Installation

This is Article description::an overview of the principles and the practice of installing Gentoo on a running system.

The installation of a Gentoo Linux system is very different to how many well-known, desktop-oriented operating systems usually work. Common OSs, such as Microsoft Windows, MacOS, and numerous Linux distributions come with graphical, guided, installer "wizards" with which most users will be familiar, but installing Gentoo is markedly distinct.

Gentoo is a versatile distribution geared towards advanced users - if starting out with Linux, or even with computers in general, Gentoo may not be the easiest way to get a foot in. For someone aiming to get the most out of the tools they use, developers, or just tinkerers, Gentoo will be a prime choice.

See the FAQ about what makes Gentoo different for an overview of Gentoo architecture and capabilities.

Installation principles in Gentoo Linux
Gentoo is installed following a manual procedure. The user inputs and executes commands at the system prompt, to set up a bootable system, following the guidelines laid out in the Handbook. A Gentoo installation is thus slightly more involved than most others, though for someone used to installing and using Gentoo, it becomes a relatively simple and fast procedure, especially for habitual command line users.

If, for some, the installation may seem cumbersome at first - it provides the indispensable benefit of introducing new users to the principles and workings of Gentoo Linux. Installing Gentoo for the first time is akin to following a tutorial, and the Handbook is not just an introduction to installing and using Gentoo, it provides valuable insight into Linux, and Unix-like distributions in general.

Gentoo is a powerful, flexible, modern operating system - and as with any new tool, there is the need to learn how to use it. Learning to use such a rich, capable, stable tool as Gentoo will be rewarding to anyone who would benefit from such power, and the investment in this knowledge will pay dividends throughout a career.

The Gentoo Handbook - Gentoo's installer
The Gentoo Handbook is the standard method to get up and running, and provides choices for many installation options, and provides the official installation instructions. Though it is possible to deviate from the Handbook, and even encouraged when required, any departure from the guidelines is also a departure from what has been tested to work, which may cause unintended issues - particularly issues with which the community will potentially not be prepared to help.

The Handbook is central to installation, and may be compared to an installer in it's own right. When the Handbook specifically recommends against something, or explicitly prescribes an action, expect breakage if this is ignored. Asking for help in this case will surely not be appreciated. Think of the Handbook as an actual installation program - voluntarily going against it would be like modifying that installer's code - general user support channels could not be expected to help out in such cases.

The Handbook is edited and maintained by the Handbook Project, in close cooperation with the release engineering team, architecture teams and maintainers.

Overview of how Gentoo is installed
A Gentoo installation starts by booting a complete, working Linux environment, with shell access. This is usually accomplished with the Minimal Installation CD, though other Linux Live CDs are a possibility, or even using a preexisting Linux installation.

From this environment, installation files will be downloaded (Internet access is mandatory when following the standard procedure), copied to a persistent drive, and with this new directory hierarchy, all the tools needed for a complete system will be installed and configured before rebooting to the newly installed Gentoo base.

Unofficial instructions
Various community-driven installation instructions have emerged. A small set of these is listed below.


 * Complete Handbook, a community-driven effort to create a fully documented approach on Gentoo Linux
 * Sakaki's EFI Install Guide, a detailed tutorial showing how to install a dual secure-boot Gentoo system on a Windows 10 (or 8) UEFI PC, including full instructions for LUKS, LVM, systemd and GNOME 3. Now extended to also cover the "GNOME 3 with OpenRC" use case.

Some instructions are made specifically for one hardware type (for instance a particular laptop).


 * Installing Gentoo on a ThinkPad X220