Installation guide

not move forward in the installation unless you choose a default boot image.
Note
The Label column lists what you must enter at the boot prompt, in non-graphical
boot loaders, in order to boot the desired operating system.
Once you have loaded the GRUB boot screen, use the arrow keys to choose a
boot label or type e for edit. You are presented with a list of items in the configura-
tion file for the boot label you have selected.
Boot loader passwords provide a security mechanism in an environment where physical access
to your server is available.
If you are installing a boot loader, you should create a password to protect your system. Without
a boot loader password, users with access to your system can pass options to the kernel which
can compromise your system security. With a boot loader password in place, the password
must first be entered before selecting any non-standard boot options. However, it is still possible
for someone with physical access to the machine to boot from a diskette, CD-ROM, or USB me-
dia if the BIOS supports it. Security plans which include boot loader passwords should also ad-
dress alternate boot methods.
If you choose to use a boot loader password to enhance your system security, be sure to select
the checkbox labeled Use a boot loader password.
Once selected, enter a password and confirm it.
To configure more advanced boot loader options, such as changing the drive order or passing
options to the kernel, be sure Configure advanced boot loader options is selected before
clicking Next.
19.1. Advanced Boot Loader Configuration
Now that you have chosen which boot loader to install, you can also determine where you want
the boot loader to be installed. You may install the boot loader in one of two places:
• The master boot record (MBR) — This is the recommended place to install a boot loader,
unless the MBR already starts another operating system loader, such as System Command-
er. The MBR is a special area on your hard drive that is automatically loaded by your com-
puter's BIOS, and is the earliest point at which the boot loader can take control of the boot
process. If you install it in the MBR, when your machine boots, GRUB presents a boot
prompt. You can then boot Red Hat Enterprise Linux or any other operating system that you
have configured the boot loader to boot.
• The first sector of your boot partition — This is recommended if you are already using anoth-
er boot loader on your system. In this case, your other boot loader takes control first. You
can then configure that boot loader to start GRUB, which then boots Red Hat Enterprise
Linux.
19.1. Advanced Boot Loader Configuration
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