As we know CentOS 8 is EOL (End of Life) in December 2021, there are some alternative Linux distributions has come up to fill the gap such as RockyLinux and AlmaLinux. AlmaLinux created and maintained by CloudLinux which is a free and open-source Linux distribution and it is binary-compatible with current version of RHEL. AlmaLinux 8.3 was the first stable version released on 30 May, 2021. is it the successor and viable replacement of CentOS Linux ? Please let us know through comment section below. CloudLinux committed to support AlmaLinux through 2029 also the community will contributing to AlmaLinux.
AlmaLinux 8.5 is the latest version which was released on November 2021. In this post, we will see the simple steps involved for AlmaLinux 8.5 installation.
Download AlmaLinux
Download AlmaLinux from the official download page, create a bootable USB device using UNetbootin or Etcher from the ISO image.
1. Installation of AlmaLinux
Once you create a bootable USB device, plug in and restart the server. Make sure booting sequence is set properly.
2. Booting AlmaLinux with bootable device.
System will boot with bootable media and following black screen will be shown. Choose first option and press ENTER key without testing installation media.
3. Select Installation Language
Select the Language and click on “Continue“.
4. Installation Summary
From the following screen there are four sections such as LOCALIZATION, SOFTWARE, SYSTEM and USER SETTINGS. Choose Keyboard, Language Support, Time & Date, Software Selection, Installation Destination, KDUMP and Network, Host Name & Root Password and proceed final installation.
5. Configure Time & Date
Select “Time and Date” and select Region of your choice, click on “Done“.
6. Software Selection
There are two sections “Base Environment” and “Additional software for Selected Environment“. Select the Base Environment of your choice and additional applications which can be included from the selected “Base Environment“.
7. NETWORK & HOST NAME
Once you click on “Network & Host Name” where you could see the Ethernet Adapters detected by the Operating System. Assign hostname for the system and click “Apply” to save the changes and click “Done” to proceed.
8. INSTALLATION DESTINATION
There are three sections “Local Standard Disks“, “Specialized & Network Disks” and “Storage Configuration“.
On Local Standard Disks section, you would find Local Hard Disk detected by the system. At least on disk must always be selected for the installation to proceed. Any network storage you configure will then show up in the Specialized & Network Disks section. There are two options “Automatic” and “Custom” in the Storage Configuration section. If the Automatic option is selected, the installer will create a Logical Volume Management (LVM) layout suitable for your system. The “Custom” option is for advanced user who knows the partitions very well and want to manage partitions himself. In this post, we will be selecting “Automatic” and click on “Done” to proceed.
9. Set ROOT PASSWORD
Set password for root users (administrator), this is very important to remember whenever required to perform administrative tasks. However, you can elevate privileges’ to normal user as well.
10. INSTALLATION SUMMARY
Once all the sections is configured, start AlmaLinux installation by clicking on “Begin Installation“.
11. Installation Started.
This will take sometime. Installer has begun downloading and installing the required packages which was selected on Base Environment section.
Once installation is complete, you would see the screen as below to Reboot the system. Click on “Reboot System“.
Starting AlmaLinux
12. Post AlmaLinux Installation
These are the one time tasks after AlmaLinux installation. Follow screen till it finishes. EULA (End User License Agreement), tick on “I accept the license agreement” and click on “Done“.
13. INITIAL SETUP
Once License agreement is done, click on “User Creation” section to create user.
14. CREATE USER
Provide the user details, tick “Make this user administrator” if you want user to be elevated as admin privileges’. Click on “Done”.
15. FINISH CONFIGURATION
Click on “FINISH CONFIGURATION“.
16. Login on AlmaLinux
Login with recently created user.
17. AlmaLinux Desktop
Below is the AlmaLinux desktop, we have seen the similar steps of installing CentOS 8, there is any difference observed.
This is end of AlmaLinux Installation Steps. Please comment if you need any help during installation thru comment section. We are happy to help you. Please share it with others and follow us on our Facebook Official Page.
Nice post will be waiting for other posts