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Chapter 3. Installing Red Hat Linux

If you already have a boot loader that can boot Linux and do not want to overwrite your current boot

loader, or if you plan to boot the system using boot diskettes, choose Do not install a boot loader by

clicking on the Change boot loader button.

Caution

If you choose not to install GRUB or LILO for any reason, you will not be able to boot the system

directly, and you will need to use another boot method (such as a boot diskette). Use this option only

if you are sure you have another way of booting the system!

Every bootable partition is listed, including partitions used by other operating systems. The partition

holding your the system's root file system will have a Label of

Red Hat Linux

(for GRUB) or

linux

(for LILO). Other partitions may also have boot labels. If you would like to add or change the

boot label for other partitions that have been detected by the installation program, click once on the

partition to select it. Once selected, you can change the boot label by clicking the Edit button.

Select Default beside the preferred boot partition to choose your default bootable OS. You will not be

able to move forward in the installation unless you choose a default boot image.

Note

The Label column lists what you must enter at the boot prompt, in non graphical boot loaders, in

order to boot the desired operating system.

Once you have loaded the GRUB boot screen, use the arrow keys to choose a boot label or type [e]

for edit. You will be presented with a list of items in the configuration file for the boot label you have

selected.

At the graphical LILO screen, press [Ctrl] [x] to exit to the boot: prompt. If you forget the boot labels

defined on your system, you can always press [Tab] at the prompt to display a list of defined boot

labels.

Boot loader passwords provide a security mechanism in an environment where physical access to your

server is available.

If you are installing a boot loader, you should create a password to protect your system. Without

a boot loader password, users with access to your system can pass options to the kernel which can

compromise your system security. With a boot loader password in place, the password must first be

entered in order to select any non standard boot options.

If you choose to use a boot loader password to enhance your system security, be sure to select the

checkbox labeled Use a boot loader password.

Once selected, enter a password and confirm it.

To configure more advance boot loader options, such as changing the drive order or passing options

to the kernel, be sure Configure advanced boot loader options is selected before clicking Next.

3.20.1. Advanced Boot Loader Configuration

Now that you have chosen which boot loader to install, you can also determine where you want the

boot loader to be installed. You may install the boot loader in one of two places: