Rocky Linux 9 Installation: From Download to Setup

The Ultimate Guide: Installing Rocky Linux 9 Step-by-Step (The RHEL Replacement)

Welcome back to Darren’s Tech Tutorials!

If you’re looking for a stable, robust, and completely free enterprise-grade Linux distribution, you’ve come to the right place. Rocky Linux 9 has quickly become the preferred drop-in replacement for those who rely on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) but need an open-source solution without the associated costs.

In this comprehensive guide, we’re taking the guesswork out of installation. Whether you are setting up a powerful server or just experimenting in a virtual machine (VM), we will walk through the entire process—from preparing your media to configuring basic user settings and installing your first software packages. Let’s get started!

Why Choose Rocky Linux 9?

Rocky Linux is maintained by the community and built with enterprise stability in mind. It is 100% compatible with RHEL, ensuring reliability, security, and a familiar ecosystem for developers and system administrators. If you need a reliable, production-ready system that is constantly supported, Rocky Linux 9 is the perfect choice for your next project.

Preparation Checklist & System Requirements

Before we dive into the installer, we need to ensure your system meets the minimum requirements and that your installation media is ready.

System Requirements (Minimum)

Preparing the Installation Media

1. Download the ISO: Head to the official Rocky Linux website and download the Rocky Linux 9 ISO file. We recommend the DVD ISO for standard installations.
2. Create Bootable Media: If installing on physical hardware, use a tool like Rufus or Etcher to securely write the ISO image onto a USB drive. If using a VM (like VirtualBox or VMware), simply mount the ISO file as a virtual optical drive.

The Step-by-Step Installation Process

Once your system is booted from the USB drive or ISO, you will enter the Rocky Linux installer environment (known as Anaconda). Follow these steps precisely:

Step 1: Booting and Initial Setup

When the system boots, you will see a welcome screen. Choose the option to “Install Rocky Linux 9.” The installer will briefly check the media integrity—it’s always best practice to let this run to ensure no corruption occurred during the download or USB creation process.

Step 2: Language and Keyboard Selection

Select your preferred system language and keyboard layout. This setting determines the language used throughout the installation process and the default environment. Click “Continue” once selected.

Step 3: Configuring the Installation Summary

You will now be presented with the “Installation Summary” screen, which acts as the central hub for configuring your system settings before the files are copied. We need to configure at least four items:

3a. Installation Destination (Partitioning)

Click on “Installation Destination.” This is where you tell the system where to install Rocky Linux.

• For Beginners: Select the disk you wish to use and choose “Automatic” partitioning. The installer will handle the necessary partitions (including root, boot, and swap).
• For Advanced Users: Choose “Custom” partitioning to manually define your partitions (e.g., separate /home, /var). Click “Done” when finished.

3b. Network and Hostname Setup

Click on “Network & Host Name.” If you are connected via Ethernet, the network adapter should already be active (status: ON).

• Set your desired Hostname (e.g., rocky9-server).
• Ensure your network adapter is set to ON in the top right corner.

3c. Software Selection

In the “Software Selection” panel, you define the core environment.

• For a minimal system (ideal for servers), choose “Minimal Install.”
• For a desktop environment, choose “Server with GUI” or “Workstation.”

Step 4: Setting Security and User Credentials

Before starting the installation, navigate to the “User Settings” section on the main summary screen.

4a. Root Password

Click “Root Password.” Choose a very strong, complex password for the root user. This user has maximum administrative power.

4b. User Creation

The description specifically mentioned setting up users and groups! Click “User Creation.” Create a standard, non-root user account for daily operations. Check the box “Make this user an administrator” if you want them to be able to use sudo.

Step 5: Begin the Installation

Once all necessary items (marked with an exclamation point) are configured, the “Begin Installation” button will become active. Click it! The installer will now copy files and configure the system based on your selections. This process can take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on your hardware.

Once complete, click the “Reboot System” button, remove the installation media, and your new Rocky Linux 9 system will boot up!

Post-Installation: What’s Next?

Congratulations! You have a fully operational Rocky Linux 9 system. Our final steps involve securing and updating the system and installing initial software packages.

1. Perform Initial System Updates

The very first thing you should do after logging in (using the user account you created) is update the package cache and apply any security patches released since the ISO was compiled.

Open a terminal and run the following commands:

# Update the system
sudo dnf update

2. Install Useful Software

Now that the system is stable, you can install common utilities. One crucial repository for many users is EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux), which provides high-quality supplementary packages.

# Install the EPEL repository
sudo dnf install epel-release

With EPEL installed, you can now easily access thousands of extra packages like htop (for monitoring) or git (for version control):

# Example software installations
sudo dnf install htop git

3. Configure Basic System Settings

If you installed the GUI, take time to familiarize yourself with the GNOME desktop environment. If you installed the minimal server, ensure SSH is enabled and configured for secure remote access.

Ready to Rock with Rocky Linux 9!

You now have a powerful, stable, and professionally configured Rocky Linux 9 system ready for development, hosting, or just exploring the Linux ecosystem. This platform is perfect for anyone seeking enterprise reliability without the license fees.

Did this guide help you get Rocky 9 up and running smoothly? If so, hit that like button on the original video, subscribe to Darren’s Tech Tutorials for more in-depth guides, and let us know in the comments what you plan to build with your new server! Happy computing!