This tutorial provides step by step guide on how to install RHEL 7.

Each step is explained in detail

with screenshot.

This tutorial explains RHEL 7 installation process from the first screen that we will interact after
booting system from RHEL installation media.

On First screen we have three options :-

Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 :- Select this option to start installation process immediately.

Test this media & install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 :- Select this option to test the installation
media before installation. Make sure you have sufficient time if selecting this option.

Troubleshooting:- Select this option for troubleshooting. This option contains four sub-options :-

Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 in basic graphics mode :- Select this option to install RHEL 7.2
with generic graphic driver. If normal installation failed with black screen, restart the computer and
try this option.

Rescue a Red Hat Enterprise Linux system :- Select this option to repair the existing RHEL system.

Run a memory test :- Select this option to run a memory test.

Boot from local drive :- Select this option if you have accidentally booted the system with this
installation disk. This option will abort the installation process immediately and boot the system from
hard disk.
Kernel Boot option :- By default this option is not listed here, to get this option we have to press the
Tab key. Kernel boot option is used to access the minimum required OS environment for
troubleshooting the existing operating system.

If we dont select any option here, installation process will start automatically with the default option
in 60 seconds. Default option is Test this media & install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2.

Select first option to start the installation process. Hit Enter key to confirm the action.

Usually operating systems uses an installation program which performs all necessary tasks during the
installation process with user permission and choice wherever applicable. RHEL uses Anaconda
installer program for installation.

In a few seconds anaconda will load in memory. Once loaded, it will handle the installation process.
The first information which anaconda needs is Language & Keyboard Setting that we want to use
during the installation process.

This Language and Keyboard Setting will be used only for installation unless we keep the same
Language and Keyboard Setting when Anaconda asks for Language and Keyboard Setting in next
step.

If we change it there then that will be used RHEL after installation and this will be used for
installation purpose only.

Select appropriate Language & Keyboard Setting for installation and click Continue.
Unlike other installer programs which require user input for configuration values in a pre-defined
sequence, anaconda uses a single screen for most configuration values which can be configured in any
order. Some values are automatically configured based on system hardware and installation media
type. If requires, we can also change these pre-selected values. Until all necessary configuration values
are configured, Continue button will not highlight.
We have seven different options here:-

1. Date & Time

2. Keyboard
3. Language Support
4. Installation Source
5. Software Selection
6. Installation Destination
7. Network & Hostname

Lets configure above options one by one

Date & Time

This option allows us to set date, time, time zone and network time. To select time zone we have two
options; either select from drop down box or click the time zone of our area in map.

If network card is configured and system is connected with Internet, we can use network time. This
option will not work until we configure the network first.

Set the Date & Time and Time Zone and click Done.

Keyboard Layout
This option is used for following purpose:-
 To change default Keyboard Layout
To install multiple Keyboard Layout.

The screen is divided in two panes. Left pane is used to Add/ Remove Keyboard Layout while right
pane is used to test the selected layout.

If we dont change the Keyboard Layout in this option, default Keyboard Layout ( Layout that we have
selected on welcome screen) will be used.

Select the appropriate Keyboard Layout and click Done.

Language Supports
This option is used to set the Language of RHEL. Just like Keyboard Layout, either we can keep the
default Language (the language which we have selected on welcome screen) or select a new language
for RHEL. If we want to use the same language then no change is required here. If we want to use the
other language then select that and click Done.

Installation Source
RHEL can be installed from multiple sources. This option allows us to select the location of RHEL
media.

Auto-detected installation media

If we have used RHEL installation disk to boot the system and want to use the same disk to install the
RHEL then no option need to change here, just keep default setting. Correct source will be detected
automatically. If needed, we can test installation media with Verify option. This option is the same
option that we have seen on first screen (Test this media & Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 )

If we have used minimal boot environment to boot the system then we have to provide the location
where RHEL installation disk is stored. Installer supports following locations:-

ISO File

This option allows us to install RHEL from the IOS file that is stored locally. Since this option
searches IOS file in local drives, it will be available only if installer program detect a partitioned hard
drive with mountable file system. If you dont see this option then its mean that hard disk does not
contain any mountable file system. Either it is a blank hard disk or contains a file system which
cannot be mounted.

On the network

This option allows us to install Linux from network. Usually network installation is used in companies
where installation need to be perform on several computers. Suppose we have a single RHEL
installation disk and need to install Linux on 100 computers. In this situation if we perform
installation one by one on each system, it may take up to 3 days. Network installation reduces this
time in hours.
Through network installation we can install Linux simultaneously on all computers. In Network
installation we make a copy of RHEL installation disk on central location and access it on all
computers. RHEL supports various network protocol to access the centralized installation media such
as http, https, ftp and nfs.

Depending on our selection rest of options will be appear or disappear. For example if we select On
the network with http:// (network protocol) then URL filed will be appear to provide the location of
installation media.

If we want to install RHEL from auto detected installation disk then nothing need to be change here.
Software Selection
This option allows us to customize our installation. RHEL can be used on various platforms. Different
platforms need different tools. For example a developers workstation requires web development tools
such as C, C++, JAVA, PHP etc. While a Server system needs server tools such NFS Server, DNS
Server, FTP Server etc. Tools are grouped in packages and organized into the Base environments.

A base environment is a set of pre-defined packages for a specific purpose; for example Basic Web
Server environment contains a set of software packages which are usually requires to run a web
server.

Each base environment can be further customized with additional Add-ons packages. We are allowed
to select only one base environment.

If you are setting up this system for RHCE training or practice, select
Server with GUI base environment.

Select the appropriate base environment and click Done.

Installation Destination
This screen contains three options; disk option, partition option, encryption option.

Disk option (Compulsory)

This option is used to specify the location where we want to install the RHEL.

Local Standard Disks :- This option lists all detected local disks. To install RHEL on any of these
disks, select that.

Specialized & Network Disks :- This option lists all network disks including any specialized disks such
as raid array devices. To install RHEL on any of these disks, select that.

Add a disk :- If you dont want to install RHEL on any available disk, use this option to install a new
disk.

We must have to select at least one disk to install the RHEL.

If we select RAID device, we must have to create /boot partition separately outside the RAID array.
We may use internal or local hard drive for this purpose.
Before installer can install RHEL in selected disk, it must be partitioned with Linux file system.

Partition Options (Compulsory)

We have two options for partitioning; automatic and manual.

Automatically configure partitioning:- If we select this option, installer will create all necessary
partition automatically on selected disk (in above option). This option accepts one more parameter.

I would like to make additional space available :- If we select this checkbox, installer will use only
the specified disk space from available space. Remain disk space will be kept untouched. We can use
remaining unallocated space in other operating system.

I Will Configure Partitioning :- If we select this option, we have to create all necessary partitions
manually. (Explained shortly)

We must have to select one partitioning option. There is no hard and fast rule about which option
should you choose. If we select automatic partitioning, no further steps require in this option but if we
select manual partitioning, we have to create necessary partition manually.

Encrypt my data (Optional)

This option is used to encrypt all partitions excepts /boot. Partitions are encrypted through the Linux
Unified Key Setup utility. If we select this option, we have to provide a passphrase in next screen.

ON JOB
If you decided to use this option, make sure you keep passphrase safely.
If you forget the passphrase, forget about the data stored in encrypted
partition. There is no way to recover a lost passphrase. No trick, no
method, no utility can help you to recover the encrypted data. Even if you
have paid subscription from RHEL, support team will not be able to assist
you on this matter.

If you are setting up this system for RHCE training or practice, use manual partition with following
partitions layout.

/ (10 Gb)
/boot (500 Mb)
/home (1Gb)
Swap (1Gb)
Unallocated space (at least 2Gb)

Manual partitions
Manual partitioning screen will appear only if we have selected I will configure partitioning in
Installation Destination option. This screen allows us to configure disk partitions and mount
points manually.
This screen is divided in two panes; left and right. Right pane shows the configuration options for
selected partition from left pane. Left pane shows the existing partitions with partition management
options; Add, Remove and Cancel. If installer program does not detect any existing partition then this
pane would display only information about creating mount points. Total disk space and available
space are displayed below the pane.

Minimum requirement for RHEL installation is only one partition / (root partition). But I suggest
you to create at least four partitions.

/boot :- This partition contains kernel and other necessary files which are required to boot the
system. If we dont create this partition separately then installer will automatically create this
partition and mount with root partition. Keeping this partition with root partition has two issues

If root partition is larger than 2TB then system will not be able to access /boot partition during
the startup. To solve this issue, either keep root partition less than 2TB or mount /boot
partition on a separate disk which has size less than 2 TB.
If root partition is mounted in RAID array device then some BISO will not be able to access
/boot partition during the startup. Again to solve this issue either mount entire root partition
on a standard disk or mount /boot partition separately (on standard disk).
In both case first option is not suitable. But we can opt for second option easily. Having a separate
/boot partition also makes troubleshooting easy. By creating a separate /boot partition, virtually we
are limiting booting problem with in a partition.

Minimum recommended size for /boot partition is 500MB. Since it contains only booting files, any
space more than 1Gb will be useless.

/ (Root partition) :- This is the main and compulsory partition of any Linux system. This partition
contains the top level directory in Linux file system. Linux starts with this directory. Unless we assign
a separate mount point (such as /boot or /home)all files and directories will be written in this
partition.

Minimum recommended size for this is partition is 5Gb. But I suggest you to allocate at least 10Gb for
this partition. 10Gb is the sufficient size for most common packages.

On JOB
Dont confuse with /root directory which is the home directory of root
user. / stand for root partition while /root stand for the home directory
of the root user.

/home :- By default Linux stores users data in this partition. It is a common practice to keep user
data separate from system data in work environment. This way we can upgrade or reinstall RHEL
without touching user data.

Minimum recommended size for this partition is 1GB.

Swap :- This partition works as virtual memory. System may use this virtual memory, if there is no
enough space in RAM to process the data. Make sure we understand it correctly, it is not an actual
RAM. It is only an additional hard disk space that can used as RAM to handle the extra load. To
determine the extra load we have to look at the applications which will run on this system. Based on
applications requirement we can adjust the size of swap space. If we are unsure about the applications
which will run on this system, we may use following recommended size for swap space by Red Hat.

Recommended Swap Space by Red Hat

Physical RAM Recommended Swap Space Recommended Swap Space if hibernation

is used
Less than 2 GB 2 times of RAM 3 times of RAM
2GB to 8GB Equal to RAM 2 times of RAM
8GB to 64 GB 0.5 time of RAM 1.5 times of RAM
More than 64GB Workload dependent hibernation not recommended

Okay now we know the minimum recommended partition lets create them one by one.

/boot

Click Add button, Select /boot from dropdown, Allocate the size and click Add mount point.
/ (Root Partition)

Click again Add button and select / (root partition) from mount point drop down. Enter desire
size of partition and click Add mount point. We can use standard size units such as kilobytes,
megabytes, gigabytes, or terabytes. Megabytes is the default unit.

Repeat same process again and add swap partition.

Finally add home partition by following same steps.

If you want to correct any configuration, use right pane. As I mentioned earlier, right pane shows the
configuration option for selected partition from left pane.
 Mount Point : The point, where this partition will attach with partition table.

Desired Capacity : The size of partition. Default unit size is Mb.

Device type : Contain the list of supportive device types. More options may appear or disappear
based on selection.

File System :- File system of selected partition.

Label :- Label of selected partition. Labels are used to recognize the partition.

Name :- Name of selected partition. We are not allowed to change the name of standard partition
such /home.

When you are finished Click Done button from upper left corner.

Before writing these change to disk, installer will present a summary of changes. If everything is fine,
click Accept changes otherwise click Cancel & Return to custom partitioning.

Security Policy
Before RHEL 7.2 this option was available as add-on. From RHEL 7.2 this option is available on
installation summary screen. It allows us to install RHEL under the several restriction and
recommendation defined by Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) standard. Rules and
recommendation are grouped in packages.
If you select any profile except the default, RHEL will be installed using the restrictions and
recommendations defined in that profile.

In LAB environment we should use default profile which contain no rules.

Network & Hostname

This option allows us to configure hostname and NIC card. By default network card is disabled. Before
configuration we have to enable it. Once enabled, it will obtain necessary configuration automatically
from DHCP server. If there is no DHCP sever in network, we have to configure these setting
manually.

Use Configure button to assign IP addresses and other values statically.

Left bottom corner has a text filed for host name. Default host name is localhost.localdomain.

After updating hostname and network configuration click Done.

Once we are done with all configuration options in installation summary screen click Begin
Installation.

Once clicked, installation process will start immediately.

While installation process is going on, installer program will prompt us for setting up password for
root user. Root is the default administrator account in Linux system. Click Root password

If we want to use a weak password, we have to click Done button twice. Using a weak password (such
as 123456 or ABCDEFG) is common in LAB environment. But it is strongly recommended, never use
such a weak password in production environment.

Next click User Setting and create a normal user account. A normal user account need three values:-

Full Name :- name of user

User Name :- user name of user

Password :- password for user account.

We can also configure advance options (such as home directory, login option) but they are not
necessary at this moment.
Now wait till installer finish the first part of installation. A system reboot is required to launch the
second and final part of installation.

Click Reboot

After rebooting final part of installation will begin. It contains only two steps; Accept the license
agreement and register the system with Red Hat network.
Once we accept the license Finish Configuration button will be highlighted, click it to access the
graphical login prompt. Login with the user account that we have created during the installation.
Since we logging in graphic mode first time, Gnome will present initial setup wizard.

Select Language
Select Keyboard Layout

If system is connected with internet, gnome will prompt you to connect with your online accounts.
Skip it.
Thats all information gnome needs. Click Start using Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server.

We have successfully install RHEL 7.2.

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