Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Architecture-specific Information

2. Document Conventions

3. More to Come

3.1. Send in Your Feedback

4. Where to Find Other Manuals

I. x86, AMD64, Intel 64 and Itanium- Installation and Booting

1. Itanium System Specific Information

1.1. Itanium System Installation Overview

1.2. Itanium Systems — The EFI Shell

1.2.1. Itanium Systems — EFI Device Names

1.2.2. Itanium Systems — EFI System Partition

2. Steps to Get You Started

2.1. Upgrade or Install?

2.2. Is Your Hardware Compatible?

2.3. Do You Have Enough Disk Space?

2.4. Can You Install Using the CD-ROM or DVD?

2.4.1. Alternative Boot Methods

2.4.2. Making an Installation Boot CD-ROM

2.5. Preparing for a Network Installation

2.5.1. Preparing for FTP and HTTP installation

2.5.2. Preparing for an NFS install

2.6. Preparing for a Hard Drive Installation

3. System Requirements Table

4. Installing on Intel and AMD Systems

4.1. The Graphical Installation Program User Interface

4.1.1. A Note about Virtual Consoles

4.2. The Text Mode Installation Program User Interface

4.2.1. Using the Keyboard to Navigate

4.3. Starting the Installation Program

4.3.1. Booting the Installation Program on x86, AMD64, and Intel 64 Systems

4.3.2. Booting the Installation Program on Itanium Systems

4.3.3. Additional Boot Options

4.4. Selecting an Installation Method

4.5. Installing from DVD/CD-ROM

4.5.1. What If the IDE CD-ROM Was Not Found?

4.6. Installing from a Hard Drive

4.7. Performing a Network Installation

4.8. Installing via NFS

4.9. Installing via FTP

4.10. Installing via HTTP

4.11. Welcome to Red Hat Enterprise Linux

4.12. Language Selection

4.13. Keyboard Configuration

4.14. Enter the Installation Number

4.15. Disk Partitioning Setup

4.16. Advanced Storage Options

4.17. Create Default Layout

4.18. Partitioning Your System

4.18.1. Graphical Display of Hard Drive(s)

4.18.2. Disk Druid's Buttons

4.18.3. Partition Fields

4.18.4. Recommended Partitioning Scheme

4.18.5. Adding Partitions

4.18.6. Editing Partitions

4.18.7. Deleting a Partition

4.19. x86, AMD64, and Intel 64 Boot Loader Configuration

4.19.1. Advanced Boot Loader Configuration

4.19.2. Rescue Mode

4.19.3. Alternative Boot Loaders

4.19.4. SMP Motherboards and GRUB

4.20. Network Configuration

4.21. Time Zone Configuration

4.22. Set Root Password

4.23. Package Group Selection

4.24. Preparing to Install

4.24.1. Prepare to Install

4.25. Installing Packages

4.26. Installation Complete

4.27. Itanium Systems — Booting Your Machine and Post-Installation Setup

4.27.1. Post-Installation Boot Loader Options

4.27.2. Booting Red Hat Enterprise Linux Automatically

5. Removing Red Hat Enterprise Linux

6. Troubleshooting Installation on an Intel or AMD System

6.1. You are Unable to Boot Red Hat Enterprise Linux

6.1.1. Are You Unable to Boot With Your RAID Card?

6.1.2. Is Your System Displaying Signal 11 Errors?

6.2. Trouble Beginning the Installation

6.2.1. Problems with Booting into the Graphical Installation

6.3. Trouble During the Installation

6.3.1. No devices found to install Red Hat Enterprise Linux Error Message

6.3.2. Saving Traceback Messages Without a Diskette Drive

6.3.3. Trouble with Partition Tables

6.3.4. Using Remaining Space

6.3.5. Other Partitioning Problems

6.3.6. Other Partitioning Problems for Itanium System Users

6.3.7. Are You Seeing Python Errors?

6.4. Problems After Installation

6.4.1. Trouble With the Graphical GRUB Screen on an x86-based System?

6.4.2. Booting into a Graphical Environment

6.4.3. Problems with the X Window System (GUI)

6.4.4. Problems with the X Server Crashing and Non-Root Users

6.4.5. Problems When You Try to Log In

6.4.6. Is Your RAM Not Being Recognized?

6.4.7. Your Printer Does Not Work

6.4.8. Problems with Sound Configuration

6.4.9. Apache-based httpd service/Sendmail Hangs During Startup

7. Driver Media for Intel and AMD Systems

7.1. Why Do I Need Driver Media?

7.2. So What Is Driver Media Anyway?

7.3. How Do I Obtain Driver Media?

7.3.1. Creating a Driver Diskette from an Image File

7.4. Using a Driver Image During Installation

8. Additional Boot Options for Intel and AMD Systems

9. The GRUB Boot Loader

9.1. Boot Loaders and System Architecture

9.2. GRUB

9.2.1. GRUB and the x86 Boot Process

9.2.2. Features of GRUB

9.3. Installing GRUB

9.4. GRUB Terminology

9.4.1. Device Names

9.4.2. File Names and Blocklists

9.4.3. The Root File System and GRUB

9.5. GRUB Interfaces

9.5.1. Interfaces Load Order

9.6. GRUB Commands

9.7. GRUB Menu Configuration File

9.7.1. Configuration File Structure

9.7.2. Configuration File Directives

9.8. Changing Runlevels at Boot Time

9.9. Additional Resources

9.9.1. Installed Documentation

9.9.2. Useful Websites

9.9.3. Related Books

10. Additional Resources about Itanium and Linux

II. IBM POWER Architecture - Installation and Booting

11. Steps to Get You Started

11.1. Upgrade or Install?

11.2. Preparation for IBM eServer System p and System i

11.3. Do You Have Enough Disk Space?

11.4. Can You Install Using the CD-ROM?

11.5. Preparing for a Network Installation

11.5.1. Preparing for FTP and HTTP installation

11.5.2. Preparing for an NFS install

11.6. Preparing for a Hard Drive Installation

12. Installing on IBM System i and IBM System p systems

12.1. The Graphical Installation Program User Interface

12.2. Booting the IBM System i or IBM System p Installation Program

12.3. A Note about Linux Virtual Consoles

12.4. Using the HMC vterm

12.5. The Text Mode Installation Program User Interface

12.5.1. Using the Keyboard to Navigate

12.6. Beginning Installation

12.6.1. Installing from DVD/CD-ROM

12.7. Installing from a Hard Drive

12.8. Performing a Network Installation

12.9. Installing via NFS

12.10. Installing via FTP

12.11. Installing via HTTP

12.12. Welcome to Red Hat Enterprise Linux

12.13. Language Selection

12.14. Keyboard Configuration

12.15. Enter the Installation Number

12.16. Disk Partitioning Setup

12.17. Advanced Storage Options

12.18. Create Default Layout

12.19. Partitioning Your System

12.19.1. Graphical Display of Hard Drive(s)

12.19.2. Disk Druid's Buttons

12.19.3. Partition Fields

12.19.4. Recommended Partitioning Scheme

12.19.5. Adding Partitions

12.19.6. Editing Partitions

12.20. Network Configuration

12.21. Time Zone Configuration

12.22. Set Root Password

12.23. Package Group Selection

12.24. Preparing to Install

12.24.1. Prepare to Install

12.25. Installing Packages

12.26. Installation Complete

13. Driver Media for IBM POWER Systems

13.1. Why Do I Need Driver Media?

13.1.1. So What Is Driver Media Anyway?

13.1.2. How Do I Obtain Driver Media?

13.1.3. Using a Driver Image During Installation

14. Troubleshooting Installation on an IBM POWER System

14.1. You are Unable to Boot Red Hat Enterprise Linux

14.1.1. Is Your System Displaying Signal 11 Errors?

14.2. Trouble Beginning the Installation

14.2.1. Problems with Booting into the Graphical Installation

14.3. Trouble During the Installation

14.3.1. No devices found to install Red Hat Enterprise Linux Error Message

14.3.2. Saving Traceback Messages Without a Diskette Drive

14.3.3. Trouble with Partition Tables

14.3.4. Other Partitioning Problems for IBM POWER System Users

14.3.5. Are You Seeing Python Errors?

14.4. Problems After Installation

14.4.1. Unable to IPL from *NWSSTG

14.4.2. Booting into a Graphical Environment

14.4.3. Problems with the X Window System (GUI)

14.4.4. Problems with the X Server Crashing and Non-Root Users

14.4.5. Problems When You Try to Log In

14.4.6. Your Printer Does Not Work

14.4.7. Apache-based httpd service/Sendmail Hangs During Startup

15. Additional Boot Options for IBM Power Systems

III. IBM System z Architecture - Installation and Booting

16. Steps to Get You Started

16.1. Pre-Installation

16.2. Additional System z Hardware Preparation for Installation Notes

16.3. Basic Overview of the Boot Method

16.4. Preparing for a Network Installation

16.4.1. Preparing for FTP and HTTP installation

16.4.2. Preparing for an NFS install

16.5. Preparing for a Hard Drive Installation

16.6. Installing under z/VM

16.7. Installing in an LPAR using the Red Hat Enterprise Linux LPAR CD

16.8. Installing in an LPAR without the Red Hat Enterprise Linux for System z CD-ROMs

16.9. Installing in an LPAR (Common Steps)

16.10. Do You Have Enough Disk Space?

17. Installing on IBM System z Systems

17.1. The Graphical Installation Program User Interface

17.2. The Text Mode Installation Program User Interface

17.2.1. Using the Keyboard to Navigate

17.3. Running the Installation Program

17.3.1. Installation using X11 Forwarding

17.3.2. Installation using VNC

17.4. Installing from a Hard Drive (DASD)

17.5. Installing via NFS

17.6. Installing via FTP

17.7. Installing via HTTP

17.8. Welcome to Red Hat Enterprise Linux

17.9. Language Selection

17.10. Enter the Installation Number

17.11. Disk Partitioning Setup

17.12. Advanced Storage Options

17.12.1. FCP Devices

17.13. Create Default Layout

17.14. Partitioning Your System

17.14.1. Graphical Display of DASD Device(s)

17.14.2. Disk Druid's Buttons

17.14.3. Partition Fields

17.14.4. Recommended Partitioning Scheme

17.14.5. Editing Partitions

17.15. Network Configuration

17.16. Time Zone Configuration

17.17. Set Root Password

17.18. Package Group Selection

17.19. Preparing to Install

17.19.1. Preparing to Install

17.20. Installing Packages

17.21. Installation Complete

18. Removing Red Hat Enterprise Linux

19. Sample Parameter Files

20. Additional Boot Options

21. Troubleshooting Installation on an IBM System z System

21.1. You are Unable to Boot Red Hat Enterprise Linux

21.1.1. Is Your System Displaying Signal 11 Errors?

21.2. Trouble During the Installation

21.2.1. No devices found to install Red Hat Enterprise Linux Error Message

21.2.2. Trouble with Partition Tables

21.2.3. Other Partitioning Problems

21.2.4. Are You Seeing Python Errors?

21.3. Problems After Installation

21.3.1. Remote Graphical Desktops and XDMCP

21.3.2. Problems When You Try to Log In

21.3.3. Your Printer Does Not Work

21.3.4. Apache-based httpd service/Sendmail Hangs During Startup

22. Additional Information for IBM System z Users

22.1. The sysfs File System

22.2. Using the zFCP Driver

22.3. Using mdadm to Configure RAID-Based and Multipath Storage

22.3.1. Creating a RAID Device With mdadm

22.3.2. Creating a Multipath Device With mdadm

22.4. Configuring IPL from a SCSI Device

22.4.1. IPL the SCSI Disk

22.5. Adding DASD

22.6. Adding a Network Device

22.6.1. Adding a qeth Device

22.6.2. Quick Reference for Adding Network Devices

22.7. Kernel-Related Information

IV. Common Tasks

23. Upgrading Your Current System

23.1. Determining Whether to Upgrade or Re-Install

23.2. Upgrading Your System

24. Activate Your Subscription

24.1. RHN Registration

24.1.1. Provide a Red Hat Login

24.1.2. Provide Your Installation Number

24.1.3. Connect Your System

25. An Introduction to Disk Partitions

25.1. Hard Disk Basic Concepts

25.1.1. It is Not What You Write, it is How You Write It

25.1.2. Partitions: Turning One Drive Into Many

25.1.3. Partitions within Partitions — An Overview of Extended Partitions

25.1.4. Making Room For Red Hat Enterprise Linux

25.1.5. Partition Naming Scheme

25.1.6. Disk Partitions and Other Operating Systems

25.1.7. Disk Partitions and Mount Points

25.1.8. How Many Partitions?

V. Basic System Recovery

26. Basic System Recovery

26.1. Common Problems

26.1.1. Unable to Boot into Red Hat Enterprise Linux

26.1.2. Hardware/Software Problems

26.1.3. Root Password

26.2. Booting into Rescue Mode

26.2.1. Reinstalling the Boot Loader

26.3. Booting into Single-User Mode

26.4. Booting into Emergency Mode

27. Rescue Mode on POWER Systems

27.1. Special Considerations for Accessing the SCSI Utilities from Rescue Mode

VI. Advanced Installation and Deployment

28. Kickstart Installations

28.1. What are Kickstart Installations?

28.2. How Do You Perform a Kickstart Installation?

28.3. Creating the Kickstart File

28.4. Kickstart Options

28.4.1. Advanced Partitioning Example

28.5. Package Selection

28.6. Pre-installation Script

28.6.1. Example

28.7. Post-installation Script

28.7.1. Examples

28.8. Making the Kickstart File Available

28.8.1. Creating Kickstart Boot Media

28.8.2. Making the Kickstart File Available on the Network

28.9. Making the Installation Tree Available

28.10. Starting a Kickstart Installation

29. Kickstart Configurator

29.1. Basic Configuration

29.2. Installation Method

29.3. Boot Loader Options

29.4. Partition Information

29.4.1. Creating Partitions

29.5. Network Configuration

29.6. Authentication

29.7. Firewall Configuration

29.7.1. SELinux Configuration

29.8. Display Configuration

29.8.1. General

29.8.2. Video Card

29.8.3. Monitor

29.9. Package Selection

29.10. Pre-Installation Script

29.11. Post-Installation Script

29.11.1. Chroot Environment

29.11.2. Use an Interpreter

29.12. Saving the File

30. Boot Process, Init, and Shutdown

30.1. The Boot Process

30.2. A Detailed Look at the Boot Process

30.2.1. The BIOS

30.2.2. The Boot Loader

30.2.3. The Kernel

30.2.4. The /sbin/init Program

30.3. Running Additional Programs at Boot Time

30.4. SysV Init Runlevels

30.4.1. Runlevels

30.4.2. Runlevel Utilities

30.5. Shutting Down

31. PXE Network Installations

31.1. Setting up the Network Server

31.2. PXE Boot Configuration

31.2.1. Command Line Configuration

31.3. Adding PXE Hosts

31.3.1. Command Line Configuration

31.4. TFPD

31.4.1. Starting the tftp Server

31.5. Configuring the DHCP Server

31.6. Adding a Custom Boot Message

31.7. Performing the PXE Installation