Fedora 8 Installation Guide

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The installation procedure is fairly simple, and consists of only a few steps:

Do any one of the following:

Back up any user data you need to preserve, and if necessary, resize existing partitions to make room for Fedora. To resize your NTFS partition from the Fedora installer, use the ntfsresize and fdisk commands.

Use Ctrl+Alt+F2 to switch to a virtual terminal from the installation program if you are not using a Live CD. Perform any resize operations before proceeding to the installer's partitioning options.

Boot from the desired media, with any options appropriate for your hardware and installation mode. Refer to Appendix A, Boot Options for more information about boot options. If you boot from the Live CD, select the "Install to Hard Disk" option from the menu to run the installation program. If you boot from minimal media or a downloaded kernel, select a network or hard disk resource from which to install.

Proceed through all the steps of the installation program. The installation program does not change your system until you make a final confirmation to proceed. When installation is finished, reboot your system.

After the system reboots, it displays additional configuration options. Make appropriate changes to your system and proceed to the login prompt.

The Fedora Project distributes Fedora in many ways, most of which are free of cost and downloadable over the Internet. The most common distribution method is CD and DVD media. There are several types of CD and DVD media available, including:

Most users want either the Live image or the full set of installable software on DVD. The minimal boot CD image is suitable for users who have a fast Internet connection and only want to install Fedora on one computer. Source code discs are not used for installing Fedora, but are useful to experienced users and software developers.

Downloading media

Users with a broadband Internet connection can download ISO images of CD and DVD media or images of USB flash disks. An ISO image is a copy of an entire disc in a format suitable for writing directly to a CD or DVD. A USB flash disk image is a copy of an entire disk in a format suitable for writing directly to a USB flash disk. For more information on burning CDs and DVDs, refer to Section 3.4, “How Do I Make Fedora Media?”.

Fedora software is available for download at no cost in a variety of ways.

3.1.2. From BitTorrent

BitTorrent is a way to download information in cooperation with other computers. Each computer cooperating in the group downloads pieces of the information in a particular torrent from other peers in the group. Computers that have finished downloading all the data in a torrent remain in the swarm to seed, or provide data to other peers. If you download using BitTorrent, as a courtesy you should seed the torrent at least until you have uploaded at least the same amount of data you downloaded.

If your computer does not have software installed for BitTorrent, visit the BitTorrent home page at http://www.bittorrent.com/download/ to download it. BitTorrent client software is available for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and many other operating systems.

You do not need to find a special mirror for BitTorrent files. The BitTorrent protocol ensures that your computer participates in a nearby group. To download and use the Fedora BitTorrent files, visit http://torrent.fedoraproject.org/.

	Minimal Boot Images
	Minimal boot CD and USB flash disk images are not available through BitTorrent.

Releases are separated by architecture, or type of computer processor. Use the following table to determine the architecture of your computer according to the type of processor. Consult your manufacturer's documentation for details on the processor if necessary.

	i386 Works for Most Windows Compatible Computers
	If you are unsure what type of processor your computer has, and you are not using an Apple Macintosh, choose i386.

You have several options to download Fedora. Read the options below to decide which is best for you.

The architecture type appears in the name of the downloadable files for each Fedora distribution. For example, the file for the DVD distribution of Fedora 8 for x86_64 is named F-8-x86_64-DVD.iso. Refer to Section 3.2, “Which Architecture Is My Computer?” if you are unsure of your computer's architecture.

The following table explains where to find the desired files on a mirror site.

To make media, choose one of the following options:

If you do not have a fast Internet connection, or if you have a problem creating boot media, downloading may not be an option. Fedora DVD and CD distribution media is available from a number of online sources around the world at a minimal cost. Use your favorite Web search engine to locate a vendor, or refer to http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Distribution.

To start the installation program from minimal boot media, the rescue CD, or the distribution DVD, follow this procedure:

You may need to hit a specific key or combination of keys to boot from the media, or configure your system's Basic Input/Output System, or BIOS, to boot from the media. On most computers you must select the boot or BIOS option promptly after turning on the computer. Most Windows-compatible computer systems use a special key such as F1, F2, F12, or Del to start the BIOS configuration menu. On Apple computers, the C key boots the system from the DVD drive.

	Configuring the BIOS
	If you are not sure what capabilities your computer has, or how to configure the BIOS, consult the documentation provided by the manufacturer. Detailed information on hardware specifications and configuration is beyond the scope of this document.

The boot media displays a graphical boot menu with several options. If no key is hit within 60 seconds, the default boot option runs. To choose the default, either wait for the timer to run out or hit Enter on the keyboard. To select a different option than the default, use the arrow keys on your keyboard, and hit Enter when the correct option is highlighted. If you want to customize the boot options for a particular option, hit the Tab key.

	Using Boot Options
	For a listing and explanation of common boot options, refer to Appendix A, Boot Options.

If you boot the Live CD, the options include:

If you boot the DVD, rescue CD, or minimal boot media, the boot menu options include:

All boot media except the distribution DVD present a menu that allows you to choose the installation source, such as the network or a hard disk. If you are booting the distribution DVD and do not want to install from the DVD, hit Tab at the boot menu. Add a space and the option askmethod to the end of the line that appears below the menu.

You can install Fedora from the ISO images stored on hard disk, or from a network using NFS, FTP, or HTTP methods. Experienced users frequently use one of these methods because it is often faster to read data from a hard disk or network server than from a CD or DVD.

The following table summarizes the different boot methods and recommended installation methods to use with each:

Chapter 6, Installation Methods contains detailed information about installing from alternate locations.

The distribution DVD media and the Live CD media offer an option to verify the integrity of the media. Recording errors sometimes occur while producing CD or DVD media in home computer equipment. An error in the data for package chosen in the installation program can cause the installation to abort. To minimize the chances of data errors affecting the installation, verify the media before installing.

To boot with PXE, you need a properly configured server, and a network interface in your computer that supports PXE. For information on how to configure a PXE server, refer to Appendix C, Setting Up an Installation Server.

Configure the computer to boot from the network interface. This option is in the BIOS, and may be labeled Network Boot or Boot Services. Once you properly configure PXE booting, the computer can boot the Fedora installation system without any other media.

To boot a computer from a PXE server:

	PXE Troubleshooting
	If your PC does not boot from the netboot server, ensure that the BIOS is configured to boot first from the correct network interface. Some BIOS systems specify the network interface as a possible boot device, but do not support the PXE standard. Refer to your hardware documentation for more information.

If one of the following situations occurs, the installation program uses a text mode:

The text screens provide the same functions as the standard screens. You can configure your system for graphical interface use after installation.

	Graphical Interface Usage
	Installing in text mode does not prevent you from using a graphical interface on your system once it is installed. If you have trouble configuring your system for graphical interface use, consult other sources for troubleshooting help as shown in Section 1.1.2, “Getting Additional Help”.

The installation program displays a list of languages supported by Fedora. Highlight the correct language on the list and select Next.

To select support for additional languages, customize the installation at the package selection stage. For more information, refer to Section 14.2.2, “Additional Language Support”.

	Installing from Fedora Live Image
	If you install from a Fedora Live image, you may not see a locale selection screen. For additional locale support, use the Add/Remove Software application after you boot your newly installed Fedora system, following installation.

The installation program display a list of the keyboard layouts supported by Fedora. Highlight the correct layout on the list, and select Next.

	CD/DVD Activity
	If you booted with the Fedora distribution DVD, the installation program loads its next stage from that disc. This happens regardless of which installation method you choose, unless you eject the disc before you proceed. The installation program still downloads package data from the source you choose.

Even if you booted from alternative media, you can still install Fedora from CD or DVD media. Alternately, you can install from ISO images stored on your computer's hard disk, or from a network server.

Once you have booted your computer, you may use ISO image files of the Fedora discs to continue the installation process. The ISO files must be located on a hard drive that is either internal to the computer, or attached to the machine by USB. You can use this option to install Fedora on computers that have neither a network connection nor CD or DVD drives.

The partition on the hard drive holding the ISO files must be formatted with the ext2, ext3 or vfat file system. In Fedora, vfat includes a range of file systems, such as FAT-16 and FAT-32, found on most removable media. External hard drives usually contain vfat (FAT-32) file systems. Some Microsoft Windows systems also use vfat file systems on internal hard disk partitions.

Before you begin installation from a hard drive, check the partition type to ensure that Fedora can read it. To check a partition's file system under Windows, use the Disk Management tool. To check a partition's file system under Linux, use the fdisk utility.

	Cannot Install from LVM Partitions
	You cannot use ISO files on partitions controlled by LVM (Logical Volume Management).

Select the partition containing the ISO files from the list of available partitions. Internal IDE, SATA, SCSI, and USB drive device names begin with /dev/sd. Each individual drive has its own letter, for example /dev/sda. Each partition on a drive is numbered, for example /dev/sda1.

Also specify the Directory holding images. Enter the full directory path from the drive that contains the ISO image files. The following table shows some examples of how to enter this information:

Select OK to continue. Proceed with Chapter 7, Welcome Dialog.

The installation program is network-aware and can use network settings for a number of functions. For instance, you can install Fedora from a network server using FTP, HTTP, or NFS protocols. You can also instruct the installation program to consult additional software repositories later in the process.

By default, the installation program uses DHCP to automatically provide network settings. If you use a cable or DSL modem, router, firewall, or other network hardware to communicate with the Internet, DHCP is a suitable option. In a business environment, consult with your network administrators for appropriate settings. If your network has no DHCP server, clear the check box labeled Use dynamic IP configuration (DHCP).

The installation program supports both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols. If you are not sure which addressing scheme your network uses, it is safe to leave both options selected. Refer also to Chapter 11, Network Configuration for more information on configuring your network.

	DHCP Responses Take Time
	If you select options for a protocol not used on your network, or vice versa, it may take additional time to receive network settings from the DHCP server.

These settings apply only during the installation process. The installation program allows you to configure the final network configuration later.

You can install from a Web, FTP, or NFS server either on your local network or, if you are connected, on the Internet. You may install Fedora from your own private mirror, or use one of the public mirrors maintained by members of the community. To ensure that the connection is as fast and reliable as possible, use a server that is close to your own geographical location.

The Fedora Project maintains a list of HTTP and FTP public mirrors, sorted by region, at http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mirrors. To determine the complete directory path for the installation files, add /8/Fedora/architecture/os/ to the path shown on the web page. A correct mirror location for an i386 system resembles the URL http://mirror.example.com/pub/fedora/linux/releases/8/Fedora/i386/os.

To install from a NFS server, select NFS from the Installation Method menu and select OK. Enter the name or IP address of the NFS server and the directory where the installation files reside.

	NFS Mirror Availability
	Public NFS mirrors are rare due to security concerns with NFS that do not necessarily apply to FTP or HTTP servers. The Fedora Project does not maintain a list of public NFS mirrors for Fedora.

Select OK to continue. Proceed with Chapter 7, Welcome Dialog.

To install from a FTP server, select FTP from the Installation Method menu and select OK. Enter the name or IP address of the FTP server and the directory where the installation files reside.

Select OK to continue. If you are using the default, anonymous FTP service, continue with Chapter 7, Welcome Dialog.

To install from a Web (HTTP) server, select HTTP from the Installation Method menu and select OK.

Enter the name or IP address of the Web server and the directory where the installation files reside. Select OK to continue. Proceed with Chapter 7, Welcome Dialog.

If no readable partition tables are found on existing hard disks, the installation program asks to initialize the hard disk. This operation makes any existing data on the hard disk unreadable. If your system has a brand new hard disk with no operating system installed, or you have removed all partitions on the hard disk, answer Yes.

Certain RAID systems or other nonstandard configurations may be unreadable to the installation program and the aforementioned prompt may appear. The installation program responds to the physical disk structures it is able to detect.

	Detach Unneeded Disks
	If you have a nonstandard disk configuration that can be detached during installation and detected and configured afterward, power off the system, detach it, and restart the installation.

If your system contains a Fedora or Red Hat Linux installation, a dialog appears asking whether you want to upgrade that installation. To perform an upgrade of an existing system, choose the appropriate installation from the drop-down list and select Next.

	Manually Installed Software
	Software which you have installed manually on your existing Fedora or Red Hat Linux system may behave differently after an upgrade. You may need to manually recompile this software after an upgrade to ensure it performs correctly on the updated system.

	Installations are Recommended
	In general, the Fedora Project recommends that you keep user data on a separate /home partition and perform a fresh installation. For more information on partitions and how to set them up, refer to Chapter 9, Disk Partitioning.

If you choose to upgrade your system using the installation program, any software not provided by Fedora that conflicts with Fedora software is overwritten. Before you begin an upgrade this way, make a list of your system's current packages for later reference:

rpm -qa --qf '%{NAME} %{VERSION}-%{RELEASE} %{ARCH}\n' > ~/old-pkglist.txt

After installation, consult this list to discover which packages you may need to rebuild or retrieve from non-Fedora software repositories.

Next, make a backup of any system configuration data:

su -c 'tar czf /tmp/etc-`date +%F`.tar.gz	/etc'
mv /tmp/etc-*.tar.gz ~

You should also make a complete backup of any important data before performing an upgrade. Important data may include the contents of your entire /home directory as well as content from services such as an Apache, FTP, or SQL server, or a source code management system. Although upgrades are not destructive, if you perform one improperly there is a small possibility of data loss.

	Storing Backups
	Note that the above examples store backup materials in a /home directory. If your /home directory is not a separate partition, you should not follow these examples verbatim! Store your backups on another device such as CD or DVD discs or an external hard disk.

For more information on completing the upgrade process later, refer to Section 18.2, “Finishing an Upgrade”.

Your completed Fedora installation must be registered in the boot loader to boot properly. A boot loader is software on your machine that locates and starts the operating system. Refer to Chapter 10, Boot Loader for more information about boot loaders.

If the existing boot loader was installed by a Linux distribution, the installation system can modify it to load the new Fedora system. To update the existing Linux boot loader, select Update boot loader configuration. This is the default behavior when you upgrade an existing Fedora or Red Hat Linux installation.

GRUB is the standard boot loader for Fedora. If your machine uses another boot loader, such as BootMagic™, System Commander™, or the loader installed by Microsoft Windows, then the Fedora installation system cannot update it. In this case, select Skip boot loader updating. When the installation process completes, refer to the documentation for your product for assistance.

Install a new boot loader as part of an upgrade process only if you are certain you want to replace the existing boot loader. If you install a new boot loader, you may not be able to boot other operating systems on the same machine until you have configured the new boot loader. Select Create new boot loader configuration to remove the existing boot loader and install GRUB.

After you make your selection, click Next to continue.

A Fedora system has at least three partitions:

Many systems have more partitions than the minimum listed above. Choose partitions based on your particular system needs. For example, consider creating a separate /home partition on systems that store user data. Refer to Section 9.4, “Advice on Partitions” for more information.

If you are not sure how best to configure the partitions for your computer, accept the default partition layout.

The RAM installed in your computer provides a pool of memory for running systems. Linux systems use swap partitions to expand this pool, by automatically moving portions of memory between RAM and swap partitions if insufficient RAM is available. In addition, certain power management features store all of the memory for a suspended system in the available swap partitions. If you manually specify the partitions on your system, create one swap partition that has more capacity than the computer RAM.

Data partitions provide storage for files. Each data partition has a mount point, to indicate the system directory whose contents reside on that partition. A partition with no mount point is not accessible by users. Data not located on any other partition resides in the / (or root) partition.

	Root and /root
	The / (or root) partition is the top of the directory structure. The /root (sometimes pronounced "slash-root") directory is the home directory of the user account for system administration.

In the minimum configuration shown above:

Subdirectories may be assigned to partitions as well. Some administrators create both /usr and /usr/local partitions. In that case, files under /usr/local, such as /usr/local/bin/foo, are on the /usr/local partition. Any other files in /usr/, such as /usr/bin/foo, are in the /usr partition.

If you create many partitions instead of one large / partition, upgrades become easier. Refer to the description of Disk Druid's Edit option for more information.

	Leave Excess Capacity Unallocated
	Only assign storage capacity to those partitions you require immediately. You may allocate free space at any time, to meet needs as they occur. To learn about a more flexible method for storage management, refer to Section 9.3, “Understanding LVM”.

LVM (Logical Volume Management) partitions provide a number of advantages over standard partitions. LVM partitions are formatted as physical volumes. One or more physical volumes are combined to form a volume group. Each volume group's total storage is then divided into one or more logical volumes. The logical volumes function much like standard partitions. They have a file system type, such as ext3, and a mount point.

	The /boot Partition and LVM
	The boot loader cannot read LVM volumes. You must make a standard, non-LVM disk partition for your /boot partition.

To understand LVM better, imagine the physical volume as a pile of blocks. A block is simply a storage unit used to store data. Several piles of blocks can be combined to make a much larger pile, just as physical volumes are combined to make a volume group. The resulting pile can be subdivided into several smaller piles of arbitrary size, just as a volume group is allocated to several logical volumes.

An administrator may grow or shrink logical volumes without destroying data, unlike standard disk partitions. If the physical volumes in a volume group are on separate drives or RAID arrays then administrators may also spread a logical volume across the storage devices.

You may lose data if you shrink a logical volume to a smaller capacity than the data on the volume requires. To ensure maximum flexibility, create logical volumes to meet your current needs, and leave excess storage capacity unallocated. You may safely grow logical volumes to use unallocated space, as your needs dictate.

	LVM and the Default Partition Layout
	By default, the installation process creates / and swap partitions within LVM volumes, with a separate /boot partition.

Optimal partition setup depends on the usage for the Linux system in question. The following tips may help you decide how to allocate your disk space.

The following table is a possible partition setup for a system with a single, new 80 GB hard disk and 1 GB of RAM. Note that approximately 10 GB of the volume group is unallocated to allow for future growth.

	Example Usage
	This setup is not optimal for all use cases.

Disk Druid is an interactive program for editing disk partitions. Users run it only within the Fedora installation system. Disk Druid enables you to configure Linux software RAID and LVM to provide more extensible and reliable data storage.

	Modifying the Default LVM Layout
	The default layout pools all of the available storage into a single LVM physical volume, with one LVM logical volume for the system. To make capacity available for additional partitions, Edit the logical volume with the mount point /, and reduce its size as necessary.

Disk Druid displays the following actions in the installation program:

After you finish setting up and reviewing your partition configuration, select Next to continue the installation process.

By default, the installation program installs GRUB in the master boot record, or MBR, of the device for the root file system. To decline installation of a new boot loader, select No boot loader will be installed.

	Boot Loader Required
	Your computer must have GRUB or another boot loader installed in order to start, unless you create a separate startup disk to boot from.

You may need to customize the GRUB installation to correctly support some hardware or system configurations. To specify compatibility settings, select Configure advanced boot loader options. This causes a second screen of options to appear when you choose Next. Section 10.4, “Advanced Boot Loader Options” explains the features of the additional screen.

If you have other operating systems already installed, Fedora attempts to automatically detect and configure GRUB to boot them. You may manually configure any additional operating systems if GRUB does not detect them.

To add, remove, or change the detected operating system settings, use the options provided.

GRUB reads many file systems without the help of an operating system. An operator can interrupt the booting sequence to choose a different operating system to boot, change boot options, or recover from a system error. However, these functions may introduce serious security risks in some environments. You can add a password to GRUB so that the operator must enter the password to interrupt the normal boot sequence.

	GRUB Passwords Not Required
	You may not require a GRUB password if your system only has trusted operators, or is physically secured with controlled console access. However, if an untrusted person can get physical access to your computer's keyboard and monitor, that person can reboot the system and access GRUB. A password is helpful in this case.

To set a boot password, select the Use a boot loader password check box. The Change password button will become active. Select Change password to display an entry dialog. Type the desired password, and then confirm it by typing it again in the spaces provided.

	Choose a Good Password
	Choose a password that is easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess.

The default boot options are adequate for most situations. The installation program writes the GRUB boot loader in the master boot record (MBR), overwriting any existing boot loader.

You may keep your current boot loader in the MBR and install GRUB as a secondary boot loader. If you choose this option, the installer program will write GRUB to the first sector of the Linux /boot partition.

	GRUB as a Secondary Boot Loader
	If you install GRUB as a secondary boot loader, you must reconfigure your primary boot loader whenever you install and boot from a new kernel. The kernel of an operating system such as Microsoft Windows does not boot in the same fashion. Most users therefore use GRUB as the primary boot loader on dual-boot systems.

You may also need the advanced options if your BIOS enumerates your drives or RAID arrays differently than Fedora expects. If necessary, use the Change Drive Order dialog to set the order of the devices in Fedora to match your BIOS.

On a few systems, Fedora may not configure the disk drive geometry for large disks correctly because of limitations within the BIOS. To work around this problem, mark the Force LBA32 check box.

The Linux kernel usually auto-detects its environment correctly, and no additional kernel parameters are needed. However, you may provide any needed kernel parameter using the advanced boot loader options.

	Kernel Parameters
	For a partial list of the kernel command line parameters, type the following command in a terminal window: man bootparam. For a comprehensive and authoritative list, refer to the documentation provided in the kernel sources.

To alter any of these settings, mark the Configure advanced boot loader options check box. Select Next and the advanced boot options menu appears.

	Optional Menu
	Fedora displays the advanced boot options menu only if the advanced configuration check box described above has been selected.

Fedora displays a list of network interfaces detected on your computer. Each interface must have a unique IP address on the network to which it is attached. The interface may receive this address from the network DHCP service.

Specify whether an interface should be automatically activated at boot time with the Active on Boot check box for that device. You may manually activate a network interface at any time after the system has booted.

	Modem Configuration
	The Network Configuration screen does not list modems. Configure these devices after installation with the Network utility. The settings for your modem are specific to your particular Internet Service Provider (ISP).

11.1.1. Configuring IPv4 and IPv6 Support

To add or remove IPv4 or IPv6 support, highlight the interface on the Network Device list and select Edit. Fedora displays the Edit Interface dialog. If the interface is not configured for IPv4 or IPv6 protocol, that entry is marked Disabled.

To change the selection, select or deselect the appropriate checkbox. If necessary, change the network address configuration for the interface.

	DHCP and Servers
	If this computer system is a server, avoid DHCP if possible, and manually configure networking. Manual network configuration allows your server to join the local network even if the DHCP provider is down.

On some networks, the DHCP provider also provides the name of the computer, or hostname. To specify the hostname, select Manual and type the complete name in the box. The complete hostname includes both the name of the machine and the name of the domain of which it is a member, such as machine1.example.com. The machine name (or "short hostname") is machine1, and the domain name is example.com.

To set up a home network that is behind an Internet firewall or router, you may want to use hostname.localdomain for your Fedora system. If you have more than one computer on this network, you should give each one a separate host name in this domain.

	Valid Hostnames
	You may give your system any name provided that the full hostname is unique. The hostname may include letters, numbers and hyphens.

If your Fedora system is connected directly to the Internet, you must pay attention to additional considerations to avoid service interruptions or risk action by your upstream service provider. A full discussion of these issues is beyond the scope of this document.

To manually configure a network interface, you may also provide other network settings for your computer. All of these settings are the IP addresses of other systems on the network.

A gateway is the device that provides access to other networks. Gateways are also referred to as routers. If your system connects to other networks through a gateway, enter its IP address in the Gateway box.

Most software relies on the DNS (Domain Name Service) provider to locate machines and services on the network. DNS converts hostnames to IP addresses and vice versa. A Fedora system may use more than one DNS server. If the primary DNS server does not respond, the computer sends any query to the secondary DNS server, and so on. To assign DNS servers, type their IP addresses into the Primary DNS or Secondary DNS boxes.

Select Next once you are satisfied with the network settings for your system.

Fedora displays on the screen two methods for selecting the time zone. To select a time zone using the map, first place your mouse pointer over your region on the map. Click once to magnify that region on the map. Next, select the yellow dot that represents the city nearest to your location. Once you select a dot, it becomes a red X to indicate your selection.

To select a time zone using the list, select the name of the city nearest to your location. The cities are listed in alphabetical order.

For purposes of addressing time zones, Universal Co-ordinated Time is also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

If Fedora is the only operating system on your computer, select System clock uses UTC. The system clock is a piece of hardware on your computer system. Fedora uses the timezone setting to determine the offset between the local time and UTC on the system clock. This behavior is standard for UNIX-like operating systems.

	Windows and the System Clock
	Do not enable the System clock uses UTC option if your machine also runs Microsoft Windows. Microsoft operating systems change the BIOS clock to match local time rather than UTC. This may cause unexpected behavior under Fedora.

Select Next to proceed.

You can define additional repositories to increase the software available to your system during installation. A repository is a network location that stores software packages along with metadata that describes them. Many of the software packages used in Fedora require other software to be installed. The installer uses the metadata to ensure that these requirements are met for every piece of software you select for installation.

To include software from repositories other than the Fedora package collection, select Add additional software repositories. The following list includes examples of ways you can use this option.

If you select Add additional software repositories, the Add repository dialog appears. Provide a Repository name and the Repository URL for its location.

	Fedora Software Mirrors
	To find a Fedora software mirror near you, refer to http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mirrors.

Once you have located a mirror, to determine the URL to use, find the directory on the mirror that contains a directory named repodata. For instance, the "Everything" repository for Fedora is typically located in a directory tree releases/8/Everything/arch/os, where arch is a system architecture name.

Once you provide information for an additional repository, the installer reads the package metadata over the network. Software that is specially marked is then included in the package group selection system. See Section 14.2, “Customizing the Software Selection” for more information on selecting packages.

	Backtracking Removes Repository Metadata
	If you choose Back from the package selection screen, any extra repository data you may have entered is lost. This allows you to effectively cancel extra repositories. Currently there is no way to cancel only a single repository once entered.

Select Customize now to specify the software packages for your final system in more detail. This option causes the installation process to display an additional customization screen when you select Next.

	Installing Support for Additional Languages
	Select Customize now to install support for additional languages. Refer to Section 14.2.2, “Additional Language Support” for more information on configuring language support.

Fedora divides the included software into package groups. For ease of use, the package selection screen displays these groups as six categories:

Figure 14.1. Package Group Selection Screen

To view the package groups for a category, select the category from the list on the left. The list on the right displays the package groups for the currently selected category.

To specify a package group for installation, select the check box next to the group. The box at the bottom of the screen displays the details of the package group that is currently highlighted. None of the packages from a group will be installed unless the check box for that group is selected.

If you select a package group, Fedora automatically installs the base and mandatory packages for that group. To change which optional packages within a selected group will be installed, select the Optional Packages button under the description of the group. Then use the check box next to an individual package name to change its selection.

After you choose the desired packages, select Next to proceed. Fedora checks your selection, and automatically adds any extra packages required to use the software you select.

This screen displays the overall licensing terms for Fedora. Each software package in Fedora is covered by its own license which has been approved by the Open Source Initiative (OSI). For more information about the OSI, refer to http://www.opensource.org/.

To proceed, select Understood, please proceed and then select Forward.

The firewall built into Fedora checks every incoming and outgoing network connection on your machine against a set of rules. These rules specify which types of connections are permitted and which are denied.

By default the firewall is enabled, with a simple set of rules that allow connections to be made from your system to others, but permit only network browsing and SSH (Secure SHell) connections from other systems. You may make changes on this screen to allow access to specific network services on your Fedora system.

To enable access to the services listed on this screen, click the check box next to the service name.

	SSH Provides Immediate Remote Access
	All Fedora systems automatically run the SSH remote access service, and the default firewall configuration allows connections to this service. The default configuration ensures that administrators have immediate remote access to new systems through the user and root accounts.

To enable access to other services, select Other ports, and Add the details. Use the Port(s) field to specify either the port number, or the registered name of the service. Select the relevant Protocol from the drop-down. The majority of services use the TCP protocol.

	The Services List
	The /etc/services file lists service port numbers and names that are registered with the Internet Assigned Names Authority (IANA).

If a service uses more than one port number, enter each port. For example, an IMAP service enables users to access their e-mail from another system through TCP port 143. To permit IMAP connections to your system, add imap or port number 143.

Avoid disabling the firewall. If you believe that it is necessary to do so, select No firewall.

	Changing the Firewall Settings
	To change these settings later, choose System → Administration → Security Level and Firewall.

The SELinux (Security Enhanced Linux) framework is part of Fedora. SELinux limits the actions of both users and programs by enforcing security policies throughout the operating system. Without SELinux, software bugs or configuration changes may render a system more vulnerable. The restrictions imposed by SELinux policies provide extra security against unauthorized access.

Inflexible SELinux policies might inhibit many normal activities on a Fedora system. For this reason, Fedora uses targeted policies, which only affect specific network services. These services cannot perform actions that are not part of their normal functions. The targeted policies reduce or eliminate any inconvenience SELinux might cause users. Set the SELinux mode to one of the following:

To adjust SELinux, choose Modify SELinux Policy. To exempt a key service from SELinux restrictions, select the service from the list, and choose the Disable SELinux protection option. The SELinux Service Protection item on the list includes options to disable SELinux restrictions on additional services.

	Changing the SELinux policy
	SELinux is unique in that it cannot be bypassed, even by the system administrators. To change the behavior of SELinux after installation, choose System → Administration → Security Level and Firewall.

For more information about SELinux, refer to the SELinux FAQ at http://docs.fedoraproject.org/selinux-faq/.

If your system does not have Internet access or a network time server, manually set the date and time for your system on this screen. Otherwise, use NTP (Network Time Protocol) servers to maintain the accuracy of the clock. NTP provides time synchronization service to computers on the same network. The Internet contains many computers that offer public NTP services.

The initial display enables you to set the date and time of your system manually.

Select the Network Time Protocol tab to configure your system to use NTP servers instead.

	Setting the Clock
	To change these settings later, choose System → Administration → Date & Time.

To configure your system to use network time servers, select the Enable Network Time Protocol option. This option disables the settings on the Date and Time tab and enables the other settings on this screen.

By default, Fedora is configured to use three separate groups, or pools, of time servers. Time server pools create redundancy, so if one time server is unavailable, your system synchronizes with another server.

To use an additional time server, select Add, and type the DNS name of the server into the box. To remove a server or server pool from the list, select the name and click Delete.

If your machine is always connected to the Internet through a wired connection, select the Synchronize system clock before starting service option. This option may cause a short delay during startup but ensures accurate time on your system even if the clock is significantly wrong at boot time.

	Laptops and NTP
	Do not use this option with laptop computers that sometimes use wireless networks.

If the hardware clock in your computer is highly inaccurate, you may turn off your local time source entirely. To turn off the local time source, select Show advanced options and then deselect the Use Local Time Source option. If you turn off your local time source, the NTP servers take priority over the internal clock.

If you enable the Enable NTP Broadcast advanced option, Fedora attempts to automatically locate time servers on the network.

Create a user account for yourself with this screen. Always use this account to log in to your Fedora system, rather than using the root account.

Enter a user name and your full name, and then enter your chosen password. Type your password once more in the Confirm Password box to ensure that it is correct. Refer to Chapter 13, Set the Root Password for guidelines on selecting a secure password.

	Creating Extra User Accounts
	To add additional user accounts to your system after the installation is complete, choose System → Administration → Users & Groups.

To configure Fedora to use network services for authentication or user information, select Use Network Login....

The Setup Agent automatically attempts to identify the sound card in your computer.

Click the play button to check the sound card configuration. If the configuration is correct, Fedora plays a sound sequence. You may adjust the volume with the slidebar. The Repeat option causes the sound to play until the option is unselected, to assist you in tuning your system.

If your sound card is identified, but you do not hear the sound, check your speakers and try again. In some cases, you may need to alter the additional settings to obtain the best sound quality.

A sound card may provide multiple audio input and output devices. To change the Default PCM device, select a new option from the drop-down list. By default, audio applications connect to a software mixer that manages the PCM devices. To enable applications to bypass the software mixer, select the option to Disable software mixing.

You may manually configure a Fedora system to use unsupported sound cards after the installation process is complete. Manual sound hardware configuration is beyond the scope of this document.

	Changing the Sound Card
	Fedora automatically attempts to detect a new sound card if you add one to your system. If you need to launch the detection process manually, choose System → Administration → Soundcard Detection.

After you configure the sound card, select Finish to proceed to the login screen. Your Fedora system is now ready for use.

	Update Your System
	To ensure the security of your system, run a package update after the installation completes. Chapter 18, Your Next Steps explains how to update your Fedora system.

The Fedora Project releases updated software packages for Fedora throughout the support period of each version. Updated packages add new features, improve reliability, resolve bugs, or remove security vulnerabilities. To ensure the security of your system, update regularly, and as soon as possible after a security announcement is issued. Refer to Section 18.3, “Subscribing to Fedora Announcements and News” for information on the Fedora announcements services.

A new update applet, called puplet, reminds you of updates when they are available. The puplet applet is installed by default in Fedora. It checks for software updates from all configured repositories, and runs as a background service. It generates a notification message on the desktop if updates are found, and you can click the message to update your system's software.

To update your system with the latest packages manually, use the Software Updater:

To update packages from the command-line, use the yum utility. Type this command to begin a full update of your system with yum:

su -c 'yum update'

Enter the root password when prompted.

Refer to http://docs.fedoraproject.org/yum/ for more information on yum.

	Network Connection Required
	Ensure that your system has an active network connection before you run the Software Updater, or the yum utility. The update process downloads information and packages from a network of servers.

If your Fedora system has a permanent network connection, you may choose to enable daily system updates. To enable automatic updates, follow the instructions on the webpage http://docs.fedoraproject.org/yum/sn-updating-your-system.html.

	System Updates Recommended
	Once you have rebooted your system after performing an upgrade, you should also perform a manual system update. Consult Section 18.1, “Updating Your System” for more information.

If you chose to upgrade your system from a previous release rather than perform a fresh installation, you may want to examine the differences in the package set. Section 8.2, “Upgrading Using the Installer” advised you to create a package listing for your original system. You can now use that listing to determine how to bring your new system close to the original system state.

Most software repository configurations are stored in packages that end with the term release. Check the old package list for the repositories that were installed:

awk '{print $1}' ~/old-pkglist.txt | grep 'release$'

If necessary, retrieve and install these software repository packages from their original sources on the Internet. Follow the instructions at the originating site to install the repository configuration packages for use by yum and other software management tools on your Fedora system.

Then run the following commands to make a list of other missing software packages:

awk '{print $1}' ~/old-pkglist.txt | sort | uniq > ~/old-pkgnames.txt
rpm -qa --qf '%{NAME}\n' | sort | uniq > ~/new-pkgnames.txt
diff -u ~/old-pkgnames.txt ~/new-pkgnames.txt | grep '^-' | sed 's/^-//' > /tmp/pkgs-to-install.txt

Now use the file /tmp/pkgs-to-install.txt with the yum command to restore most or all of your old software:

su -c 'yum install `cat /tmp/pkgs-to-install.txt`'

	Missing Software
	Due to changes in package complements between Fedora releases, it is possible this method may not restore all the software on your system. You can use the routines above to again compare the software on your system, and remedy any problems you find.

To receive information about package updates, subscribe to either the announcements mailing list, or the RSS feeds.

The announcements mailing list also provides you with news on the Fedora Project, and the Fedora community.

	Security Announcements
	Announcements with the keyword [SECURITY] in the title identify package updates that resolve security vulnerabilities.

Members of the Fedora community provides support through mailing lists, Web forums and Linux User Groups (LUGs) across the world.

The Web site for the formally endorsed forums is http://forums.fedoraforum.org/.

The following resources provide information on many aspects of Fedora:

Many other organizations and individuals also provide tutorials and HOWTOs for Fedora on their Web sites. You can locate information on any topic by using Google's Linux search site, located at http://www.google.com/linux.

The Fedora Project is driven by the individuals that contribute to it. Community members provide support and documentation to other users, help to improve the software included in Fedora by testing, and develop new software alongside the programmers employed by Red Hat. The results of this work are available to all.

To make a difference, start here:

http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Join