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Ian Shields (ishields@us.ibm.com)
Senior programmer, IBM
01 Apr 2002

This article highlights the key requirements and steps for getting SuSE Linux 7.3 installed and configured on your workstation or laptop. With our suggested installation, you can explore Linux and get comfortable with it. This article is intentionally brief. For detailed information, please refer to your hardcopy SuSE Linux documentation, the online SuSE Linux System and Reference Manual (see the Resources in this article), or the SuSE Linux documentation on your installation CD.

The recommended machine configuration is at least a 500 MHz Pentium II® machine with at least 5 GB of available disk space and 512 MB of RAM. To install Linux on a workstation or laptop running Windows, start with step 1. Or to install Linux on a workstation or laptop with no operating system on it, skip to step 2.

1. To install Linux on a machine with another operating system in place, you will need a dual boot environment and approximately 5 GB of free disk space.

   If you have less than 5 GB available, you will need to install an additional drive or carve the space out of your existing drive using a free utility such as FIPS or a commercial product such as PartitionMagic. (The FIPS utility does not work with NTFS-formatted drives.) Repartitioning a drive involves some risk, so be sure to back up your data before repartitioning. For more info on these utilities, as well as tips on partition planning and setting up a dual boot environment, see Resources.

   If you're already familiar with Linux or if you have only a small amount of disk space available, you may wish to customize your installation to install fewer features. For example, you may wish to install either the GNOME or KDE desktop, rather than both (step 5).

2. Make sure that your machine is capable of booting from a CD. You may have to set startup options in your BIOS to enable booting from the CD drive. If your machine is not capable of booting from CD, you can use the boot diskette that comes with the SuSE 7.3 package or create one. The necessary diskette images and instructions are in the disks directory of CD 1. Refer to the README file if you are already on a Linux system or to README.DOS if you are on a DOS or Windows system. To create these diskettes on a DOS or Windows system, you will need the rawrite utility found in the dosutils\rawrite directory of CD 1.

   If you do not have a hardcopy of the SuSE Linux System and Reference Manual, the German version may be found in the docs directory of CD 1. See Resources in this article to obtain PDF files of the manual in other languages.

3. Boot your Linux distribution CD. Press Enter to perform an installation. Select your language, keyboard, and time zone. Select new installation to install SuSE Linux.
   
   
4. The install process will analyze your partitions and suggest a partitioning scheme: normally a swap partition of approximately twice the size of your installed memory and the remainder of free space mounted as / (the root of your new filesystem). You may edit the choices before the installation continues. These choices will not be written to disk until you confirm your intention in the last installation dialog.
   
   
5. We suggest that you choose to install a default system with Office to get a good feel for what a Linux system can do. You should also click on the Detailed selection... button and check the Development and Gnome categories. We'll leave the choice of Games and Multimedia up to you.
   
   
6. The install program will next select a boot loader configuration. For a dual boot system we strongly recommend that you do not install a Linux boot loader in the master boot record (MBR). You'll be able to create a boot diskette from which to boot a new Linux system. When you are comfortable with Linux and with dual boot systems, you can come back and install a boot loader to eliminate the need for booting from diskette.
   
   
7. Choose a root password. We suggest that you create a user account at this time (use the root account only for system administration tasks). Both user names and passwords are case sensitive. It is common in UNIX and Linux systems to use lowercase user names.
   
   
8. You are now at the final dialog before the installation begins. This is your last chance to go back and review anything before the installation is written to your hard disk. Expect the software loading process to take 15 to 30 minutes depending on the speed of your system.
   
   
9. After the base system is installed, you will be prompted to remove the boot CD and (if applicable) the installation boot diskette. If you installed LILO on a boot floppy, you should boot from that floppy. Press Enter to perform the reboot.
   
   
10. When the system reboots, press Enter to boot Linux. Once the system has booted, you will be prompted to load any CDs necessary to complete the installation.
    
    
11. When all the software is installed, you will be prompted for your desired desktop settings. We suggest you choose the graphical desktop environment. Review the suggested settings and change if necessary. You may also click the Change button if you would just like to test the settings.
    
    
12. Next, your configuration will be written to disk. This may take a few moments. Once complete you may configure additional hardware, including network adapters, printers, sound cards, etc.
    
    
13. At the login prompt, log in using the user account you created in Step 7, and explore your system. Refer to the article "Installing prerequisite Linux packages" before installing the IBM trial software.

Congratulations! SuSE Linux is now installed, configured, and ready for your use. You'll find additional resources for using SuSE Linux and IBM middleware to develop Linux apps at the Speed-start your Linux app training and tech support page.

Resources

• Participate in the discussion forum on this article. (You can also click Discuss at the top or bottom of the article to access the forum.)
  
  
• Get installation details in the SuSE Linux System and Reference Manual (German language version) on your installation CD. To obtain PDF files of the manual in other languages, refer to this item in the SuSE Linux support knowledgebase.
  
  
• For partitioning software, check out FIPS, a free utility, or PartitionMagic, a commercial product.
  
  
• For introductory tips on setting up a dual boot environment, read Operating system flexibility: Setting up a multi-boot machine with Linux and other operating system (developerWorks, December 2000).
  
  
• For advice on partition planning, see Partition planning tips: How to keep things organized on disk (developerWorks, May 2000).
  
  
• To add prerequisite Linux packages that are typically not installed during most standard Linux installations, see "Speed-start your Linux app: Installing prerequisite Linux packages".
  
  
• For help in doing tasks in Linux, review the "Basic tasks for new Linux developers".
  
  
• To learn how to use the vi editor to edit in Linux, take the tutorial "vi intro -- the cheat sheet method" (developerWorks, December 2000).
  
  
• To develop your proficiency in using the Emacs editor to edit in Linux, take the "Living in Emacs" tutorial (developerWorks, July 2002).
  
  
• Return to Speed-start your Linux app for additional training and tech support resources.
  
  
• Find more Linux articles in the developerWorks Linux zone.
  

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