AlmaLinux is an enterprise-ready Linux distribution forked from Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It’s a very stable operating system that’s meant especially for production envrionments (servers), but you can also install a GUI on AlmaLinux and use it as a desktop operating system.
In this guide, we’ll be going through the step by step instructions of installing AlmaLinux. You can follow along with our steps whether you’re installing AlmaLinux on a desktop or server. If you already have CentOS installed and want to switch to AlmaLinux, please see our guide on migrating from CentOS to AlmaLinux.
In this tutorial you will learn:
- Which edition of AlmaLinux to download
- How to install AlmaLinux
Category | Requirements, Conventions or Software Version Used |
---|---|
System | AlmaLinux |
Software | N/A |
Other | Privileged access to your Linux system as root or via the sudo command. |
Conventions |
# – requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command$ – requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user |
Download AlmaLinux
Before beginning, you’ll need to download AlmaLinux from its official website.
The DVD1 ISO file is the biggest, and comes with GNOME GUI and other common software already installed. Download a copy of it if you plan to run a GUI or use AlmaLinux on a desktop system.
If you plan to install AlmaLinux without a GUI, you should opt for the minimal ISO. This also won’t come with many other extras, but you can always install whatever you need after the operating system is up and running. This is a good pick for servers.
Lastly, the boot ISO file is the smallest, and will need to connect to AlmaLinux’s repos to download all the necessary software during installation. This works well if deploying AlmaLinux on a large fleet of servers, as connecting to the repos will ensure that all software is up to date.
Regardless of which installation media you pick, the instructions below will cover all the necessary steps. After you’ve downloaded your ISO and created the necessary boot media, such as a bootable USB drive, proceed with the steps below.
Install AlmaLinux
Insert your installation media into the computer (or virtual machine), and follow along with us to install AlmaLinux.
- Boot into AlmaLinux and select your language when the installation media loads.
- Next, you’ll need to select a root password and configure disk partitioning. If you want automatic partitioning, you can simply click the disk partition menu and then click ‘Done’ without actually configuring anything.
- If you’re using the boot ISO, you’ll also need to configure an installation source (AlmaLinux’s repo), and your internet connection (just turning it on is usually enough). This is only necessary if you’re not using the DVD1 or minimal ISO media.
- Before proceeding, you can also click on the Software Selection menu to choose which type of install you want. If you’re using the DVD1 ISO file, you’ll have more options than those with a minimal ISO. Choose whichever environment best suits your needs, keeping in mind that more software can always be installed later anyway.
- With our configurations selected, proceed with the installation to begin installing AlmaLinux to disk.
- Once AlmaLinux is done installing, you’ll be prompted to reboot your system. Make sure that you also remove the installation media at this time, so you don’t boot back into it. If you selected “Server with GUI,” you’ll be prompted to create a new user and accept the user agreement.
- You can now login to your system with the normal user account.
- If you selected an install without GUI, you’ll simply be prompted to login to terminal with your root account.
Closing Thoughts
AlmaLinux makes it pretty easy to get up and running, and the installation process is only a few steps. The different ISO files and the software selection menu let us set up our system exactly as we like it. Now we’ve got a customized, enterprise-ready Linux system at our fingertips.