If your Red Hat Linux CD-ROM came with a ``live filesystem'' you can run Red Hat right off the CD-ROM without installing anything on your hard drive (with some limitations). This can be useful if you just wish to try out Red Hat or have a look at the graphical system administration tools. It can also be used as a learning environment for new Linux users, allowing them to become familiar with the environment and new commands without going through a complete installation.
If there is a README file on your Live Filesystem CD-ROM, read it. It contains the latest information on your CD-ROM, some of which may be different from what you are about to read. First, you need to create a boot disk. The images directory on the CD-ROM contains the liveboot disk image. Use dd or rawrite as described in section 2.3.1 to write liveboot.img to your second floppy disk.
If you'd like to store some files between sessions, you may create a disk for /home by following the instructions at boot time. Be sure to have a blank floppy ready.
Now, with the CD-ROM inserted, boot your system with the boot floppy and answer the questions as accurately as possible. The system will probe for your CD-ROM. If it does not find it you will need to reboot and enter parameters at the LILO boot prompt to force detection of your CD-ROM drive. See section 2.3.2 for or more details.
If you are going to use a /home floppy disk, insert it now. If it isn't already formatted, it will be formatted before being mounted at /home. While using the system, you can copy files to /home to save them.
If you are not using a /home floppy, type ``n'' and press enter.
When the login prompt appears login as root. To run the X Window System (which you'll want to do so you can try the control panel and glint) first run Xconfigurator to configure X for your hardware. Chapter 5.3 describes the Xconfigurator and its use. To start X Windows type startx. You can now hack around to your heart's content!
To stop X Windows, type Control-Alt-Backspace. To shutdown the system, type shutdown -h now.