Phase 3: Post-Install Baseline

Phase 3: Post-Install Baseline

Register with Red Hat

This is RHEL-specific — does not exist on Rocky/Alma. subscription-manager is on the RHCSA exam.

# Register system
sudo subscription-manager register --username=<your-redhat-username>
# Verify registration
sudo subscription-manager status
# List available repos
sudo subscription-manager repos --list-enabled
Expected repos
rhel-9-for-x86_64-baseos-rpms
rhel-9-for-x86_64-appstream-rpms

Enable Additional Repos

# Enable CodeReady Builder (development headers, extra packages)
sudo subscription-manager repos --enable codeready-builder-for-rhel-9-x86_64-rpms

System Update

sudo dnf update -y
# Reboot if kernel updated
sudo reboot

Hostname and Domain

# Set FQDN
sudo hostnamectl set-hostname rhel9-ws.inside.domusdigitalis.dev
# Verify
hostnamectl

Timezone and Locale

# Set timezone
sudo timedatectl set-timezone America/Los_Angeles
# Verify NTP sync (chrony)
timedatectl
chronyc tracking

Install Essential Packages

sudo dnf install -y \
  vim-enhanced \
  tmux \
  git \
  rsync \
  stow \
  curl \
  wget \
  tar \
  bash-completion \
  man-pages \
  bind-utils \
  net-tools \
  tree \
  jq \
  htop \
  unzip

Enable Cockpit (Web Console)

Cockpit is RHEL’s built-in web management console.

sudo systemctl enable --now cockpit.socket
# Verify
systemctl is-active cockpit.socket

Access at rhel9-ws:9090 from your browser.

SSH Configuration

# Enable sshd
sudo systemctl enable --now sshd
# Verify
systemctl is-active sshd

Take Initial Snapshot

# From KVM host — baseline snapshot before further config
virsh shutdown rhel9-workstation
virsh snapshot-create-as rhel9-workstation --name "phase-03-baseline" --description "Post-install baseline: registered, updated, essential packages"
virsh start rhel9-workstation
Check Status

subscription-manager register complete

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subscription-manager status shows registered

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BaseOS + AppStream repos enabled

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CodeReady Builder repo enabled

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dnf update complete

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Hostname set to FQDN

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Timezone set, chrony syncing

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Essential packages installed

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Cockpit enabled (port 9090)

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sshd enabled

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Baseline snapshot taken

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