jmtd → log → geek → linux → Thoughts on Anaconda

I am currently installing fedora core 4 on a test machine at work in order to experiment with the Xen virtualisation technology.

This is probably my first exposure to the redhat installer (now called Anaconda) in roughly 5 years and the experience is... interesting. I can draw immediate parallels with the new debian-installer: Lots of things are done automatically, there are few questions asked, generally, things are good.

However, I do have one gripe. I am installing a very minimal system. From their package-selection screen, I have only got on some core things such as System Administration. I've no idea what that actually has in it (I don't think I would with the equivalent in debian-installer either), but it sounds fairly essential for this machine.

I have had to burn discs 2 and 4 in addition to disc 1 just for this minimal package selection. This is very frustrating, as I was doing this standing up in a machine room, with KVM cables from one rack stretched across to the 2u machine in the rack next to it, and the nearest burner is 5 floors up. I wonder how the fedora people decide which packages go on which CDs? I was only further frustrated when it came to providing these CDs in the installation process and practically nothing was necessary from them (less than 10MB in the case of disc 4, even less I believe from disc 2). There was no (obvious) way of choosing to do a network install or similar.