Description of problem: Neither the cover of the shrink-wrapped pack, nor the Installation Guide, include a statement of the Minimum System Requirements for installing and running the software, and the Installation Guide does not include the text-based installation procedure. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): rhl-ig-x86(EN)-9-Print-RHI (2003-01-16T18:24-0400) from shrink-wrap pack 1-58569-329-4 How reproducible: Fully Steps to Reproduce: 1.Read shrink wrapped software pack cover 2.Buy shrinkwrapped software pack 3.Read included Installation Guide Actual results: Unsuccessful installation of Red Had Linux 9 - RH Linux 9 useless for task as server OS Expected results: Successful installation of Red Hat Linux 9; RH Linux appropriate for task as server OS Additional info: We bought Red Hat Linux 9, to upgrade our server (running Red Hat Linux 6.2 on a Pentium MMX with 32 MB RAM). The shrink-wrapped software pack did not show any Minimum System Requirements on the outside of the pack. We had no reason to believe that the server would not meet the minimum system requirements. The Installation Guide did not include a statement of the Minimum System Requirements. We tried to instal Red Hat Linux on the server. We got an error message stating that the computer had insufficient RAM for a graphical installation process, so the text-based installation process was attempted. The Installation Guide had no information (as it does for the graphical installation; step by step, with screen dumps), for the text-based installation process. Network card and mouse not detected. No network component included in installation procedure. Later found Minimum System Requirements elsewhere. Server does not meet and cannot meet Minimum System Requirements. Software useless for task.
Hello, Thanks for writing and for your feedback. On the bottom of the Red Hat Linux 9 shrink-wrapped boxed set, there is a listing of minimum requirements which say: CPU Minimum: Pentium-class Recommended for text-mode: 200MHz Pentium-class or better Recommended for graphical: 400Mhz Pentium II or better Hard disk space Custom Installation (minimum): 475MB Server: 850MB Personal Desktop: 1.7GB Workstation: 2.1GB Custom Installation (everything): 5.0GB Memory Minimum for text-mode: 64MB Minimum for graphical: 128MB Recommended for graphical: 192MB As for the text-mode installation instructions, we have not included these instructions for several releases. The text-mode installation program has been updated to follow the same path as the graphical install, so that a user could use the graphical installation instructions and still receive the help they need. The Installation Guide states in several places that it explains how to perform a custom installation of Red Hat Linux from the CD-ROM, using the graphical, mouse-based installation program (including the first paragraph of Chapter 3). We have so few cases of the installation program not working in graphical mode these days, that it doesn't make sense any more for us to include the step-by-step text-mode installation instructions (especially when considering the limited page count allowed for the Installation Guide. Best regards, Sandra
The shrink-wrapped pack for which I gave the ISBN number, as mentioned in the Installation Guide, did NOT display the Minimum System Requirements. I suggest finding a shrink-wrapped Red Hat Linux 9 pack such as I specified, and physically looking at the pack. The one that we purchased, did NOT include the Minimum System Requirements specification, on the outside of the pack, on any of the contents of the pack, or, in the Installation Guide. Please check the shrink-wrapped pack with the ISBN number that I quoted. I followed the instructions in the Installation Guide, in making the bug report. The barcode number for the shrink-wrapped Red Hat Linux 9 pack to which I referred, is 6-38347-50290-3. Please check the shrink-wrapped pack with that bar code number and ISBN number. Regarding the lack of the text-mode installation instructions; the computer on which the operating system was to be installed, is a server/gateway, used primarily as a dialup/gateway/firewall/printserver for a small LAN, for which minimal system requirements (not the Minimum System Requirements for RH Linux 9) are generally adequate. It appears from the above response to the bug report, that Red Hat 9 cannot be used for a server/gateway computer such as I have described, (apart from not meeting the Minimum System Requirements), as the system resources required for the graphical installation of Red Hat 9, are far beyond what is required for the minimal requirements for such a server. The computer that we have been using for a number of years, for this purpose, is a Pentium 200MMX based computer, with 32MB RAM, which has been running Red Hat Linux 6.2 quite happily for the task, and adequately performing in its role, with no performance problems. It appears from the response above, that an alternative to Red Hat Linux 9, should be used for a small server installation, and, it appears that Red Hat expects that Red Hat 9 should not be used for operating small gateway/servers. Oh, and the mouse (apart from the network card), could not be got to work with Red Hat 9. Because Red Hat 9 failed to detect the network card, there was no opportunity to install a driver for the network card, or configure the network, during the installation process, in spite of the assurance stated at the top of page 47 of the Installation Guide. We were consequently unable to access the network. Perhaps, the text-based installation does not include network access, or installation of network devices? The Tip at the bottom of that page, was not successful, as we could not access the network, using Red Hat Linux 9. With all of this, we have had to revert to using Red Hat Linux 6.2, as the more appropriate server OS, as Red Hat Linux 9 appears incapable of operating the server/gateway. The total Red Hat Linux 6.2 installation on the server, is about 690MB, from df -h.
The Red Hat Linux Product Manager and I have reviewed both versions of the Red Hat Linux 9 boxed set (the standard and professional versions). Both of the boxed sets that are produced by Red Hat, Inc. include the minimum hardware requirements on the bottom of the box (the bottom of the box is the only location these requirement can be found). I'm not sure if you have aquired a boxed set that was not made by Red Hat, Inc., but it does not seem that you have an official Red Hat Linux product from your description. I'm not sure why you had so much trouble with hardware and installing Red Hat Linux 9. Please review the following links to see if they will help meet your needs: Hardware Compatibility Lists -- http://hardware.redhat.com/hcl/ Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS -- http://www.redhat.com/software/rhel/as/ Red Hat Linux 9 Errata -- https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/rh9-errata.html Since I was unable to reproduce your problems with the boxed set and was able to verify that the boxed sets produced by Red Hat, Inc. do include the minimum requirements information, I am closing this bug report. Best regards!
Bret is correct - the Pocket Book Edition of RedHat Linux 9 (7 cds + install book - not a "boxed" set as there is no cardboard box) does not state minimum system requirements where they can be seen before breaking the shrink wrap. Here are the ISBN and part numbers from the Australian edition I checked: ISBN 1-58569-329-4 BOX0029AP RHF0120AP
Bret and I chatted via email to gain a better understanding of this situation. The Red Hat Product Management teams are now aware of this issue and are working with their global counterparts to ensure this information is included in future products for all regions.