Installing RHEL Linux

About RHEL 9

  • Kernel 5.14

  • Released May 2019

  • Built alongside Fedora 34

  • Installer program = Anaconda

  • Default bootloader = GRUB2

  • Default automatic partitioning = /boot, /, swap

  • Default desktop environment = GNOME

Installation Logs

/root/anaconda-ks.cfg - Configuration entered during installation

/var/log/anaconda/anaconda.log - Contains informational, debug, and other general messages

/var/log/anaconda/journal.log - Stores messages generated by many services and components during system installation

/var/log/anaconda/packaging.log - Records messages generated by the dnf and rpm commands during software installation

/var/log/anaconda/program.log - Captures messages generated by external programs

/var/log/anaconda/storage.log - Records messages generated by storage modules

/var/log/anaconda/syslog - Records messages related to the kernel

/var/log/anaconda/X.log - Stores X Window System information

Note: Logs are created in /tmp and then transferred to /var/log/anaconda once the installation is finished.

6 Virtual Consoles

  • Monitor the installation process.

  • View diagnostic messages.

  • Discover and fix any issues encountered.

  • Information displayed on the console screens is captured in installation log files.

Console 1 (Ctrl+Alt+F1)

  • Main screen

  • Select language

  • Then switches the default console to 6

Console 2 (Ctrl+Alt+F2)

  • Shell interface for the root user

Console 3 (Ctrl+Alt+F3)

  • Displays installation messages

  • Stores them in /tmp/anaconda.log

  • Information on detected hardware, etc.

Console 4 (Ctrl+Alt+F4)

  • Shows storage messages

  • Stores them in /tmp/storage.log

Console 5 (Ctrl+Alt+F5)

  • Program messages

  • Stores them in /tmp/program.log

Console 6 (Ctrl+Alt+F6)

  • Default graphical configuration and installation console screen

Console 1 brings you to the login screen. Console 2 does nothing. Consoles 3-6 all bring you to the login screen.

Lab Setup

VM1

server1.example.com
192.168.0.110
Memory: 2 GB
Storage: 1x20 GB
2 vCPUs

VM2

server2.example.com
192.168.0.120
Memory: 2048 MB
Storage: 1x20 GB
    4x250 MB data disks
    1x5 GB data disk
2 vCPUs

Setting Up VM1

Download the ISO from Red Hat’s website:

https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/rhel

Name the VM RHEL9-VM1 and accept the defaults.

Set the drive size to 20 GB.

Press Space to halt autoboot.

Select Install.

Select language.

Configure the timezone under Time & Date.

Go into Installation Destination and click Done.

Network & Hostname Settings

  1. Change the hostname to server1.example.com

  2. Go to IPv4 Settings in Network & Hostname and set:

    • Method: Manual

    • Address: 192.168.0.110

    • Netmask: 24

    • Gateway: 192.168.0.1

    • Save

  3. Slide the On/Off switch in the main menu to On

Set the root password.

Change the Boot Order

  1. Power off the VM.

  2. Set the boot sequence to:

    • Hard Disk first

    • Optical Drive second

    • Remove Floppy

Accept the license terms and create a user.

SSH from the host OS using PuTTY.

Issue these commands after setup:

whoami
hostname
pwd
logout
# or press Ctrl+D

Using Cockpit

  • Web GUI for managing RHEL systems

  • Comes pre-installed

    • If not installed:
sudo dnf install cockpit
  • Enable the Cockpit socket:
sudo systemctl enable --now cockpit.socket
  • Access via:
https://your-ip:9090

Labs

Lab: Enable Cockpit

sudo systemctl enable --now cockpit.socket

In a web browser, go to:

https://<your-ip>:9090