Installation guide for Fermi Linux LTS v3.0.x

This web page describes installing for any Scientific Linux Fermi LTS 3.0.x distribution. Simply replace anyplace that says 3.0.x or 30x with the appropriate version number. So if you were installing Scientific Linux Fermi LTS 304, then you would replace 3.0.x with 3.0.4, and 30x with 304 wherever you see it in this document.

Pre-Installation Checklist

You'll need to acquire or know these items before installing Fermi Linux on your system:

• (must have any one of the following)
  • Fermi Linux LTS 30x Install Boot Floppy Disk AND Network Driver Floppy Disk.
    (For laptops)Fermi Linux LTS 30x Install Boot Floppy Disk AND PCMCIA Driver Floppy Disk
  • Fermi Linux LTS 30x Network Install CD-ROM
  • Fermi Linux LTS 30x distribution cd's (set of 3 or 4)

  The latest network install floppies or cd can gotten from the PREP counter at FCC3W or from the Helpdesk at Wilson Hall Ground floor. Or you can make your own by following these instructions.
  Distribution CDROM's are available only for people who are installing systems off-site. They are not available for installation on on-site computers. The reason for this is that we do not want old versions of Fermi Linux on CD's laying around for years to come when there is a new distribution (with enhanced security) available for installation.
  Having said that, CDROM's can be requested by sending email to Connie Sieh and we'll get them to you one way or another.

• (must have if doing network install - optional for cd install)network IP address
  • DHCP
    This is where a IP address and hostname get assigned to your machine for a limited time. Most laptops work this way, where you just plug in your computer and you automatically are on the network. Not all sub-nets at the lab support DHCP.
    If you will be using DHCP during the install, you do not need to figure out your IP address, it will be detected and used automatically.
    • NOTE: If your computer's network card is not registered with Networking, and you attempt to do a DHCP network install onsite, you will an "error: signal 11" when it tries to reach the distribution servers.
      You MUST have your machine registered with networking to do a DHCP network install onsite.
  • Static IP address
    Using a static IP address is the prefered way to network desktop and server machines. You will need to get a IP address from the DataComm Group. This generally takes a day to get into the system.
    The MAC (hardware) address of the ethernet card is needed in order to get a IP address.
    • We are currently determining the easiest way to obtain the MAC address. When we do we will have those instructions here.
    DataComm will supply you with your IP address, along with other information. During the install you will need
    • The IP address (suppliedby DataComm).
    • The network Netmask (suppliedby DataComm with the IP address).
    • The network Default Gateway IP address (supplied by DataComm with the IP address).
• (sometimes needed)The type of monitor you have.
• (sometimes needed)The type of video card in the system including make, model and amount of video memory.
• (rarely needed)The type of ethernet card you have including make and model.
• (optional)A blank DOS formatted 1.44MB floppy to create a rescue boot disk.

Installation Instructions

• Network Install: Note that the very first part of the install is done in text mode. This is because we simply cannot fit the graphical isntallation on a floppy disk. Once you connect to the installation server it will try to startup the graphical install. Until that point, here are a few things to note.
  Use the Tab/Alt-Tab keys to navigate between elements.
  The <space> key selects/deselects items.
• CDROM Install: The first cdrom is bootable if your BIOS supports bootable cdrom's. Most new BIOS's support this feature though, you may have to enable it in the BIOS. If you do not want to boot via the cdrom you can make a floppy to boot from. This will still install via the cdrom.; Use the bootdisk.img and drvblock.img floppy images. For instructions on how to make a install floppy see here. You will need to boot from the bootdisk.img.
• Text Install: For either network or cd-rom install, type in 'linux text' and then return at the very first step.

Click on Image for full size image.
Click on Section Name for detailed instructions.
Sections marked with a ** have default screens inside their section.

Bootup Screen (Enter) or [linux text](Enter)

Driver Disk(Floppy based network install only) [Use a driver disk]

Configure TCP/IP(Network install only)

NFS (or FTP) Setup(Network install only)
You should not see this screen under normal installations. But just incase you do these are the settings

At this point, the installation try's to startup the graphical installation, unless you are doing a text or a ftp installation. If for some reason the installation is unable to startup the graphical mode, then it will run the installation in text mode. Although this is a rare occurance, it does happen from time to time.
At this point, you can also take out the floppy disk, or network install cd if you wish, it is not used again.

Splash Screen

Welcome [Next]

Language Selection(CD-Rom install only) [Next]

Keyboard(CD-Rom install only) [Next]

Mouse Configuration Verify then [Next]

Installation Type Pick Workgroup then [Next]

Disk Partitioning Setup Disk Druid [Next]

Partitioning Partition Correctly then [Next]

Boot Loader Configuration [Next]

Network Configuration Edit if necessary then [Next]

Firewall Configuration No Firewall [Next]

Additional Language Support [Next]

Time Zone Selection [Next]

Set Root Password type in Root's password twice then [Next]

Authentication Configuration [Next]

Package Group Selection Select/Remove desired packages then [Next]

About to Install [Next]

The installation will proceed.
This is the usual time to get a snack or stretch.

Graphical Interface Configuration Verify then [Next]

Monitor Configuration Verify then [Next]

Customize Graphics Configuration Select desired setup then [Next]

Congratuations Remove the floppy or cdrom from the drive [Exit]

NOTE: Although Fermi LTS 3.0.x comes kerberized out of the box with Fermi Kerberos, if you want someone to be able to log into your machine via kerberos, you need to do the following extra steps after your machine is up.

1. get a host key password  from here
   
2. /usr/krb5/config/makehostkeys   (use password from step 1)

Send mail to us at:
E-mail alias:csi-group@fnal.gov