• Internet clients
• Open Office
• Configuration tools
• File manager
• Multimedia applications
• Firewall

Q&A

What is a distro?

But I did not get from my "vendor"...

I though Linux is free...

It is free, as in freedom, not free of charge. It is generally free of charge because no one will pay unless value is added to the package. Anyone is free to use, modify and distribute a piece of Linux software. Details can be found in the GNU License or similar license which comes with your distro.

What should I not do?

Follow this rule: Don't run as root until you are told that you have insufficient permission. Root user is needed to make changes to the system, such as network, applications and security. Take note that changes made by root may be irreversible.

What is a FreeBSD label?

It is a label which the FreeBSD disk partitioning utility writes on a hard disk to identify it as a FreeBSD volume. All partitions will appear as part of a huge partition. If a Windows partition is written that way, it becomes non-readable in Windows or DOS. Obviously, Windows partition will be readable after the label is removed. However, I did not have that luck. That was probably due to the removal of label also included removal of Windows' data in sector zero. I also did not have any luck recovering RedHat partitions after removing the label. Needless to say, that has a lot to do with my knowledge as well. Please feel free to contribute updated information.

What is Open Office?

It is a suite of business or productivity applications derived from StarOffice of Sun Microsystem. Yes, those people who give us Java. Open Office applications can open Microsoft Office files and write files in compatible formats.

How do I log in as root?

Don't laugh, some distros default to boot into graphical environment by automatically logging in a home user. This is in fact better from security point of view. In such situation, use the su command to swith to root. The alternative is to quit current user session and start another one as root.

How do I get into GUI from console?

Log in and issue the command startx. If you have already installed the graphical environment, log in as root, startx and visit your GUI control centre for instruction to start the GUI automatically.