RPM, the Red Hat Package Manager, makes it easy to add, update or remove programs. A range of GUI tools also simplify such tasks as setting up modems, printers, users and the popular Apache Web server. Installation has been significantly streamlined, with improved hardware detection that should work well on most PCs. We found that both installing from scratch and upgrading from older releases completed without a hiccup. The system also helps you to install the X Windows GUI, and suggests monitor settings based on your video hardware.
Audio support is built into the install.
The optional 'expert mode' asks you to confirm each step. A network managed 'kickstart install' is provided for setting up multiple workstations from a single configuration. A full list of packages, complete with descriptions, is available from Red Hat's Web site. A new graphical tool called Disk Druid replaces the venerable fdisk for partitioning drives. This is easier to use, but slightly less powerful than fdisk.