3. Standard Fedora Core 6 Install

You should always try to do an install and not an upgrade. The install assures that all the latest software gets installed. An install also gives you a "fresh start" with a clean disk. Make sure the disk is reformatted when you do the install. If you are doing an install over an existing machine, make sure you have a current backup. You may even wish to copy critical files to another machine (/etc directory tree for example).

The general guidelines are to install "everything" then only start the minimum number of services that are absolutely necessary. There are some differences to the client machines: video board, monitor and network cards are the main differences. So make sure you know what hardware is installed in the system before you start the install.

Now create a bootable installation CD. Note there are two different ISO images, one for 32 bit (i386) and one for 64 bit (x86_64) machines. Grab the following ISO image and use it to burn a CD: ftp://ftp.wss.yale.edu/pub/linux/fedora/6/i386/os/images/boot.iso.

ftp://ftp.wss.yale.edu/pub/linux/fedora/6/x86_64/os/images/boot.iso.

Make sure you have the host name and IP number handy before you start the install. If you are installing over an existing system, make sure you have copies of the password file and the SSH keys. Make sure you pay attention to the amount of Video RAM so you can configure the Xserver properly.

I usually make the slash partition about 15 gigabytes, the swap file is double the amount of RAM and the whatever disk space is left you can name whatever you like (usually /home).

When performing the Fedora Core install use the TAB key to move between selections, the arrow keys to highlight a choice and the ENTER (sometimes the space bar) to make your selection.

OK let's start the install. Turn the machine on. Pay attention to the memory count. You'll want to create a swap file that is double the memory size. Before the machine comes up, enter into the BIOS (usually the DEL key), and change the boot sequence to floppy, cdrom then disk. Save the configuration and place the Fedora Core boot CD in the drive. Allow the machine to come up. At the boot: prompt hit return. Here is a run through of the prompts and answers to the questions during the install. Please note that Yale IPs can be of the form 130.132.x.y or 128.36.x.y Also there are 32 bit (i386) and 64 bit (x86_64) installation directories depending on your specific hardware.

  English
    Click OK
  US Keyboard
    Click OK
  FTP
    Click OK
  Uncheck DHCP
  Check off IPv4
  Uncheck IPv6
    Click OK
  IPv4: 130.132.x.y / 255.255.255.0
  Gateway: 130.132.x.1
  Nameserver: 130.132.1.9
    Click OK
  FTP server: ftp.wss.yale.edu
  Directory: pub/linux/fedora/6/i386/os
    Click OK

The Graphical User Interface starts up now. Here's how you answer the next set of questions:

    Click Next
  Check off Install
    Click Next
  Check off Create custom layout
    Click Next
    Pre-existing partition tables can be used again, just Edit and add mounts
    Otherwise ...
       Delete (all existing partitions)
       New / (should be about 15 gigabytes)
       New Linux Swap OK (should be twice the size of the memory)
       New /data (or /home, should be what's ever let over)
    OK (done with partitioning)
    Format / (and any other partitions you created, except swap)
    Click next
  Format
    Click Next
  Boot Loader (should be OK)
    Click Next
  Network settings (should be OK)
    Secondary DNS: 130.132.1.9
    Click Next
  Uncheck uses UTC
    Click Next
  Root Password (type it in twice)
    Click Next
  Check off Customize now
    Click Next
  Under each heading on Left (except Language) check off all packages on right
    Click Next
  Click Next (start install)
  Click Reboot

Remove the installation CD. Before the machine comes back up, go into the BIOS and change the boot sequence back to floppy, disk then CDROM.

The first thing that comes up is the RedHat Setup Agent. Here's how to respond to the qustions:

  Next  (Welcome)
    Click Forward                  
  Check off Yes, I agree
    Click Forward
  Firewall (should be OK)
    Click Forward
  SELinux (Permissive)
    Click Forward
  Date & Time
    Click on NTP tab
      Check off Enable NTP
      Add clock.yale.edu
    Click Forward
  Create User
    Click Use Network Login
    Click on Authentication tab
      Check off Enable Kerberos
      Configure Kerberos
        Realm: NET.YALE.EDU
        KDC: kserv2.net.yale.edu
        Admin: kserv1.net.yale.edu
      Click OK
    Click OK
    Click Forward
  Sound Card
    Click Finish

If you like to use the KDE window manager, then at the Login screen click on the Session in the bottom left, then click on KDE.

3.1 Run post-install script

You should now run the post-install script. If you wish to do all of the custom configurations, upgrades and installs by hand, please skip to the next section. You may also wish to follow along with what the post-install script is doing. Just read the next section to follow along with the process. If you want to create a log file of the post-install script, just use the "script" command. See it's usage below.

Here's how to run the post-install script for Fedora Core:

  mkdir /temp
  cd /temp
  lftpget ftp://ftp.wss.yale.edu/pub/linux/yale/scripts/post-install-fc6
  chmod +x ./post-install-fc6
  script post-install.log (create a log file called post-install.log) 
  ./post-install-fc6
  ^D   (control-D closes the post-install.log file)

  Note: there are other versions available for download as well.

3.2 Post Installation Items

If you already ran the post-install script from the previous section, all the following steps in this section have been completed. When you run the post-install script, you may wish to follow along in this section so you know what's going on.

The default software firewall using IPtables is probably OK for you. If you plan on starting up more services or want more control over the firewall please read the following section. Again, this is totally optional and not needed in most cases.

  cd /temp
  /usr/bin/lftpget  ftp://ftp.wss.yale.edu/pub/linux/yale/scripts/iptables-std.sh
  chmod +x ./iptables-std.sh
  ./iptables-std.sh

Stop all the services that are running. You'll need to do the following:

   /etc/rc.d/init.d/SERVICE  stop
         where SERVICE is: autofs, gpm, apmd, 
                           portmap, nfslock, cups,
                           bluetooth, isdn, netfs

Install a sample sudoers file:

  cd /etc
  cp sudoers sudoers.orig
  lftpget ftp://ftp.wss.yale.edu/pub/linux/yale/configs/sudoers 
  chmod 440 /etc/sudoers

Install the Adobe Acrobat Reader:

  cd /temp
  lftp ftp.wss.yale.edu
    cd pub/linux/other/acroread
    mget AdobeReader*.rpm
    quit
  rpm -hiv AdobeReader*.rpm

Now get smartpm to maintain your rpm database. After getting smartpm you'll need to get all the latest RPM updates, including any kernel updates.

  cd /temp
  lftp -c "mget ftp://ftp.wss.yale.edu/pub/linux/yale/rpms/smart/32-bit/Fedora
_6/*"

rpm -hiv smart*.rpm

smart update
smart upgrade --yes

Make sure all unnecessary chkconfig flags are turned off

  cd /temp
  /sbin/chkconfig --del autofs
  /sbin/chkconfig --del gpm
  /sbin/chkconfig --del apmd
  /sbin/chkconfig --del portmap
  /sbin/chkconfig --del nfslock
  /sbin/chkconfig --del cups
  /sbin/chkconfig --del bluetooth
  /sbin/chkconfig --del isdn
  /sbin/chkconfig --del netfs

Remove Process Accounting

  rpm -e psacct

Install LDAP config

  cd /etc/openldap
  /bin/cp ldap.conf ldap.conf.orig
  /usr/bin/lftpget  ftp://ftp.wss.yale.edu/pub/linux/yale/configs/ldap.conf

Fix entry in /etc/hosts

 vi /etc/hosts
  remove "localhost.localdomain" 

Make sure the log files get compressed

  vi /etc/logrotate.conf
    remove the "#" on the "#compress" line

Add Message of the Day (motd).

  cd /etc
  /usr/bin/lftpget  ftp://ftp.wss.yale.edu/pub/linux/yale/configs/motd

Turn off logwatch:

  cd /usr/share/logwatch/scripts
  chmod -x logwatch.pl

Now reboot the machine.