A Red Hat AS-based distribution!

Nov 14, 2007 07:53 GMT  ·  By

StartCom Ltd has announced the 5.0.1 update release of their popular StartCom Enterprise Linux two days ago and it brings the latest technologies for any mission-critical server deployments. If you want to try this distribution and don't know how to install it, here is a step-by-step guide on how to achieve that.

I always recommend having an empty hard drive for a Linux installation (that means no other operating system on it, no Windows) and you must have a minimum of 10 GB free space for the StartCom EL installation. Great, now let's begin.

For this installation, I've used the i386 DVD. Burn it on a blank disc with your favorite CD/DVD burning application, then insert the disc in the optical drive of the computer on which you want to install StartCom EL and boot from it. You'll be presented with a very nice StartCom EL custom made GRUB splash and some options. At this part, I simply suggest you to press ENTER, and wait for the installer to appear.

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Select the 'Skip' option when you'll be asked if you want to check the media before installation and press ENTER:

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Anaconda (the Red Hat installer) will load and you'll see the welcome screen. Click Next:

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Choose your language:

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Choose your keyboard layout:

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Now, if you have an empty hard drive, all you have to do is click Next (make sure the "Remove Linux partitions on selected drives and create default layout" option is selected). If you don't have an empty hard drive and you still want to install StartCom EL on your machine, then make sure you select the "Use free space on the selected drives and create default layout" option (10 GB minimum free space is required). Click Next:

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On the next screen, you will review your partition layout. When you're done, click Next:

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Then you can choose where you want to install the GRUB boot loader, or if you don't want to install it. On this screen, you can also add or remove additional GRUB entries, such as another operating system (Windows or Linux). Click the Next button when you're done or if you don't want to modify anything here:

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If you have a DHCP network (dynamic IP address) you can click Next right now, but if you have a static IP address (ask your provider if you're not sure) click the "Edit" button and follow the instructions below.

- If you have an IPv4 address, make sure it's enabled. If you have an IPv6 address make sure it's enabled too (if you don't have an IPv6 address, uncheck the 'Enable IPv6 support' option). - Check the "Manual configuration" option and enter your IP address and the Netmask (ask your provider if you don't know them). Do the same for the IPv6 address (if you have one). - Click OK once you've finished. - Select the 'manually' option. - Optionally, you can setup the system's hostname (e.g. john.doe.startcom). - Enter your Gateway and Primary/Secondary DNS servers (ask your provider if you don't know them).

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When you're done with the network configuration, click Next and you will be asked to select your location (country/city):

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Once you've selected your timezone, click next and you must enter the root (System Administrator) password. The longer, the better (WRITE IT SOMEWHERE OR MEMORIZE IT):

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Now you can select the desired suite of packages that you want to have in the final system. Basic System, GNOME Desktop, Office are the recommended options here, but you can choose whatever you like:

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If you choose the "Customize Now" option, situated in the lower part of the screen, you will be redirected to a screen from where you can select, in detail, what packages will be installed and what packages will not be installed:

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Hit the Next button once you've finished the package selection and everything will be done automatically from now on, just sit back and watch how the partitions are formatted and the software packages are copied to your hard drive, or you can read the latest news while enjoying a cup of coffee. The installation process will take about 10-15 minutes (depending on your computer specs and the selected packages):

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When the installation is over, you will get a "Congratulations, the installation is complete" screen. Click the 'Finish' button and your computer will automatically reboot:

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Remove the DVD from your optical drive and your brand new StartCom Enterprise Linux operating system will start for the first time:

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That's it! Now log in to your new Linux operating system and enjoy a powerful Enterprise OS:

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