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sglee

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Choosing CentOS

Hi,

  I am new to Linux OS. I need to install CentOS 7 on a brand new server. Upon my research, I discovered that  several options are available:
CentOS-7-x86_64-DVD-1503-01.iso              4.0G
CentOS-7-x86_64-Everything-1503-01.iso   7.1G
CentOS-7-x86_64-LiveCD-1503.iso               696M
CentOS-7-x86_64-LiveGNOME-1503.iso      1.0G
CentOS-7-x86_64-LiveKDE-1503.iso             1.2G
CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-1503-01.iso       636M
CentOS-7-x86_64-NetInstall-1503.iso          360M
Among all these choices, I only saw "DVD ISO, Everything ISO and Minimal ISO" on CentOS download page - https://www.centos.org/download/
I tied DVD ISO version (4GB) and Minimal ISO (696MB) on my test server.
This server will be running Progress database server system. Having said that my progress software vendor recommended that I install minimal version or network version (I assume they were talking about NetInstall-1503.iso?)
I don't have much preference as to which version I install, but what I like to be able to do is to run GUI desktop like GNOME so that I can check the status of RAID Controller Card and its hard drives. I know I can run Storcli commands, but I would much prefer to see things visually and like to set up an email notification method in RAID management software should any of the hardware fails.

What do you suggest? I am new to CentOS / Linux environment.
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Muhsin PM

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Muhsin PM

You have to enable GUI during the installation steps. As you said you can enable GUI using yum -y groups install "GNOME Desktop.

Minimal is fine if you intend to "yum install somepackage" later on after the install.
DVD can be used if, for example, you want a full working Gnome desktop installation and you don't have network access. This image may also be useful if you intend to do installations on multiple computers. This way you don't have to download the packages over and over again, which you might need to do when doing installs from the Minimal image.
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Am I correct to say that even DVD version install will NOT automatically install GUI desktop and therefore I have to add it separately?
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arnold
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Is there a big difference  in disk space it takes up at the end of installation between Minimal and DVD install?

CentOS-7-x86_64-DVD-1503-01.iso              4.0G
CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-1503-01.iso       636M

Obviously there is more than 3GB of difference between two versions.
DVD has multiple groups, exact copies of yum groupinstall groups, unlikely you will need KDE and GNOME and webserver for same machine. It is really easier to install minimal system and grow if needed.
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ASKER

I am going with Minimal install and add GNOME desktop.
Anyone objects to the idea?
Perfect :) go ahead.
I object,

Really, it depends on what you are planing to use it for. If this is to familiarize yourself with Linux for use in industry..... Meaning the system should be setup as a server, meaning no GUI. All using command line tools.
Installing the GUI is what will consume most of the additional space. It will not go the 636 GB

Usually the OS should fit nicely with all the bells and whistles in a 30gb setup using around 40% the space use includes the space used for swap on the drive. User files, web sites, db are .......

Kde is the  larger GUI package.....
If this is an attempt at an alternate desktop/workstation........

IMHO since you will be burning a CD/DVD, get the liveCD this will let you try the thing out without the need to install it, but maintains the option to install when ready........ What is an extra 60GB of download when you would download 636GB for minimal install?
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ASKER

@arnold,
 The minimal install is  636MB, not GB.
This server will be running Progress database server system. Having said that my progress software vendor recommended that I install minimal version or network version (I assume they were talking about NetInstall-1503.iso?)
I don't have much preference as to which version I install, but what I like to be able to do is to run GUI desktop like GNOME so that I can check the status of RAID Controller Card and its hard drives. I know I can run Storcli commands, but I would much prefer to see things visually and like to set up an email notification method in RAID management software should any of the hardware fails.

1) minimal install
2) RAID status - it is specific to RAID card. Normally one sets smartmontools to log bad disks to remote syslog.
3) GUI - as much as progress Db is concerned - all GUI and IDE is web browser based, so any desktop will do (you can run firefox over SSH X11 forwarding, no GUI necessary on the server machine)
Sglee,

Thanks for the correction; Nonetheless the additional 60 between the minimal and liveCD is the same proportion.

I'm not quite sure what the filename here is.
The purpose/proposed use will dictate which since either is suitable with the consideration if the system/server has a builtin DVD ..........while it is prevalent, DVD might not be what us on the system, a cd is a more likely a fitting match.
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I went with minimum installed and added GNOME successfully. Thanks for your opinions.