How to Download and Install RHEL 9 for Free?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is a popular distribution of the Linux operating system designed for enterprise use. It is widely used in data centers, cloud computing environments, and mission-critical applications due to its robustness, reliability, and scalability. RHEL 9, the latest major version released in May 2022, includes several new features and enhancements that make it an attractive option for businesses seeking a secure and stable operating system.

Some key features of RHEL 9 include improved container capabilities with Podman and Buildah, enhanced security with OpenSCAP integration, better performance with XFS file system improvements, and simplified application development with support for multiple programming languages like Python 3.9 and Node.js 16. The new version also comes with updated versions of popular software packages like MariaDB 10.6 database server, Git version control system, and Ansible automation tool.

System Requirements

RHEL 9 is a powerful and feature-rich operating system that requires specific system specifications to run smoothly. Before downloading and installing RHEL 9, it's important to ensure your computer meets the minimum requirements for optimal performance.

Minimum System Requirements

The minimum system requirements for RHEL 9 are as follows

• 64-bit x86_64 processor (Intel or AMD)

• 2 GB RAM (4 GB or more recommended)

• 20 GB free disk space (40 GB or more recommended)

• VGA-capable video card with monitor resolution at least 800x600 pixels

• Wired Ethernet adapter (Wi-Fi adapters not recommended during installation)

Note that these are the bare minimum requirements to run RHEL 9. The actual resource usage will depend on the applications and services you plan to run.

Recommended System Specifications

For comfortable use with multiple applications running simultaneously, consider these recommended specifications

• Multi-core 64-bit processor (quad-core or higher recommended)

• 8 GB RAM or more depending on workload

• Solid-state drive (SSD) with at least 100 GB storage capacity

• Dedicated graphics card with 2 GB+ video memory for graphics-intensive applications

Downloading RHEL 9 ISO Image File

Before starting the installation process, you need to download the RHEL 9 ISO image file from the official Red Hat website. The ISO image file is a complete copy of the software used to install RHEL 9 on your system.

Here is a step-by-step guide to download the RHEL 9 ISO image file

• Go to the Red Hat Customer Portal at https://access.redhat.com/downloads/

• Login with your Red Hat account. If you don't have an account, create one for free by clicking "Create Account"

• Navigate to Red Hat Enterprise Linux in the product list

• Select RHEL 9 and choose your system architecture (typically x86_64)

• Click "Download Now" to start downloading the ISO file

The ISO image file will start downloading. Depending on your internet connection speed, this may take several minutes to complete. The file size is approximately 8-10 GB.

Creating a Bootable USB Drive

Once you have downloaded the RHEL 9 ISO image file, you need to create a bootable USB drive to install it on your system. This process involves copying the ISO image file onto a USB drive and making it bootable.

Using Balena Etcher (Recommended Method)

Follow these step-by-step instructions to create a bootable USB drive

• Insert a USB drive (8 GB or larger) into an available port on your system

• Download and install Balena Etcher from https://www.balena.io/etcher/

• Open Etcher and click "Flash from file"

• Select the downloaded RHEL 9 ISO image file

• Select your USB drive as the target device

• Click "Flash!" to start copying files from ISO to USB drive

• Wait for the completion message before removing the USB drive

Warning: This process will erase all data on the USB drive. Make sure to back up any important files before proceeding.

Installing RHEL 9

The installation process is straightforward and can be accomplished in several simple steps. Important: Back up all important data from the target system as it will be overwritten during installation.

Installation Process

To install RHEL 9, insert the bootable USB drive into your system and restart it. Follow these steps

• Boot from USB: Restart your computer and access the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually F2, F12, or Delete key). Set the USB drive as the primary boot device

• Language Selection: Select your preferred language for the installer interface

• Installation Summary: Configure the following settings:

  • Date & Time: Set your timezone
  • Keyboard: Configure keyboard layout
  • Language Support: Add additional languages if needed

• Installation Destination: Choose your target disk and partitioning scheme (automatic or custom)

• Software Selection: Choose installation environment (Server, Workstation, etc.) and additional packages

• Network & Hostname: Configure network settings and set system hostname

• User Creation: Create root password and additional user accounts

• Begin Installation: Review all settings and click "Begin Installation"

The installation process typically takes 15-30 minutes depending on your hardware and selected packages.

Post-Installation Configuration

Initial System Setup

After the first boot, complete the initial setup wizard to configure basic system settings including user accounts, network configuration, and system registration.

System Registration and Updates

Register your RHEL 9 system with Red Hat to receive updates and support

sudo subscription-manager register --username your_username --password your_password
sudo dnf update -y

Network Configuration

Configure network settings using NetworkManager

• GUI Method: Go to Settings ? Network ? configure Wired or Wireless connections

• Command Line: Use nmcli or nmtui commands for network configuration

Firewall and SELinux

RHEL 9 comes with firewalld and SELinux enabled by default for enhanced security. Configure them according to your requirements

sudo firewall-cmd --list-all
sudo getenforce

Conclusion

Installing RHEL 9 for free provides access to an enterprise-grade operating system with advanced security, containerization technology, and performance optimization tools. Following this comprehensive guide ensures successful installation and basic configuration, making RHEL 9 an ideal choice for businesses and individuals seeking a reliable, stable Linux distribution for their IT environments.