Chapter 3. Starting the Installation

This chapter explains how to start the Red Hat Linux installation process. We'll cover the following areas:

Getting familiar with the installation program's user interface;
Starting the installation program;
Selecting an installation method;
Beginning the installation.

By the end of this chapter, the installation program will be running on your system, and you will have begun the process of either installing or upgrading to Red Hat Linux 6.2.

The Installation Program User Interface

If you've used a graphical user interface (GUI) before, you'll be familiar with this process. If not, simply use your mouse to navigate the screens, "click" buttons or enter text fields. You can also navigate through the installation using the Tab and Enter keys.

Please Note

If you do not wish to use the GUI installation program, the text mode installation program is also available. To enter text mode, enter the following boot command:

	  boot: text

For text mode installation instructions, please refer to the Official Red Hat Linux Reference Guide.

A Note about Virtual Consoles

The Red Hat Linux installation program offers more than the dialog boxes of the installation process. Several different kinds of diagnostic messages are available to you, in addition to giving you a way to enter commands from a shell prompt. It presents this information on five virtual consoles, among which you can switch using a single keystroke.

These virtual consoles can be helpful if you encounter a problem while installing Red Hat Linux. Messages displayed on the installation or system consoles can help pinpoint a problem. Please see Table 3-1 for a listing of the virtual consoles, keystrokes to switch to them, and their contents.

Table 3-1. Console, Keystrokes, and Contents

Console	Keystrokes	Contents
1	Ctrl-Alt-F1	installation dialog
2	Ctrl-Alt-F2	shell prompt
3	Ctrl-Alt-F3	install log (messages from installation program)
4	Ctrl-Alt-F4	system-related messages
5	Ctrl-Alt-F5	other messages
7	Ctrl-Alt-F7	X graphical display

Generally, there's no reason to leave the default console (virtual console #7) unless you are attempting to diagnose installation problems. But if you get curious, feel free to look around.