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## Installing CentOS Stream 9

CentOS Stream 9 is a continuously delivered distribution of the CentOS project that provides a rolling-release development platform for enterprises. This guide will walk you through the process of installing CentOS Stream 9, suitable for dedicated servers where you require full control over your operating system.

### Prerequisites

Before you begin the installation, ensure you have the following:

* **A dedicated server:** A physical or virtual machine with at least 2GB of RAM and 10GB of free disk space. For optimal performance in enterprise environments, consider robust dedicated servers available at [PowerVPS](https://powervps.net/?from=32) with full root access.
* **CentOS Stream 9 Installation Media:** Download the ISO image from the official CentOS website. You can typically find this on the [CentOS Stream downloads page](https://www.centos.org/download/).
* **USB Drive or DVD:** To create bootable installation media.
* **Internet Connection:** Required for downloading packages during installation.
* **Basic Linux Command-Line Knowledge:** Familiarity with navigating the terminal and executing commands.

### Creating Bootable Installation Media

First, you need to create a bootable USB drive or DVD from the CentOS Stream 9 ISO image.

1. **For Linux/macOS:**
Open a terminal and use the `dd` command. Replace `/path/to/centos-stream-9.iso` with the actual path to your downloaded ISO and `/dev/sdX` with your USB drive's device name (e.g., `/dev/sdb`). **Be extremely careful to select the correct device, as this command will erase all data on it.**

<pre>sudo dd if=/path/to/centos-stream-9.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress</pre>

2. **For Windows:**
You can use tools like Rufus or balenaEtcher. Download and run the application, select your ISO file, select your USB drive, and start the process.

### Booting from Installation Media

Once your bootable media is ready, you need to boot your server from it.

1. **Access BIOS/UEFI:** Restart your server and press the appropriate key (often F2, F10, F12, or DEL) during startup to enter the BIOS or UEFI settings.
2. **Change Boot Order:** Navigate to the boot settings and set your USB drive or DVD drive as the first boot device.
3. **Save and Exit:** Save your changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI. The server will now boot from your installation media.

### CentOS Stream 9 Installation Process

The CentOS Stream 9 installer will guide you through the setup.

1. **Welcome Screen:** Upon booting, you will see a welcome screen. Select "Install CentOS Stream 9" and press Enter.

2. **Installation Summary:** This is your main configuration screen. You will need to configure several options before proceeding.

* **Keyboard:** Select your preferred keyboard layout.
* **Language:** Choose the installation language.
* **Time & Date:** Set your server's time zone.
* **Installation Source:**
* **Local Media:** If you booted from USB/DVD, this is usually selected automatically.
* **Network:** If your server has a network connection and you've configured it, you can install from a network repository. For dedicated servers, especially those at [PowerVPS](https://powervps.net/?from=32), ensuring network connectivity is crucial for updates.
* **Software Selection:**
* **Minimal Install:** Recommended for servers, as it installs only the essential packages, reducing the attack surface and resource usage.
* **Server with GUI:** Installs a graphical desktop environment, which is generally not needed for server operations.
* **Add-ons:** You can select additional software groups here based on your needs.
* **Installation Destination:**
* **Automatic Partitioning:** The installer will automatically create partitions. This is suitable for beginners.
* **Custom Partitioning:** Allows you to manually define partitions (e.g., `/`, `/home`, `swap`, `/boot`). For enterprise use, custom partitioning offers more control.
* **Network & Hostname:**
* **Hostname:** Set a descriptive hostname for your server (e.g., `webserver01`).
* **Network Interfaces:** Enable your network interfaces and configure IP addresses, DNS servers, and search domains. For a static IP, click on the interface, toggle "On," and configure the IPv4 settings.
* **Security Policy:** (Optional) Configure SELinux policies.
* **Kdump:** (Optional) Configure kernel dump settings for debugging.

3. **Begin Installation:** Once you have configured all the necessary settings in the Installation Summary, click "Begin Installation."

4. **User Settings:** While the installation proceeds, you will need to set up the root password and create a regular user account.
* **Root Password:** Click on "Root Password" and set a strong, complex password. This is the administrator account.
* **User Creation:** Click on "User Creation" and create a new user with a username and password. Granting this user administrator privileges (by checking "Make this user an administrator") is recommended for daily operations.

5. **Installation Complete:** Once the installation finishes, you will see a "Installation Complete" message. Click "Finish Installation."

6. **Reboot:** Remove the installation media and reboot your server.

<pre>sudo reboot</pre>

### Post-Installation Steps

After the initial installation, there are a few crucial steps to perform.

1. **Update System Packages:** Log in to your new CentOS Stream 9 system and update all installed packages to their latest versions. This is vital for security and stability.

<pre>sudo dnf update -y</pre>

The `dnf` command is the package manager for CentOS Stream 9, similar to `apt` on Debian-based systems. The `-y` flag automatically answers "yes" to prompts.

2. **Configure Firewall:** Ensure your firewall is configured to allow only necessary network traffic. `firewalld` is the default firewall management tool.

* **Check Firewall Status:**
<pre>sudo systemctl status firewalld</pre>
* **Enable Firewall (if not running):**
<pre>sudo systemctl enable firewalld --now</pre>
* **Allow SSH (port 22) by default:**
<pre>sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=ssh</pre>
* **Reload Firewall Rules:**
<pre>sudo firewall-cmd --reload</pre>
* **List Allowed Services:**
<pre>sudo firewall-cmd --list-all</pre>

3. **Install Essential Software:** Depending on your server's purpose, you might want to install additional software. For example, to install the `wget` utility for downloading files:

<pre>sudo dnf install wget -y</pre>

### Troubleshooting Common Issues

* **"No bootable device found" error:** This usually means the boot order in your BIOS/UEFI is incorrect, or the installation media was not created properly. Re-create the bootable media and verify the boot order.
* **Network connectivity issues:** Double-check your network interface configuration in the installer or after booting. Ensure your IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS servers are correctly set. If using a [PowerVPS dedicated server](https://powervps.net/?from=32), confirm your network settings with their support.
* **Package installation failures:** Ensure your server has a stable internet connection. Check the `/etc/yum.repos.d/` directory for correct repository configurations.

### Conclusion

You have now successfully installed CentOS Stream 9 on your server. Remember to keep your system updated regularly and configure your firewall appropriately to maintain a secure and stable environment. For more advanced configurations, explore topics like [[Configuring SSH Access]] or [[Setting Up Web Servers]].

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[[Category:OS Installation]]
[[Category:CentOS]]
[[Category:Server Administration]]

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