Installing Oracle Linux 10 on Your x86 Mini PC

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Installing Oracle Linux 10 on Your x86 Mini PC

#oracle#linux#programming#softwaredevelopment

Aaron Rose

Aaron Rose       
Software Engineer & Technology Writer


Installing Oracle Linux 10 on Your x86 Mini PC

You've made the smart decision to build a powerful home lab on a budget with an x86 mini PC—a small form-factor computer that uses an x86-64 processor. The next step is to install an enterprise-grade operating system to serve as your foundation. This guide will walk you through a clean installation of Oracle Linux 10, a process that is both straightforward and an excellent introduction to enterprise Linux administration.

This article assumes you have an x86 mini PC, a wired keyboard, a monitor, and a USB drive (8GB or larger) ready to be used as bootable media.

Step 1: Download Oracle Linux 10 and Create a Bootable USB

First, you need to get the Oracle Linux 10 installation image. This is the core software that will be installed on your mini PC.

  • Download the ISO: Visit the Oracle Linux Downloads page and download the ISO image for Oracle Linux 10 for the x86-64 architecture. You'll want the full installation image, not a minimal or boot-only version.
  • Create the Bootable USB: Use a tool like Rufus (for Windows) or BalenaEtcher (for all operating systems) to write the downloaded ISO file to your USB drive. Warning: This process will format the USB drive and erase all its contents. Please back up any important data on the drive before you begin. Follow the on-screen instructions of your chosen software.

Step 2: Configure Your Mini PC's BIOS/UEFI

To install from the USB drive, you need to tell your mini PC to boot from it instead of its internal storage.

  • Connect Peripherals: Plug in your monitor, wired keyboard, and the bootable USB drive into your mini PC.
  • Power On and Enter BIOS: Turn on the mini PC and immediately begin pressing the key to enter the BIOS/UEFI setup. This key is typically Delete, F2, F10, or F12, but it varies by manufacturer (e.g., Beelink, Minisforum, etc.). Check your mini PC's documentation if you're unsure.
  • Change Boot Order: In the BIOS/UEFI menu, navigate to the Boot or Boot Order section. Change the boot priority to place your USB drive first. Make sure to save and exit the BIOS/UEFI configuration.

Your mini PC will now restart and boot from the USB drive.

Step 3: Begin the Installation Process

After booting from the USB, you'll be greeted by the Oracle Linux 10 installation menu.

  • Choose "Install Oracle Linux 10": Use your keyboard's arrow keys to select the "Install Oracle Linux 10" option and press Enter. The installer, known as Anaconda, will load.
  • Select Your Language: A graphical interface will appear. Select your preferred language and click Continue.

Step 4: Configure the Installation Summary

The next screen is the Installation Summary, which provides a single view of all the configuration options. You must address the items marked with an exclamation point before proceeding.

  • Installation Destination: This is one of the most critical steps. Click on the Installation Destination option.
    • Choose a Disk: Select your mini PC's internal storage drive by clicking on it.
    • Partitioning: For a simple home lab setup, choose Automatic partitioning. The installer will handle creating the necessary partitions for you, including the boot, root, and swap partitions. Click Done to save the changes.
  • Network & Host Name: Click on this option to configure your network.
    • Turn On Ethernet: Ensure your wired Ethernet connection is toggled ON.
    • Set Host Name: Enter a name for your mini PC (e.g., homelab-db01).
    • DHCP: The installer will typically get an IP address automatically via DHCP.
    • Click Done.
  • Software Selection: This option determines the software packages and graphical environment (or lack thereof) that will be installed.
    • For a home lab, selecting Server with GUI is an excellent choice. It provides a full graphical desktop environment that is easy to manage while still having all the server components you'll need.
    • Click Done.
  • User Creation and Root Password:
    • Root Password: Click on Root Password and set a strong password for the root user. The root user is the superuser with full administrative privileges.
    • User Creation: Click on User Creation to create a standard user account for daily use. Provide a full name, username, and password, and check the box to make this user an administrator. This is a best practice for security.

Step 5: Finalize and Reboot

  • Begin Installation: Once all required items in the Installation Summary are configured, the Begin Installation button at the bottom right will become active. Click it to start the installation.
  • Wait for the Process: The installer will now format the disk, copy files, and install the selected packages. This process can take some time.
  • Reboot: When the installation is complete, a prompt will appear asking you to reboot. Click Reboot System. Don't forget to remove the USB drive as the system restarts.

Your mini PC will now boot into your freshly installed Oracle Linux 10 system! You can log in with the user account you created and begin exploring your new enterprise home lab environment. In the next article, we'll cover how to install Oracle Database Free and start building on this powerful foundation.

Aaron Rose is a software engineer and technology writer at tech-reader.blog.

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