Installation Help

Before You Begin

Installing Linux for the first time can feel daunting, but with proper preparation it's a smooth process. Work through the checklist below before you boot from your install media.

• Back up any important data on your current system.
• Know your hardware — CPU, RAM, and disk size at minimum.
• Decide whether you want to dual-boot with an existing OS or do a clean install.
• Have your network settings handy if you're on a static IP.
• Download and verify your chosen distro's ISO image.

Partitioning Basics

Linux uses a different partitioning scheme than Windows. At minimum you'll need a root partition (/) and a swap partition. A common beginner layout is:

$ fdisk -l
Device     Boot   Start      End  Sectors  Size  Type
/dev/sda1  *       2048  2099199  2097152    1G  Linux boot
/dev/sda2       2099200 10487807  8388608    4G  Linux swap
/dev/sda3      10487808 976773167 966285360  461G  Linux filesystem

• /boot — 256 MB to 1 GB, holds the kernel and bootloader.
• swap — roughly equal to your RAM (up to 4 GB).
• / (root) — everything else; 20+ GB recommended.
• /home (optional) — separate partition for user files.

Distribution-Specific Installation Guides

After Installation

Once Linux is installed, your next steps should be:

1. Boot into your new system and log in.
2. Configure X Window System if it isn't already running.
3. Set up networking and internet access.
4. Apply any available security updates.
5. Explore the available applications.