Anaconda (installer) facts for kids
Anaconda's installation summary screen for Fedora 37
|
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| Developer(s) | Anaconda Team |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 1999 |
| Stable release |
41.1-1
 |
| Written in | Python and C |
| Operating system | Linux |
| Available in | Multilingual |
| Type | System installer |
| License | GPLv2 (Free software) |
Anaconda is a special program that helps you install the Linux operating system on your computer. Think of it like a guide that walks you through setting up Linux. It's a free and open-source program, which means anyone can use it, share it, and even help make it better!
Many popular Linux versions use Anaconda to install their systems. These include Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Oracle Linux, Scientific Linux, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, CentOS, MIRACLE LINUX, Qubes OS, and Fedora. It's a very important tool for getting Linux up and running on many different computers.
Contents
What Does Anaconda Do?
Anaconda helps you install Linux on many types of computers. It can work with different kinds of hardware, like older computers or very powerful ones. It even works on special large computers called mainframes!
How Can You Install Linux?
Anaconda offers two main ways to install Linux:
- Graphical Mode (GUI): This is like using apps on your phone or computer. It has buttons and pictures that make it easy to click and choose options.
- Text Mode: This mode uses only text and keyboard commands. It's useful for computers that don't have a fancy screen or for advanced users.
Where Can Anaconda Get Files From?
Anaconda can install Linux from different places. It can use files from a CD-ROM or a hard drive on your computer. It can also get files from the internet using methods like FTP or HTTP. This means you don't always need a physical disk to install Linux.
Can Anaconda Install Linux Automatically?
Yes, it can! Anaconda can use a special file called a kickstart file. This file contains all the instructions for the installation. It tells Anaconda what to do step-by-step. This way, you can set up Linux with very little help from a person. It's great for installing Linux on many computers at once.
Before it starts installing, Anaconda always checks your computer. It makes sure your computer has enough space and power to run Linux. If everything looks good, then the installation begins!
How Is Anaconda Made?
Anaconda is mainly written using the Python programming language. Python is a popular language known for being easy to read and use. Some parts of Anaconda are also written in C, which is a very fast programming language.
What Powers Anaconda's Look?
The graphical part of Anaconda, which you see with buttons and menus, is built using something called GTK+ 3. This is a set of tools that helps create graphical interfaces. It uses another tool called PyGObject to connect Python with GTK+. This allows Anaconda to have a user-friendly look.
Anaconda also has a special text-based interface. This is for computers that are very simple and only show text, like some older or specialized machines.
What's Happening Behind the Scenes?
Anaconda has many helpful tools and commands. These are useful if you have special installation needs. They also help if something goes wrong and you need to figure out what happened.
Useful Tools and Files
When you start Anaconda, you can give it special instructions. These instructions change how the installation works. There's also a secret "root shell" you can access. This is like a powerful command window where you can check things while Linux is installing.
Anaconda also creates some important files during the installation:
/tmp/anaconda.log: This file keeps a record of everything Anaconda does. It's like a diary for the installation process./root/lorax-packages.log: This file lists all the software packages used to create the installation./mnt/install/ks.cfg: If you used a kickstart file, this is where Anaconda keeps a copy of it.
After Linux is successfully installed, Anaconda saves more important files. This lets you see how your system was set up even much later:
- Installation records are saved in
/var/log/anaconda. - A kickstart file,
/root/anaconda-ks.cfg, is created. This file describes all the choices you made during the installation. You can use it to install a very similar system again!
See also
In Spanish: Anaconda (instalador) para niños
- Calamares
- YaST
- Debian-Installer
- Ubiquity
