Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 2
Installing Fedora
You now know all about the hardware on the Raspberry Pi and have all the parts you need to get it up and running.
You may have even already got a version of Linux installed. Most likely you have installed the Debian port known as
Raspbian. Raspbian is fine and has all the latest fixes and it's also the easiest to install. I prefer to use Fedora because
I deal with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) each day at work and it makes it a little easier for me. I am not that
familiar with Debian so I feel I can offer you more with Fedora. However, I am not going to force you to use any
particular Linux distribution. You are quite free to choose any distribution; use whatever you are comfortable with.
All the tools and code in this topic will use open source build tools or utilities so any distribution of Linux will be fine.
After all, I intend to show you more than one operating system on the Raspberry Pi anyway.
In Chapter 11 I will also help you with how to install my first and favorite Linux distribution, Gentoo. Coming
from a NetBSD background, I liked the way the portage system worked. My main goal at the time was to learn Linux,
and Gentoo is a great teacher. Centos/RHEL also taught me a lot about enterprise Linux and why doing things a
certain way is a very good thing.
A lot of the functionality you need will come from the Linux kernel. All the hardware headers are exported by
the kernel as built-in functions or as modules. This is one of the reasons that make Linux so good. No matter what
distribution you pick, the kernel will be based off the same tree of code. This is also why you will often see Linux
distributions described as being GNU/Linux, because they use GNU applications in user land (applications that you
run and use yourself ) and Linux to give you an open source kernel. This exciting combination of software makes up
your distribution.
What'S a DIStrIBUtION?
In the Linux world a distribution is a bundle of end-user software and a kernel. It is a full working system, if you
will, ready to be installed and operated. Each part of the distribution could be distributed independently as well.
A distribution just packs it all up in one easy-to-use bundle.
In this chapter I will talk about the different ways you can install Fedora to your SD card and how your SD card
will be set up. This is not too hard but it's good to know the different ways you can set up your card. SD cards are not
hard disks and Fedora expects to be installed on a hard disk so you need to take a little care.
I will also talk about the importation files that live on the /boot partition of your SD card. I will talk you through
the files' functions and how you can replace or edit them if you want. These files can have a large effect on the way
your Raspberry Pi will work, so it's important to know where to find them and edit them.
Of course I will talk about the first boot of Fedora and what to expect via traditional access with a keyboard and
screen and also via headless with just an Ethernet cable. I will also talk about some of the basic settings you may want
to configure on Fedora. The big one will be the network time protocol (NTP), unless you like setting the date and time
at each reboot of the Raspberry Pi.
Lastly I will talk about what optimization can increase the performance and life of your SD card. With not a
moment to spare, get your SD cards ready because next up is the creation of the SD card.
 
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