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3. Using the GTK+ based Gentoo Linux Installer

• Welcome
• Partitioning
• Timezone
• Networking
• Users
• Extra Packages
• Startup Services
• Other Settings
• Finishing Up

3.a. Welcome

Before you begin

The Gentoo Linux Installer (GLI) provides a friendly introduction to the process of installing Gentoo on your computer. Remember to read each option carefully. There is detailed help available for each step of installation; just look to the left of each screen. We recommend that you always read the help pages before making your choices. Note that at any time during the installation process, you can save your configuration progress in case you need to resume your installation at a later time.

3.b. Partitioning

Preparing the disks

In order to install Gentoo on your machine, you will need to prepare your disks. The Partitioning screen will show you a list of detected disks and allow you to specify the filesystems you would like to have on your partitions. Clicking Clear partitions will erase all previous partitions on your disk, so be careful with this option! It is also possible to resize certain partition types.

If you choose to go with the Recommended layout, the installer will erase any previous partitions on your disk and create three partitions: 100MB for /boot, a /swap partition up to 512MB in size, and the rest of the available space on the disk is used for /, the root partition.

3.c. Timezone

Choose your timezone

Study the map and select the region closest to your actual location. Later, you will be asked to select if you want your clock to be set to UTC or local time.

3.d. Networking

Device information

On this screen, you will be able to configure the various network interface devices on your computer. Read the available options carefully.

On the Hostname/Proxy Information/Other tab, you will need to choose a hostname for your machine. You may also specify proxy server and DNS settings if needed.

3.e. Users

Adding users and groups

First set the root password for the system administrator (the root user).

We strongly recommend that you create a regular user for daily work. Working as root all the time is dangerous and should be avoided! Create your users, add them to the appropriate groups, and set their passwords. You can optionally change their home directories, select their login shell, and set helpful comments.

3.f. Extra Packages

Optional: installing extra packages

The LiveCD contains a number of available pre-built packages. If you wish to install any of them, check the appropriate box.

3.g. Startup Services

This screen allows you to choose various services to load at system boot. Study the available options and their descriptions carefully, and then select your desired services. For example, if you have chosen to install xorg-x11 and want to boot straight into a graphical desktop, then you would select "xdm" from the list.

3.h. Other Settings

Miscellaneous options

Now you will be able to change various settings, including keyboard layout, graphical display manager, the default editor, and whether to set your hardware clock to UTC or local time.

3.i. Finishing Up

At this point, you're done. You can reboot into your new Gentoo system at any time.

Congratulations, your system is now fully equipped! Continue with Where to go from here? to learn more about Gentoo.

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