Introducing UNIX and Linux

Installing Linux

Overview
Starting out
Preliminaries
      Collecting information about your system
      Installation options
Single boot
Dual boot
      Booting from CD/floppy
      Booting from your hard disk
      A partitionless install
      A dedicated Linux partition
Emulators
      VMware
      WINE
Installing Linux
      Installer software
      Linux partitioning
            Typical partitions
            User accounts
      LILO
The window manager
KDE
      Desktop help
      Applications
      The KDE Control Center
      File access and the command prompt
Summary

LILO

The information stored on each disk begins with the partition delimiters - where the disk partitions start and stop - and also the location of the boot loaders, which start loading the operating system when your computer is turned on. The Windows boot loader is called IO.SYS or DOS.SYS; the Linux boot loader is called LILO. Running LILO causes the kernel of the Linux operating system to be activated and the operating system to be loaded.

During the installation you will be required to supply information about the other operating systems that you are running on your computer. Once you have done this the Linux loader will be configured so that you can move between operating systems. You might also be asked to create a custom boot disk, which you should store safely in case anything goes wrong with your computer. If you are installing a dual boot system, and the other operating system is a Windows NT/2000/XP system, then the configuration is more complex, and you should consult your documentation (or a site such as www.linux.com).

The installer should then set up the X server configuration (see below). X windows provides the basic component of the Linux desktop, but your installer may also provide one of the new desktop environments such as KDE (K Desktop Environment) or GNOME (see below). It is possible to start up Linux in text mode (which requires you to type startx after you have logged in) or alternatively you can specify that X windows is run automatically on startup.

At the end of the installation process you will need to re-boot your computer, after which you will have a computer that boots up in Linux and that offers you Windows as a secondary option. If you choose Linux, then you will be required to enter your name and password and then you can use the system.