This chapter explains how to install Red Hat Linux 6.2 without creating Linux
partitions on your system.
Please Note
Although this is a great way to explore the world of Red Hat Linux without having
to put Linux partitions on your system, please note that you will still
have to perform a full Red Hat Linux installation as outlined in this manual.
Please Note
You must currently have a formatted DOS (FAT) filesystem in
order to perform this type of installation. Users who have
Win95/98 should have no problems with this type of installation. Users
who have NTFS partitions (such as those using Windows NT) will have to
create and format a DOS (FAT) filesystem before this installation can be
performed. This installation will not work unless the DOS (FAT)
filesystem has been formatted prior starting the Red Hat Linux installation.
There may be reasons why you might want to perform a
partitionless installation, but there also are some drawbacks (depending on
how you look at them).
Here we will cover the basics of what will happen, both during an
installation and as a result of this type of installation, and how
your system will be affected.
Basic Installation
You will perform a basic Red Hat Linux installation. However, instead of
adding Linux partitions to your system, you will edit an existing,
formatted DOS (FAT) partition (that must have enough free space) to be
named root (/).
Unlike a typical Red Hat Linux installation, you will not need to format any
partitions, since you will not be adding any partitions to your
system.
LILO (LInux LOader) and
Boot Disk
In a partitionless installation, you will not configure LILO (the
LInux LOader). In a typical installation, you are able to choose
where you would like LILO to be installed -- either on the master
boot record (MBR) or on the first sector of your root partition --
or you can choose not to install LILO at all.
You must create a boot disk in order to access Red Hat Linux with a
partitionless installation, and you will be prompted to create a boot
disk at the end of the installation.
Performance Implications
Red Hat Linux will perform slower than it would if it had its own dedicated
partitions. However, for those of you unconcerned with speed, a
partitionless installation is a great way of seeing what Red Hat Linux has
to offer without having to deal with partitioning your system.
