Fedora Server interactive local installation

Non-US users should specifically check the keyboard layout. Selecting this item opens a form where you can set the keyboard layout, even several ones and their order. A change immediately affects the installer as well.

In a standard installation (using the "Standard ISO image"), Anaconda uses "Local media" which will pull packages from the ISO image on your install media.

In a network installation select the item and edit the form appropriately.

Select Network. Its default is Mirror List. Anaconda searches an appropriate mirror and comes up with everything repository. In this case, everything repository causes no issues, because the system uses the anaconda configuration of the server medium booted from. So it gets the correct default configuration.

When everything repo is active, the "Software Selection" item becomes active, and you have to select "Fedora Server Edition".

Alternatively, you may manually select a server repository directly.

Select one or more disks on which to install Fedora Server. You have several options.

Before configuring the Installation Destination configure the Network & Host Name to give your server a hostname. The new hostname can be entered at the bottom of this screen and then pressing the Apply button.

The hostname is important for smooth functioning of various services. Unless the server is integrated into a cluster, a fully qualified static hostname (FQN) is used, i.e. server name and the domain ('my-server.example.com'). Enter the hostname and confirm with 'Apply'.

In a cluster, the hostname is often assigned by DHCP and MAC address. In this case, leave the field untouched.

By default the installation program creates a DHCP configuration for each network interface. In the case of an active connection it is automatically started during boot.

In case of servers it is often preferable to configure a static IP address. This ensures a valid network connection at system start even if the DHCP server is defective. Select the network interface, activate the IPv4 or IPv6 tab. Switch from "Automatic (DHCP)" to "Manual" and add an IP specification.

First, decide if you desire to have a root account on Fedora Server. Anaconda’s default configuration disables the root account to prevent malicious actors from logging in as root. Instead, Anaconda requires a user account that can acquire administrative privileges using sudo.

It is possible to secure root access using an ssh key file, but server administrators may desire to retain the ability to have root access with a password through an attached console or Cockpit login. If you decide that you would like to have password access to the root account, select Root Account, then Enable root account, and enter a password for the root account in the form that appears. For security reasons, ssh login as root is only allowed with an ssh key file by default. You are not encouraged to modify this security setting by clicking on the option, "Allow root SSH login with password".

Second, select User Creation to create a user account for Fedora Server. You are encouraged to keep the default options of "Add administrative privileges to this user account" and "Require a password to use this account" checked. Unless you have decided against the security practice of not allowing root access with a password, your user account will need these options to have administrative access to the server after installation of Fedora Server.

You may want to check Time & Date on the Installation Summary page to ensure that you have the correct time zone and Network Time is activated. These settings ensure that your server will regularly synchronize its time with a trusted source. Having the correct time on your server will make tasks like finding events at a specific time and date in your log files easier.

On the "Installation Summary" page select "Time & Date" and check time, time zone and activation of time synchronization.