Phase 1: Installing RHEL

Chapter 1: Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Understanding RHEL installation options, kickstart automation, and virtual machine setup.

Key Concepts

Installation Methods

Method Use Case Notes

DVD/ISO

Manual installation

Interactive, good for learning

Kickstart

Automated installation

Reproducible, enterprise standard

Network (PXE)

Large deployments

Requires DHCP/TFTP infrastructure

Image-based

Cloud/container

Fastest, pre-built images

Minimum Requirements

Resource Minimum

RAM

1.5 GB (2 GB recommended)

Disk

10 GB (20 GB recommended)

CPU

1 core (2+ recommended)

Hands-On Exercises

Exercise 1.1: Create RHEL 9 VM with KVM

# Create VM with virt-install
sudo virt-install \
  --name rhcsa-server1 \
  --ram 2048 \
  --vcpus 2 \
  --disk size=20 \
  --os-variant rocky9 \
  --cdrom ~/isos/Rocky-9-latest-x86_64-minimal.iso \
  --network network=default \
  --graphics vnc

Exercise 1.2: Basic Kickstart File

See Phase 0: Lab Setup for complete kickstart reference.

Exercise 1.3: Installation Verification

# Check hostname
hostnamectl

# Check network
ip -4 addr show

# Check disk layout
lsblk

# Check RHEL version
cat /etc/redhat-release

# Check kernel
uname -r

Validation Checklist

After completing all exercises, verify:

  • VM boots to login prompt without errors

  • cat /etc/redhat-release shows Rocky Linux 9.x

  • lsblk shows LVM structure (if kickstart used autopart --type=lvm)

  • pvs && vgs && lvs — can you identify physical volumes, volume groups, logical volumes?

  • ip -4 addr show — VM has an IP address

  • hostnamectl — hostname is set correctly

  • getenforce — SELinux is Enforcing (default on RHEL/Rocky)

  • systemctl is-active sshd — SSH is running

  • Can SSH from host to VM: ssh admin@server1

  • Snapshot created: virsh snapshot-list rhcsa-server1

Exam Reality: The exam gives you pre-installed VMs. You won’t install RHEL from scratch. But you MUST understand the partitioning, LVM layout, and bootloader config that results from installation — the exam tests reconfiguration, not installation.

Common Mistakes

  • Skipping LVM verification — The exam heavily tests LVM. If your kickstart used autopart --type=lvm, run pvs, vgs, lvs now and understand the output. This is foundation for chapters 11-14.

  • Forgetting to snapshot — Before every risky lab, virsh snapshot-create-as. You WILL break things. Recovery without snapshots costs hours.

  • Using GUI installer for practice — The exam is CLI-heavy. Use kickstart installs to practice automation and verify results from command line.

  • Not checking SELinux — getenforce should return "Enforcing" on a fresh Rocky 9 install. If it’s Permissive or Disabled, your VM won’t simulate exam conditions.

Exam Weight

Weight Topic

Low

Installation itself (pre-installed VMs on exam)

High

Understanding partition layout, LVM structure, bootloader

High

Kickstart syntax (may need to modify or create)

Diagram: Installation Flow

# RHEL Installation Flow
# Edit this D2 diagram as you learn

direction: down

title: RHEL 9 Installation Process {
  shape: text
  style.font-size: 24
}

boot: Boot from Media {
  shape: oval
  style.fill: "#e3f2fd"
}

media_check: Media Check {
  shape: diamond
  style.fill: "#fff3e0"
}

language: Select Language {
  shape: rectangle
}

install_summary: Installation Summary {
  shape: rectangle
  style.fill: "#e8f5e9"
  style.stroke: "#2e7d32"
  style.stroke-width: 2
}

components: {
  label: Configure Components
  style.fill: "#f3e5f5"

  keyboard: Keyboard Layout
  network: Network & Hostname
  time: Time & Date
  software: Software Selection
  storage: Installation Destination
  root: Root Password
  user: User Creation
}

begin: Begin Installation {
  shape: oval
  style.fill: "#bbdefb"
}

installing: Installing Packages {
  shape: rectangle
  style.fill: "#fff9c4"
}

reboot: Reboot {
  shape: oval
  style.fill: "#c8e6c9"
}

complete: Installation Complete {
  shape: oval
  style.fill: "#a5d6a7"
  style.stroke: "#1b5e20"
  style.stroke-width: 3
}

# Flow
boot -> media_check
media_check -> language: Pass
media_check -> boot: Fail

language -> install_summary

install_summary -> components.keyboard
install_summary -> components.network
install_summary -> components.time
install_summary -> components.software
install_summary -> components.storage
install_summary -> components.root
install_summary -> components.user

components.storage -> begin: Required

begin -> installing
installing -> reboot
reboot -> complete

Notes

Add personal notes as you work through this chapter.

What Worked

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What Broke

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Key Takeaways

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