Installation Mode Options

You can install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 in graphical mode or in text mode. While the graphical mode is recommended and preferable for the installation and contains all options to configure, both modes follow the layout of a summary menu with various sections you can enter and reenter at your convenience, as displayed in the screenshots below.

Figure 6.1. The Installation Sum m ary Screen

Figure 6.2. The Installation Sum m ary screen in Text Mode

While text mode installations are not explicitly documented, those using the text mode installation program can easily follow the GUI installation instructions. Also see Section 6.1.2, “Installation in Text Mode”. Note that some installation options, such as custom partitioning, are not available in text mode.

6.1.1. Installation in Graphical Mode

If you have used a graphical user interface (GUI) before, you are already familiar with this process; use your mouse to navigate the screens, click buttons, or type into text fields.

You can also navigate through the installation using the keyboard. Use the T ab and Shift+T ab keys to cycle through active control elements on the screen, the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through lists, and the Left and Right arrow keys to scroll through horizontal toolbars or table entries. Use the Space and Enter keys to select or remove a highlighted item from selection, or to expand and collapse drop-down lists. You can also use the Alt+X key command combination as a way of clicking on buttons or making other screen selections, where X is replaced with any underlined letter appearing within that screen after you press Alt.

6.1.1.1. Screenshots During Installation

Anaconda allows you to take screenshots during the installation process. At any time during installation, press Shift+Print Screen and anaconda will save a screenshot to /tm

p/anaconda-screenshots.

If you are performing a Kickstart installation, use the autostep --autoscreenshot option to generate a screenshot of each step of the installation automatically. See Section 23.3, “Kickstart Syntax Reference”

for details about configuring a Kickstart file.

6.1.1.2. Virtual Consoles

The Red Hat Enterprise Linux installation program offers more than the graphical user interface. Several kinds of diagnostic messages are available to you, as well as a way to enter commands from a shell prompt. These additional features are provided in so called virtual consoles accessible through keystroke combinations described below.

A virtual console is a shell prompt in a non-graphical environment, accessed from the physical machine, not remotely. Multiple virtual consoles are available at the same time.

These virtual consoles are helpful if you encounter a problem while installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Messages displayed on the installation or system consoles can help identify the problem. See the table below for a listing of the virtual consoles, keystrokes used to switch to them, and their contents.

Note

In general, there is no reason to leave the default graphical installation environment unless you need to diagnose an installation problem.

1 Ctrl+Alt+F1 main installation program console – contains debugging information from the installation program

2 Ctrl+Alt+F2 shell prompt with root access

3 Ctrl+Alt+F3 installation log – displays messages stored in /tm p/anaconda.log 4 Ctrl+Alt+F4 storage log – displays messages related storage devices from kernel

and system services, stored in /tm p/storage.log

5 Ctrl+Alt+F5 program log – displays messages from other system utilities, stored in /tm p/program .log

6 Ctrl+Alt+F6 the default console with GUI

In addition to virtual consoles, you can also use the tmux terminal multiplexer running in the first virtual console to display information about the system or to access a command prompt. For information about switching between tmux windows, see Section 11.1.1.1, “Virtual Consoles and tmux Windows”.

6.1.1.3. Installation Using VNC

If you would like to perform a graphical installation with a system that does not have graphical display capability or is not available interactively, you can use VNC. For more information on performing a graphical installation using VNC, see Chapter 22, Installing Using VNC.

6.1.2. Installation in Text Mode

Apart from the graphical mode, Anaconda also includes a text-based mode.

If one of the following situations occurs, the installation uses text mode:

The installation system fails to identify the display hardware on your computer,

You chose the text mode installation by adding the inst.text option to the boot command line.

You used a Kickstart file to automate the installation, and the file you provided contains the text command.

Figure 6.3. The Installation Sum m ary screen in Text Mode

Important

Red Hat recommends that you install Red Hat Enterprise Linux using the graphical interface. If you are installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux on a system that lacks a graphical display, consider

performing the installation over a VNC connection – see Chapter 22, Installing Using VNC. The text mode installation program will prompt you to confirm the use of text mode if it detects that a VNC-based installation is possible.

If your system has a graphical display, but graphical installation fails, try booting with the inst.xdriver=vesa option – see Chapter 20, Boot Options.

Alternatively, consider a Kickstart installation. See Chapter 23, Kickstart Installations for more information.

Text mode presents you with a simpler installation process, and certain options that are available in graphical mode are not available in text mode. These differences are noted in the description of the installation process in this guide, and include:

configuring advanced storage methods such as LVM, RAID, FCoE, zFCP, and iSCSI, customizing the partition layout,

customizing the boot loader layout,

selecting package add-ons during installation,

configuring the installed system with the Initial Setup utility,

Note

When related background tasks are being run, certain menu items may be temporarily unavailable or displaying the Processing... label. To refresh to the current status of text menu items, use the r option at the text mode prompt.

If you choose to install Red Hat Enterprise Linux in text mode, you can still configure your system to use a graphical interface after installation. See Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 System Administrator's Guide for instructions.

To configure options not available in text mode, consider using a boot option. For example, the ip option can be used to configure network settings. See Section 20.1, “Configuring the Installation System at the Boot Menu” for instructions.