If you've purchased the Red Hat Linux boxed set, you're ready to go! However, mistakes occasionally happen, so now is a good time to double-check the contents of your boxed set. If you haven't purchased a Red Hat Linux boxed set, skip to Section 2.2.3.
The Red Hat Linux boxed set contains the following items:
[Alpha Systems:
[Intel Systems:
Let's take a quick look at each item:
The Official Red Hat Linux Installation Guide is what you're currently reading. It contains the information necessary to install Red Hat Linux. In addition, it contains information about aspects of the operating system that are unique to Red Hat Linux.
The Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide contains information on what to do after the installation has taken place. It will be referred to on many occasions in this text. We believe it is both well written and informative, and will guide you through the necessary steps of actually using your system once the install is in place.
The Official Red Hat Linux Getting Started Guide covers topics ranging from the learning the basics of your system to navigating your system to Gnome.
[Alpha Systems: The Red Hat Linux Alpha Installation Addendum contains additional information of interest to owners of Alpha-based computer systems. It contains information that will make installation of Red Hat Linux more straightforward. (The Alpha Installation Addendum is only included in Red Hat Linux/Alpha boxed sets.)]
These two Compact Discs contain the entire Red Hat Linux distribution, including source code. CD 1 contains all the binary packages built for the type of computer (Intel, Alpha, or SPARC) that you have . CD 2 contains the source packages that were used to build the binary packages on CD 1.
[Intel Systems: This Compact Disc pack contains demonstration versions of a number of commercial Linux software products. For more information, please refer to the README file in this pack.
Please Note: This CD-ROM pack and its contents are completely unsupported by Red Hat Software. All questions and issues concerning any software in this pack should be directed to the responsible company, and not Red Hat Software.]
[Intel Systems: This diskette is used to start the installation process for Red Hat Linux/Intel. Depending on your computer's configuration and the type of installation you select, you may or may not need the boot diskette. In addition, you may require a support diskette, again depending on your system's hardware configuration, and the installation method you choose. When we discuss the different installation methods later in this chapter, we'll explain which diskettes are needed for each type of installation, and give you instructions for producing any diskettes you require.]
[Alpha Systems: Alpha owners should refer to the Red Hat Linux Alpha Installation Addendum for information on which diskettes are required.]
[SPARC Systems: SPARC owners should turn to Section F.5.1 for information on their diskette needs.]
The CD-ROM jewel case insert includes the license terms for Red Hat Linux, in addition to the license terms for any commercial software that may be included on the Red Hat Linux CD.
In addition, information about registering your copy of Red Hat Linux with Red Hat Software can be found here. Once registered, you can receive installation support. Red Hat Software's installation support program is discussed in Appendix A.
Please Note: There is an alphanumeric registration string printed on the CD-ROM case. It is used to register you for Red Hat Software's installation support. Please make sure you don't lose your registration string -- you won't be able to get installation support without it!
If you've purchased the Official Red Hat Linux boxed set from Red Hat Software, (or one of its distributors) and you're missing one or more of the items listed above, please let us know!
One thing to keep in mind is that Red Hat Software partners with companies (international and domestic) so that we can make Red Hat Linux available to you in the most convenient form. Because of this, you might find that your Red Hat Linux boxed set may not have been actually produced by Red Hat Software.
Not sure how to identify our official boxed set? Here's how: The bottom of our box has an ISBN number next to one of the bar codes. That ISBN number should be in the form:
(Where xx and y may vary.) If your box has an ISBN number in this form, and you're missing something, feel free to call us at 1-888-733-4281 (+1-919-547-0012 outside the USA), or to send mail to [email protected].
If your box has a different ISBN number (or none at all), you'll need to contact the company that produced your boxed set. Normally, third-party producers will include their logo and/or contact information on the outside of the box; an official Red Hat Linux boxed set has only our name and contact info on the outside...
If your Red Hat Linux boxed set is complete, please skip ahead to section 2.2.4.
Of course, not everyone purchases a Red Hat Linux boxed set. It's entirely possible to install Red Hat Linux using a CD created by another company, or even via FTP. In these cases, you may need to create one or more diskettes to get started.
[Intel Systems: For people installing Red Hat Linux/Intel, you'll need a boot diskette, and if using a PCMCIA device during the installation, a PCMCIA support diskette. It may also be possible to start the installation directly from the CD, under certain conditions. We'll discuss this in more detail when we outline the various installation methods available.]
[Alpha Systems: People with Alpha-based systems should refer to the Red Hat Linux Alpha Installation Addendum for additional information on the diskettes they may need.]
[SPARC Systems: SPARC owners should refer to section F.5.1 for information on which diskettes they'll need.]
From time to time, we find that the installation may fail, and that a revised diskette image is required in order for the installation to work properly. In these cases, we make special images available via the Red Hat Linux Errata.
Since this is a relatively rare occurrence, you will in general save time if you try to use the standard diskette images first, and then review the Errata only if you experience any problems completing the installation.
There are two ways to review the Errata:
For now, concentrate only on the Errata entries that include new diskette images (the filenames always end in .img). If you find an entry that seems to apply to your problem, get a copy of the diskette images, and create them using the instructions in Appendix B.