AlmaLinux 9 - Installation instructions

Before you start

• Check that your machine is properly registered (in case it is on the CERN network)

• Check that CERN Domain Name Service is updated for your machine (in case it is in the CERN network):

host yourmachine command should return an answer.

• Check that your machine meets minimum system requirements

• Memory: Minimum 2 GB (system will run with 1 GB but performance will be affected)

• Disk space: 10 GB (including 1 GB user data) for default setup ( 1 GB for minimal setup)

• Please see Network/PXE installation procedure, IF YOU USE it you may skip following points up to the system installation.

• Prepare boot media (you will need a single recordable CD or USB memory key). (Check the boot media preparation page for instructions how to prepare (and check) your boot media.)

• Available boot media - boot CD/USB image http://linuxsoft.cern.ch/cern/alma/9/BaseOS/x86_64/os/images/boot.iso (AlmaLinux 9)

• Installation method - http: http://linuxsoft.cern.ch/cern/alma/9/BaseOS/x86_64/os (AlmaLinux 9)

• Note: use CD/USB image installation method ONLY if Network/PXE installation is not possible.

System installation

Installation language and keyboard selection:

You will need to provide input for the items marked in red, 'Keyboard', 'Time & Date', 'Software Selection', 'Installation Destination'. It's best to start with 'Installation Destination'

Select the device to be used for the installation:

If selected device has been already used for previous version of operating system use 'Reclaim space':

Set the 'root' (administrative account) password.

Select the software to install. Choose 'Software Development Workstation (CERN Recommended Setup)'

If you do NOT see 'Software Development Workstation (CERN Recommended Setup), you may need to add the CERN repository to the installation. You can do by clicking 'Installation Source' and referring to the following screen shot

Your screen should now have no more items in 'red', and should look similar to this: Select 'Begin installation':

Automatic CERN site specific configuration

After the successful installation, if you have selected 'Software Development Workstation (CERN Recommended Setup)' the initial configuration screen will be displayed

Upon clicking on 'CERN CUSTOMIZATIONS', you will be presented with the following options.

Depending on your choice, the locmap tool will be installed and invoked to create user accounts, provide root access, add printers, ... using information based on the ownership of device (network.cern.ch)

Manual post-install configuration adjustment

If you have selected not to run X graphical environment on your machine, or you have not installed your system with the 'Software Development Workstation (CERN Recommended Setup)' but wish to profit from the locmap tool to perform site specific configurations, here are some small recipes:

• First become root by either logging in as root, or using sudo

• Run sudo su -

• To configure automatic system updates

• Run dnf install dnf-autoupdate

• Install Locmap (the tool used to define CERN specific configuration)

• Run dnf install locmap-release

• Run dnf install locmap

• Apply CERN site configuration defaults (full configuration)

• Run locmap --enable all

• Run locmap --configure all

• Install AFS client (only):

• Run locmap --enable afs
• Run locmap --enable kerberos

• Run locmap --configure all

• Configure CVMFS (only)

• Run locmap --enable cvmfs

• Run locmap --configure all

• Configure Postfix (To align with e-mail best practices)

• Run locmap --enable postfix
• Run locmap --configure all

You can also use /usr/bin/locmap --list to check all the available puppet modules with their current state.

Applying software updates

You should update your system immediately after its installation: Eventual security errata and bug fixes will be applied this way before you start using it.

As root run:

/usr/bin/dnf -y update

to apply all available updates.