Netinstalls of CentOS tend to take less time overall and save some bandwidth, especially if you’re doing a server or minimal OS install.
If you have unmetered mirror access from your ISP, they’re also completely free.
Get started
1. You’ll need to download and burn (or mount) the netinstall ISO to boot the machine. These are tiny at 12-14MB and only have enough content to boot the OS, establish a network connection and start the text installer.
CentOS 5.7 Netinstall ISO
Telstra:
i386: http://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/centos/5.7/isos/i386/CentOS-5.7-i386-netinstall.iso
x86_64: http://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/centos/5.7/isos/x86_64/CentOS-5.7-x86_64-netinstall.iso
Optus:
i386: http://mirror.optus.net/centos/5.7/isos/i386/CentOS-5.7-i386-netinstall.iso
x86_64: http://mirror.optus.net/centos/5.7/isos/x86_64/CentOS-5.7-x86_64-netinstall.iso
2. Once you boot the machine you’re installing to from the netinstall disc, you’ll need to specify the installation mirror during setup.
CentOS 5.7 Install Mirror
There is a complete URL to the files on the mirror which you can access via your browser. The installer accepts the URL split into two parts “Web site name” and “CentOS directory” as shown – remember not to leave a trailing slash on the CentOS directory e.g. “/os/i386″ not “/os/i386/”.
Telstra Mirror:
i386 full URL: http://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/centos/5.7/os/i386/
Web site name: mirror.aarnet.edu.au
CentOS directory: /pub/centos/5.7/os/i386
x86_64 full URL: http://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/centos/5.7/os/x86_64/
Web site name: mirror.aarnet.edu.au
CentOS directory: /pub/centos/5.7/os/x86_64
Optus Mirror:
i386 full URL: http://mirror.optus.net/centos/5.7/os/i386/
Web site name: mirror.optus.net
CentOS directory: /centos/5.7/os/i386
x86_64 full URL: http://mirror.optus.net/centos/5.7/os/x86_64/
Web site name: mirror.optus.net
CentOS directory: /centos/5.7/os/x86_64
If all is well after you TAB to OK and hit Space, you’ll see this for a few minutes while the rest of the installer downloads:
Followed by:
The CentOS installer just like the live CD/DVD.