Overall, the CentOS 6.2 installer is fairly self-explanatory. This set of instructions, however, should help you get a machine upon which all the labs will function properly.

Media Test

Skip the media test, unless you have a few spare hours to kill.

Language and Keyboard

Set your language to be some form of English, as the instructors are remarkably mono-lingual. The machines in the labs all use US English keyboard layout.

Type of Storage Devices

Select Basic Storage Devices. We do not, as of yet, have SAN.

System Name

This is your workstation. Give it a fun name that you'll remember. Maybe 'spongebob' or 'fluffy.' Be sure to look at the details of your network connection, and set it to connect automatically. # MAY NEED NOTE ABOUT 'connect automatically' on network here

System Clock

The system clock does Not use UTC, so you should uncheck the box for UTC. Set the time zone to be America/Chicago

Root Password

Enter an administrator password that you will remember. It may be a good idea to write it down somewhere, as well.

Partitioning

select 'Use All Space' -- this will give you CentOS's default partitioning scheme. Tell it to destroy all existing partitions.

Software install set

select Desktop, since we'll be using this as our desktop AND our server. Click the Customize Now radio button, and click Next. On the resultant screen, select the following things:

Under optional packages for Network Infrastructure Server, be sure to select: the basic bind package

Go get coffee.

Now the software packages will install. You'll need to be alert, since you might need to swap DVDs, but that won't happen unless you've deviated from the instructions above.

Reboot!

remove the DVD from the machine -- it's yours now -- and reboot. In a few minutes, you'll have your very own CentOS workstation.

Post boot configuration

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boot loader

Choose the GRUB boot loader. That should be the default. DO NOT specify a boot loader password

Network

Leave the network set to Dynamic IP. Feel free to specify your own custom hostname.

Select Repositories

For software installation sets, select

Do NOT select Extras. The system will spend a few minutes computing dependencies, before asking you to click Next again. The system will then format and preparing the disks (depending on how big your drive is), and finally begin installing software. The software installation takes around twenty minutes, and is a great time to read the release notes. Note that CentOS is kind enough to tell you about itself while installing.

Wrapping up stage 1

Remove the DVD as requested, and put it back into the protective sleeve. Then reboot the machine.

License Agreement

Accept the license agreement.

User configuration

Add a user for yourself. This is the user account that you will be utilizing on a day to day basis.

Set Date & Time

Verify that the settings you put in place earlier are still correct. Don't enable NTP.

kdump

Do not enable kdump. We won't be using it for this class.

Finish

Time to log in with your regular user account! After logging in, the system will run for a few minutes, and then pop up a dialog letting you know that security updates are available. Double-click on the indicated icon in the upper right-hand corner, and enter your root password when prompted. Eventually, all security updates will have been installed, at which point it may be necessary to reboot. If it is, the system will inform you.

Next, we need to run a little script to standardize systems across the class. Download the script at http://www.linux-classes.com/instructions/fix_path-centos62.bash, by right clicking on it, and selecting save as. Save it to your Desktop (the default). Next, follow these instructions:

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Congratulations, you're done!