Install CentOS Stream

This section provides instructions for installing the Linux CentOS Stream Operating System for use by the Data Library. If you are upgrading from an older server, make sure you have a full backup of your current system before following these instructions, which will completely erase the drive you are installing on.

We recommend CentOS Stream 10. If your CPU isn’t supported by CentOS Stream 10, CentOS Stream 9 will also work. CentOS7 is beyond its end of life and is no longer recommended to install.

Note

CentOS Stream 10 requires an AMD/Intel 64-bit x86_64_v3 CPU or higher. Typically, any CPU less than 10 years old should support CentOS Stream 10. To find out for sure: Linux - use the command lscpu; Windows - use “About This Computer”. Then search for that CPU in a search engine to find the specifications for that CPU.

Install the Operating System

  • Install CentOS Stream from https://www.centos.org/download. Select the tab for 10, then download the x86_64 Architecture ISO. We currently only support x86_64.

    • To create a bootable USB of the Installation ISO, use balenaEtcher

    • Installation Notes

      • Select Server with GUI as your Software Selection to make it easier to maintain.

      • When configuring your disk partitions (Installation Destination), Select Customize Storage Configuration.

        • Use LVM when creating the filesystems. This is the default.

          • Don’t modify /boot or /boot/efi

        • Increase root partition to 100GB

        • Create a /data partition large enough to hold all your data now and in the future. Many users put /data on a separate disk (or disk array) from the operating system.

        • Create a /home partition large enough to house your users’ data.

        • Leave 10% of the disk unallocated. This will allow you to create snapshots or increase the size of partitions later if necessary.

      • Configure the Network and Hostname (and DNS) appropriately for your network.

      • Set the appropriate Time and Date.

      • Create a Secure Root Password

      • Create a user account for a system administrator.
        Under the Advanced configuration section, make the user a member of the wheel group so they will be able to perform commands as root using sudo.

Post Operating System Installation

Once the server boots up after the installation, you can install the requirements necessary for installing the Data Library Software. You must have sudo privileges on your account.

Update Packages

You should install the latest updates to the Operating System before continuing.

sudo dnf -y update

Disable SELinux

sudo sed -i s/SELINUX=enforcing/SELINUX=permissive/ /etc/selinux/config 
sudo setenforce permissive

Install python3.12, git and ansible

sudo dnf install -y git python3.12
sudo python3.12 -m venv /opt/datalib_venv3.12
sudo /opt/datalib_venv3.12/bin/pip install --upgrade pip
sudo /opt/datalib_venv3.12/bin/pip install ansible==11.3.0 requests==2.32.3

Reboot

Reboot the server before continuing.

sudo shutdown -r now