Hardware, Software, and Information Requirements

Before installing Linux, you must ensure that your computer meets certain minimum hardware requirements.You also need to have certain specific information ready concerning your monitor, video card, mouse, and cD-ROM drive. All the requirements are presented in detail in the following sections. Be sure to read them carefully before you begin installation. During the installation program, you need to provide responses that reflect the configuration of your computer.

Hardware Requirements

Listed here are the minimum hardware requirements for installing a standard installation of the Linux system on an Intel-based PC:
S A 32-bit Intel-based personal computer. At least an Intel or compatible 80386, 80486, or
Pentium-class microprocessor is required. A 400 MHz Pentium is recommended for a graphical
interface and 200 MHz for text.
S A CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive (if you are using the DVD-ROM included with this book, you will need a DVD-ROM drive).
S A 3 1/2-inch floppy disk drive and floppy disk, if your PC is not capable of booting from CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. A 3 1/2-inch, DOS high-density (HD) floppy disk drive is used to create an install disk (if you are installing from a floppy). If you install directly from a CD-ROM, you will not need it.
A boot floppy can be created using either the Linux or Windows operating system.
S Normally, at least 64MB RAM for text, and 192MB for graphical. (Linux can run on as little as
12MB RAM.) At least 2GB free hard disk space for a standard installation, including applications
(keep in mind that Linux can run on far less on a minimum installation, as little as 100MB and
16MB swap); 3GB to 6GB or more is recommended for a full installation (all applications). You
need about 5GB to install all the software packages on most distribution CD-ROMs. The standard installation of basic software packages normally takes 3GB, plus 64MB to 512MB for swap space, depending on the amount of RAM memory you have. If you have less than 1GB of hard disk space, you can elect to perform a minimum install, installing only the Linux kernel without most of the applications. You could later install the applications you want, one at a time, using the redhat-config-packages tool accessible on the System Settings window.
S Hard disk requirements depend on the kind of installation you want:
o Custom Installation (minimum): 520MB
o Server (minimum): 870MB
o Personal Desktop: 1.9GB
o Workstation: 2.4GB
o Custom Installation (everything): 5.3GB