Learning Red Hat Linux, Third Edition

Chapter 2. Preparing to Install Red Hat Linux

Before installing Linux, you must first gather some information about your system. This chapter presents information you need to know and tasks you need to perform before installing Linux. It helps you make certain that your IBM-compatible PC meets the minimum hardware requirements for Linux. It shows you how to document your Windows operating system configuration so that you can respond to questions presented by the Linux install procedure. It also describes the four types of Red Hat Linux installations. And, finally, it shows you how to prepare your hard disk for Linux.

Minimum Hardware Requirements

Linux supports a wide range of PC hardware, but not even Linux supports every known device and system. Your PC must meet certain minimum requirements in order to run Linux, which I describe in the following sections. For the latest and most complete information, you should check Red Hat’s hardware compatibility web site, http://hardware.redhat.com. This site will also help you determine whether Linux supports the devices installed in your system. If you’re not familiar with PC hardware, check out Robert and Barbara Thompson’s PC Hardware in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (O’Reilly), an excellent introduction and reference to PC hardware.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Red Hat Linux does not support the Intel i386 and earlier processors. However, it fully supports the Intel i486, Celeron, Pentium, Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium ...