Chapter 1. New Features of Red Hat Linux 6.1

This chapter describes features that are new to Red Hat Linux 6.1 installation process. If you are interested in reading about non-installation-related new features, please refer to the Official Red Hat Linux Reference Guide.

Installation-Related Enhancements

Here is a list of the many changes which have been made in order to make the Red Hat Linux installation process even easier:

GUI Installation Mode
Customizable Workstation-Class Installations
More Flexible Workstation- and Server-Class Installations
New Scriptable Kickstart Mode
User Account Creation
Software RAID Support
Up Front Configuration

Let's take a look at each one in more detail.

GUI Installation Mode

The most notable change in Red Hat Linux 6.1 is the new GUI format of the installation. Not only will you have the convenience of using your mouse throughout the installation process, the screens themselves are more intuitive. Help screens have also been added to make the installation process go more smoothly.

Customizable Workstation-Class Installations

New to the installation is the ability to choose a more customized workstation-class intallation. You can choose from a standard X Window System and GNOME workstation-class installation or substitute KDE for GNOME. These new options help to guarantee all of the desired packages are installed and allow you the convenience of a simple installation.

Flexible Workstation- and Server-Class Installations

Both workstation- and server-class installations have been improved with the ability to manually partition your hard drives. Rather than have the installation's preset partitions created, you can now set up your own desired partitions as you would do in a custom-class installation.

New Scriptable Kickstart

Kickstart has been rewritten to a new scriptable format. Now, you can pass kickstart a Python object and dynamically configure your kickstart installation. For those of you familiar with kickstart, you are sure to be pleased with its new features and they way it has been rewritten.

User Account Creation

During the new Red Hat Linux 6.1 installation, you are now able to set up user accounts. In the account creation portion of the installation, you can set your machine's root password, as well as create the various user accounts you may need.

Software RAID Support

New to Red Hat Linux is the ability to set up RAID devices (available only for multiple hard drives) when you set up your partitions during the installation. We only recommend this option if you have previous RAID experience. For more information about RAID, please refer to the Official Red Hat Linux Reference Guide.

Up Front Configuration

Up front configuration allows you to completely configure your Red Hat Linux system before making any actual changes (ex: partitioning or installing packages) to your hard drive(s). The new installation program writes all configuration files to your machine's memory. Only after X configuration has been completed will changes be made to your system.