Kernel Version: - 2.4.7
KDE2 Included: - Yes, 2.2
Gnome Included: - Yes, 1.4
X Free Version: - 4.1.0
Installation:
I booted from the CD and into the graphical installation.
There are prompts to configure the language, partitioning, software to install (a choice of set-installations or a custom install). Next, was the boot manager configuration (LILO or GRUB).
The partitioning was relatively simple with options to use an entire hard disk.
Next was the user account and authentication configuration. I feel that there is not enough guidance for newbies with the authentication part – it simply would not mean anything to anyone other than an advanced user. I just stuck with the defaults.
Now, as I chose the custom installation, was the detailed package selection. The packages were now installed and the system was rebooted.
Booting up:
On first boot, Redhat looked for new PnP hardware (using the quite impressive and unique Kudzu hardware detection tool).
The sound card setup STILL did not appear to be automatic but can be done using the Redhat ‘Setup’ utility that managed to configure my Creative Soundblaster Live 5.1 with no problems. Redhat also includes ‘Linuxconf’ for configuration (which is not installed by default). I also noticed that most of my hardware had been configured (including my Hauppauge WinTV PCI FM) although my SCSI card and CD re-writer had been completely ignored.
Software Content:
I was quite impressed with the software content of Redhat 7.2. It includes Netscape 4.78, Mozilla 0.9.2, Gimp 1.2.1, KDE 2.2, Gnome 1.4, Apache, Samba, Wine, Koffice 1.1 and most things you are likely to need.
Redhat also supports the new Ext3 filesystem.
There were 5 CDs with my version: -
* Installation disc 1
* Installation disc 2
* Source code disc 1
* Source code disc 2
* Documentation disc.
Conclusion:
I wasn’t particularly impressed with Redhat 7.2. It doesn’t seem to be any different to Redhat 7.1 (apart from updated software content) and I would recommend that anyone who already has Redhat 7.1 should buy the latest update CD rather then buy Redhat 7.2 (you’ll end up with a nearly identical system).
