Downloading&Installing RedHat 7.3

[Compuflyer]

I have decided to download and install redhat 7.3 from http://www.redhat.com/download/mirror.html and I chose mirror.cs.wisc.edu but I don't have the first clue exactly which part or parts I need to click on and which files I should download. I want to install and dual boot a redhat 7.3 onto my Windows XP Raid 0
setup. I am so lost. I almost need to be led by the hand to do this. I don't want to be a pain in the *** but I really want to succesfully do this. I have been trying for hours (I never giveup) and it is making me crazy... I would sooo appreciate some help. Thanks... :confused: :eek: :mad:

[moznose]

Let me repay some debt here...this far I can go:

On the mirror site go to the "file" level:
that is after RH7.3/en/i386/ or something like that (you want the iso files disc1 disc2 and disc3)...edit: full names:

valhalla-i386-disc1.iso
valhalla-i386-disc2.iso
valhalla-i386-disc3.iso

You can download and save these to disk the same way you usually download and save files in Windows. Make a directory first or when you are asked to choose save or open.

Then you want to burn these "images" to CDs using the method in your CD burning program that you would use to create a backup of one of your partitions (an image file in Drive Image, for example).

Ideally you should check the completeness of the download, but I cannot explain to you how you would do this in Windows!

Once you have your disks, to install just reboot with the CD in the CD player.

You will need to have decided things like partitions, file types, and the tool you will use to dual boot. A book I can suggest for this is O'Reily's "Running Linux".

[ 18 May 2002: Message edited by: moznose ]

[mdwatts]

Please do not crosspost your questions as we can see all questions in all forums.

Thank-you

Note: Now you are getting duplicate answers and taking up time of members that could be helping others.

[Compuflyer]

Sorry for crossposting ! Damn newbies ! :D

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by Compuflyer:
<STRONG>Sorry for crossposting ! Damn newbies ! :D</STRONG>

No problem. Just so you know. Also the Linuxnewbie FAQ's mention about crossposting. It's 'frowned upon'.

I just like to see if fair for all that use LNO and it also gets confusing going back and forth to see what others have already suggested.

Did you get Redhat 7.3 installed yet?

[Compuflyer]

[QUOTE] [/QNo problem. Just so you know. Also the Linuxnewbie FAQ's mention about crossposting. It's 'frowned upon'.

I just like to see if fair for all that use LNO and it also gets confusing going back and forth to see what others have already suggested.

Did you get Redhat 7.3 installed yet?

UOTE]

I'm a learnin' ! I am downloading the necessary files right now. I am on a cable pipe and I am still complaining about the speed ! I should be grateful I-m not on a dial up. :D

[Compuflyer]

See that I screwed up the quote thing ! :rolleyes:

[mdwatts]

If you want to quote from a previous post, then just click on the double quotes.

I am downloading the necessary files right now.

Are you downloading the iso images or single files?

[Compuflyer]

Originally posted by WattsMD:
<STRONG>If you want to quote from a previous post, then just click on the double quotes.

Are you downloading the iso images or single files?</STRONG>

I think they are ISO images I went to the edu Wisconsin mirror and I clicked on Distribution which brought me to all their Linux files ( I think ) and then I clicked on 7.3 then en, then iso,then i386 and finally the first three valhalla files:

valhalla-i386-disc1.iso
valhalla-i386-disc2.iso
valhalla-i386-disc3.iso

I am saving them to a folder on my hard drive.Did I blow it ?

[ 19 May 2002: Message edited by: Compuflyer ]

[mdwatts]

No you didn't. Those would be the correct iso images to download.

Just in case, have a look at the cd burning software documentation at www.linuxiso.org (http://www.linuxiso.org) as they explain how to burn iso's using some of the more popular cd burning packages.

[Compuflyer]

Originally posted by WattsMD:
<STRONG>No you didn't. Those would be the correct iso images to download.

Just in case, have a look at the cd burning software documentation at www.linuxiso.org (http://www.linuxiso.org) as they explain how to burn iso's using some of the more popular cd burning packages.</STRONG>

Thank You ! You have been very kind and most helpful. :)

[Compuflyer]

Once the download has completed and I have burned the images to cd's how do I do the install? I burned ISO 1 and looked at the cd but I don't see an exe file or any type of install file. Some of the files don't even have extensions! Also, I have my hard drive setup as follows: 2- 80GB Maxtor in Raid 0 with one partition C: 80GB which has Windows XP. I have 80Gb left unallocated. Suggestions ? Any help would be most greatly appreciated... Thanks...
:confused:

[ 19 May 2002: Message edited by: Compuflyer ]

[ 19 May 2002: Message edited by: Compuflyer ]

[ 19 May 2002: Message edited by: Compuflyer ]

[moznose]

First suggestion is relax. This is going to be a very frustrating few weeks for you.

Basic for install is just put the CD in the CD ROM Drive and reboot. It will take you to a start install page, press enter and follow the instructions.

It doesn't sound like you have burned all three CDs. You will need all three to complete the install.

Next, IF, big if, all your hardware is recognized by the setup, you can do a simple install on the unallocated space on the second partition. When it comes to the dialog that asks about partitions, just let it set up automatically. One beauty part of this system seems to be the idea you can keep in back of your head that you can change absolutely everything once you understand it.


EDIT: One bit you should really have read up on is the "Boot Loader", and the problems connected with dual booting. You have 4 choices. You can use the Windows Boot loader, You can use a disk to boot, and you can use one of two boot loaders that come with Linux: Grub and LILO.

The Default with RH7.3 is Grub. Both Grub and LILO modify your MBR (Master Boot Record -- if you have troubles with Windows, that is another set of posts); booting from floppy disk is one way of booting without modifying the MBR. I don't know how to use the Windows Dual Boot tools.

If you go with the Default (Please back up your Windows system completely before you start.) Grub, it will give you the option to choose which system to boot by default and the option to boot either system.

You will also want to know which "Desktop" you want, which you cannot know until you try them, so install both (GNOME and KDE).

You can set up your internet connection after installation...same same Network configuration...when you boot you will see that these systems give you a [failed] signal which is ok.

2ND EDIT: One more area we get a little help with buying the boxed set is the install type options. You can do a Workstation, or Server or Custom, or If you go into Custom, you get an Install Everything Option. In spite of the warnings that Custom is for the Pros, I think it is actually easier, as it breaks up the possibilities into package groups that are easy to understand. I would go that way, or go that way and install everything...you have enough space and you can delete stuff later.

Update is for when you want to add a package without disturbing your current setup.

[ 19 May 2002: Message edited by: moznose ]

[mdwatts]

Make sure you do a 'Expert Mode' install.

I know my distro (Caldera) while in Expert Mode, I can select SoftRaid etc. during the installation. Not sure about Redhat though.

You should also review the installation documenation at Redhat's site.

[Compuflyer]

[QUOTE]Next, IF, big if, all your hardware is recognized by the setup, you can do a simple install on the unallocated space on the second partition. When it comes to the dialog that asks about partitions, just let it set up automatically[QUOTE]
My hard drive currently has one 80GB sized
partition on it which is C:. The rest is 80GB of unallocated space. Prior to installation do I need to create a partition for the Linux install or will the RedHat software give me the oppurtunity to create the necessary partition out of the unpartitioned unallocated space ? If I have to partition it in advance do I need to create 2 partitions ? one for Linux Swap and the other for Linux EXT 2 ? Thank you for all your help !!! :)

[mdwatts]

'Expert Mode' (if Redhat has that) should allow you to create whatever partitions you want.

You need a minimum of root '/' and swap though you can split root into further separate partitions such as /var, /home etc.

One of the NHF's explains a bit more on multi-partition installations.

[Compuflyer]

I obviously have a lot of Linux based reading to do ! Thanks... :)

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by Compuflyer:
<STRONG>I obviously have a lot of Linux based reading to do ! Thanks... :)</STRONG>

Yes you do.

Forget about whatever you know about Windows.

You are in an entirely different world now. You've heard of UNIX? Linux is very similiar to Unix and due to that fact, it is a very complex operating system and takes patience and persistance to learn properly.

Just use the LNO forums, NHF's and lots of Google searching.

My distro (with a full install) must include around 3-400MB of documentation. How-to's, faq's, admin guides, application docs etc. etc. etc. Enough to keep anyone reading for years.

[fancypiper]

You might as well download the documentation disk as well as it has tons of info that you can have on hand.

There is an edit function for the UBB and the thread starter can delete the entire post if they wish! ;)

[moznose]

The RH install process takes you through a partitioning dialog and you have the option to simply accept an automatic setup which will give you the basics. If you read ahead a little and figure you want some of the additional partitions mentioned, the simple way is to accept the automatic route and then before it is finished use the opportunity it gives you to review and change the process: use "new" to create a new partition and "edit" to change things like size.

EDIT: Another basic pointer is to actually read the information on the sidebar that accompanies each new install dialog. In windows such things are usually worth skipping, in installing RH you will find them helpful...scroll down.

[ 19 May 2002: Message edited by: moznose ]

[Rickdog]

I assume you're using a download manager, I downloaded all three isos from wisc.edu and the connection was broken many times so you always need a download manager. Star downloader (free) worked great for me, then check the MD5 sums with a sum checker. You can also use from [boot: linux mediacheck] and that will make sure your installation media is OK. If the sum checks match, you should be good to go. If your BIOS is set to boot from CDROM, put in isodisc1 and reboot. It's pretty clear sailing from there. (Redhat is very friendly when it comes to installation.) Welcome to Linux!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Compuflyer:
[QB]Once the download has completed and I have burned the images to cd's how do I do the install? I burned ISO 1 and looked at the cd but I don't see an exe file or any type of install file. Some of the files don't even have extensions! Also, I have my hard drive setup as follows: 2- 80GB Maxtor in Raid 0 with one partition C: 80GB which has Windows XP. I have 80Gb left unallocated. Suggestions ? Any help would be most greatly appreciated... Thanks...
:confused:

[mychl]

Welcome to linux and let me tell you... it's not going to be as bad as some make it seem... With RH 7.3, you will be able to have a GUI off the bat. As for the partitioning thing, to start with you can do as MDWatts said, just use / and swap, but you should also have a /home partition, that way if you have to reinstall, and you probably will..., you won't lose stuff you've downloaded. You can select not to reformat your /home partition on subsequent installs...

Anyway, let us know if you need any assistance with your install, and again, welcome

[Compuflyer]

You guys have been great ! I feel so welcomed. I'll feel a whole lot better once I install correctly. I have completed the download of the three ISO files and burned them onto three cd's. I rebooted with cd 1 and I got to the point where files were ready to be copied to my hard drive. I get an error message which says something like "There is no detected drive for installation". My hard drive is not being detected. I have two 80GB Maxtor Hard Drives running in Raid 0. I reinstalled Windows XP (SORRY-LOL !) on one partition C which is about 160GB. Should I use Partition Magic and setup a second partition prior to install ? Do I Need to setup two partitions- one for Linux swap and one for Linux Ext2 ? From what I have heard and read RedHat 7.3 should see my Raid 0 setup and allow me to partition during install without losing my Windows Partition/OS. What to do, What to do ?.... :confused:

[mdwatts]

Unless Redhat 7.3 has another solution to installing on Raid, I would suggest you try the procedures at http://www.murty.net/ataraid/ to see if that works.

The append line...

[Compuflyer]

Originally posted by WattsMD:
<STRONG>Unless Redhat 7.3 has another solution to installing on Raid, I would suggest you try the procedures at http://www.murty.net/ataraid/ to see if that works.

The append line...</STRONG>
Unfortunately the document you pointed me to says it is only good for "FAST TRACK RAID" with INTEL support. I have High Point Raid 370/372 and I am using AMD. This is really starting to seem impossible... I have been trying to install this for days...
Oh man...
:(

[Compuflyer]

Just so you know I am not just relying on the feedback I get here to solve my problem. I have done so much searching and reading that I am relly getting burned out... I have to figure this out . I WANT IT !!! :mad:

[mdwatts]

The ide2=... ide3=... append line should work for ATA66/100 controllers. HPT370, ATARaid controllers etc.

Give it a try.

[Compuflyer]

I don't know where to begin with this whole append line thing. I read the doc's I have been pointed to but I am not clear on what to do. When, How and Where would I change the append line and what do I put there ? I am so non Linux oriented but IN TIME THIS WILL CHANGE... I will not be successful without hand holding... Sorry :(

[Compuflyer]

Not only do I have the RAID 0 issue but I also need to dual boot ! Man Oh Man !

[ 20 May 2002: Message edited by: Compuflyer ]

[Compuflyer]

Oh yeah, My mobo (ABIT KR7A-133R)has an onboard Raid controller and onboard ATA 133 if it matters.

[Rickdog]

Redhat and most linux I believe, needs its own partition to install upon. It has always worked for me to format my drive, remove any existing partitions, then make a an active DOS partition for Windoze leaving plenty of room for Linux and its growth. You can even use swap partitions on both hard drives, Linux likes to do that (RH anyway). I like to keep everything on one drive, but its your choice.

Install your Windoze make sure that it works (well best it can), then install on the free space. The formatting portion of the installation will allow you to make boot, swap, and / (root) partitions. I always make them in that order. You want your boot partition in front, especially if your using an older BIOS so the LILO or GRUB boot loader finds it.Sometimes with the boot sector installed after cylinder 1024, LILO doesn't work, but you should be OK with a later BIOS. With later BIOS, it doesn't much matter but I always put it first anyway. You pick your default boot OS, windows or Linux and you're on your way. Hope this helps.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Compuflyer:
[QB]Not only do I have the RAID 0 issue but I also need to dual boot ! Man Oh Man !

[mdwatts]

ENOUGH FANS TO FLY !

Same as me...

2 - Power Supply (Enermax)
2 - Volcano 7's (dual procs)
4 - Case Fans
1 - Geforce3 Fan
3 - HDD Cooler (small fans)

I have to bolt mine down. ;)

[moznose]

Just one more thing you might want to check into: From what I have read Windows would prefer, in dual boot situations, to be the last OS installed.

[Rickdog]

In my experience (many, many dual boot installs), it always seems to work best to install windows first. When Linux is installed it will rewrite the MBR (master boot record) and install the boot loader (LILO or GRUB). If Windows is installed last, it will overwrite this and depending on which version of windows, may not even recognize the Linux partitions or Linux OS.

Originally posted by moznose:
<STRONG>Just one more thing you might want to check into: From what I have read Windows would prefer, in dual boot situations, to be the last OS installed.</STRONG>

[Compuflyer]

I have Windows Xp installed on my Raid 0 setup and it boots up fine. I left abot 80GB of free unformatted unpartitioned space for RedHat 7.3. When I put in ISO1 it starts the install fine until it gets to the part where files are to be written to my hard drives. I get an error which says something like unrecognizable partition and then something like no drive for installation found. I guess it is the Raid setup which Linux is not seeing. I don't know where to begin with this whole append business. HELP !! Everything is ready except RedHat isn't seeing a place to reside ! I have researched it online and it is past me. What am I missing or doing wrong ? How do I append(exactly) if that is what I need. Compuflyer is temporarily grounded !

[moznose]

I have no experience with dual booting, except for my disaster trying to dual boot Linux and Windows 98 recently.

I am reading the install recommendations from Windows 2000 Secrets, (Books I have always found useful) and he is recommending in every case except for OS/2 to install the other operating system first.

The situation you describe may be read the other way around from the Windows perspective. Linux messes with the MBR and you may not be able to see Windows partitions after (my case).

Again, experience is always better than books so I would give more weight to your advise than that from the book, but I would keep it in mind.

[JockVSJock]

On the mirror site go to the "file" level:
that is after RH7.3/en/i386/ or something like that (you want the iso files disc1 disc2 and disc3)...edit: full names:

valhalla-i386-disc1.iso
valhalla-i386-disc2.iso
valhalla-i386-disc3.iso

You can download and save these to disk the same way you usually download and save files in Windows. Make a directory first or when you are asked to choose save or open.

Then you want to burn these "images" to CDs using the method in your CD burning program that you would use to create a backup of one of your partitions (an image file in Drive Image, for example).


Let me get this straight.

I can download the files for RH7.2, save them to my windows box, burn them using the software that came with my HP Burner, under windows, and be able to install 7.2 over my current dist. 7.1?

-Chris

:confused:

[Compuflyer]

On the HighPoint web site : http://www.highpoint.tech.com/drivers.htm
I found the updated driver for RedHat! Only problem is the latest release is for 7.2. Looks like I may have to download 7.2 ISO files ! All that time downloading 7.3... :(
Unless someone can tell me different ?!

[Jfielding]

Reading through the posts it appears that RH is looking for the ext2 or ext3 partitions that your were to have created. ext3 partitions are the same as ext2 with journaling enabled.

You need to setup as a minimum;

/=root partition minimum 50-100 Mb if /home partition is used

Good luck, remember we all start out lost.
swap partition=2x or 3x available ram

Recommended:
/home partition can be used for balance of available space.

You could alternatively create;
swap=2x to 3x available ram
/=root balance of available disk space.

Your distro should offer you the opportunity to create and format these partitions as part of the install process. This needs to be completed before any packages are installed. These partitions should be created in the unformated available space on your hard drive. Most distros will allow you to resize a windoze partition but I do not know the effects this will have with XP. Probably bad .

I am not familiar with the Raid controller so I will have to punt to the Raid experts for any recommended changes here.
:D

[Jfielding]

Reading through the posts it appears that RH is looking for the ext2 or ext3 partitions that your were to have created. ext3 partitions are the same as ext2 with journaling enabled.

You need to setup as a minimum;

/=root partition minimum 50-100 Mb if /home partition is used

Good luck, remember we all start out lost.
swap partition=2x or 3x available ram

Recommended:
/home partition can be used for balance of available space.

You could alternatively create;
swap=2x to 3x available ram
/=root balance of available disk space.

Your distro should offer you the opportunity to create and format these partitions as part of the install process. This needs to be completed before any packages are installed. These partitions should be created in the unformated available space on your hard drive. Most distros will allow you to resize a windoze partition but I do not know the effects this will have with XP. Probably bad .

I am not familiar with the Raid controller so I will have to punt to the Raid experts for any recommended changes here.
:D

[Rickdog]

Flyer, I forgot to mention, when using more than one operating system with XP, you must install XP using the FAT 32 file system. trying to use the NTFS will cause many problems. That's my understanding anyway. Linux does not like NTFS and dual boot. It seems to me, I may be wrong, but I don't think Windows XP, NT, 2000 with NTFS recognize Linux either. I know it works with XP and FAT 32 because I'm using it right now. It also works very well with Windows Me and Mandrake or Redhat and probably most if not all other Linux versions.

Originally posted by Compuflyer:
<STRONG>I have Windows Xp installed on my Raid 0 setup and it boots up fine. I left abot 80GB of free unformatted unpartitioned space for RedHat 7.3. When I put in ISO1 it starts the install fine until it gets to the part where files are to be written to my hard drives. I get an error which says something like unrecognizable partition and then something like no drive for installation found. I guess it is the Raid setup which Linux is not seeing. I don't know where to begin with this whole append business. HELP !! Everything is ready except RedHat isn't seeing a place to reside ! I have researched it online and it is past me. What am I missing or doing wrong ? How do I append(exactly) if that is what I need. Compuflyer is temporarily grounded !</STRONG>

[Rickdog]

Flyer, I forgot to mention, when using more than one operating system with XP, you must install XP using the FAT 32 file system. trying to use the NTFS will cause many problems. That's my understanding anyway. Linux does not like NTFS and dual boot. It seems to me, I may be wrong, but I don't think Windows XP, NT, 2000 with NTFS recognize Linux either. I know it works with XP and FAT 32 because I'm using it right now. It also works very well with Windows Me and Mandrake or Redhat and probably most if not all other Linux versions.

Originally posted by Compuflyer:
<STRONG>I have Windows Xp installed on my Raid 0 setup and it boots up fine. I left abot 80GB of free unformatted unpartitioned space for RedHat 7.3. When I put in ISO1 it starts the install fine until it gets to the part where files are to be written to my hard drives. I get an error which says something like unrecognizable partition and then something like no drive for installation found. I guess it is the Raid setup which Linux is not seeing. I don't know where to begin with this whole append business. HELP !! Everything is ready except RedHat isn't seeing a place to reside ! I have researched it online and it is past me. What am I missing or doing wrong ? How do I append(exactly) if that is what I need. Compuflyer is temporarily grounded !</STRONG>

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by Rickdog:
<STRONG>Flyer, I forgot to mention, when using more than one operating system with XP, you must install XP using the FAT 32 file system. trying to use the NTFS will cause many problems. That's my understanding anyway. Linux does not like NTFS and dual boot. It seems to me, I may be wrong, but I don't think Windows XP, NT, 2000 with NTFS recognize Linux either. I know it works with XP and FAT 32 because I'm using it right now. It also works very well with Windows Me and Mandrake or Redhat and probably most if not all other Linux versions.

</STRONG>

There's no problem with dual/multi booting NT/2K/XP on a ntfs partition with Linux. It's just that Linux does not recommend enabling write support to a ntfs partition from within Linux. Read-only is fine.

[mdwatts]

Compuflyer...

Redhat 7.3 most likely already has support for the Highpoint Raid Controller.

Your problem is getting the controller (and the drives attached) recognized during the install.

As I suggested earlier, you need to add the ide2=... ide3=... line during the install so the install can find the Highpoint and drives.

Unless Redhat 7.3 has a bootdisk image just for installing on Raid Controllers, I would suggest you try the link I posted earlier. http://www.murty.net/ataraid/existing.html

At the first boot prompt when starting the install, you will need to add something like ide2=0x0001,0x0009,9 ide3=0x2000,0x2009,10 to detect the controller.

Without that I don't believe you will be able to install unless you add a HD to your motherboard ide controller and install on there first.

[Rickdog]

You are correct sir. It was the recommendation by Microsoft that states,"Use FAT32 if you want to install more than one operating system on your computer." from the "start here Microsoft Windows xp Professional" p.5, manual, version 2002 which came with my Windows xp upgrade box. As I recall, that advice is given during the installation as well.
Originally posted by WattsMD:
<STRONG>There's no problem with dual/multi booting NT/2K/XP on a ntfs partition with Linux. It's just that Linux does not recommend enabling write support to a ntfs partition from within Linux. Read-only is fine.</STRONG>