How to Install Rocky Linux 9: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

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If you're new to Linux and looking for a stable, enterprise-grade operating system that's fully compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Rocky Linux 9 is an excellent free, open-source choice. Maintained by a dedicated community, it's ideal for servers, desktops, and development environments. This Rocky Linux installation guide walks you through the process step by step, whether you're using a virtual machine (VM) or physical hardware.

In this tutorial, we'll cover how to install Rocky Linux 9 using default settings for simplicity. The steps are similar for Rocky Linux 10, but we'll focus on version 9 (latest minor: 9.7). Rocky Linux is highly customizable, so you can tweak partitions, networking, or packages as needed. Always back up your data before starting any installation.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the Rocky Linux 9 installation guide, ensure you meet these minimum hardware requirements (recommended for smooth performance):

  • CPU: 64-bit AMD/Intel processor (at least 1.1 GHz dual-core).
  • RAM: 1.5 GB minimum (4 GB+ recommended for desktops).
  • Storage: 10 GB free space (20 GB+ for full features).
  • Internet: Optional but useful for updates.

For VMs, use software like VirtualBox, VMware, or Hyper-V. For hardware, you'll need a USB drive (4 GB+).

Step 01: Download Rocky Linux 9 ISO

Head to the official Rocky Linux official website and select the latest stable version of Rocky Linux 9 (e.g., 9.7). Choose from these ISO types based on your needs:

  • DVD ISO: Full image with most packages (no internet needed for install).
  • Boot ISO: Small file; downloads packages during install (requires internet).
  • Minimal ISO: Basic system only; add packages later (internet often needed).
For this guide, we'll use the Minimal ISO, but pick what suits you. Verify the download with the provided checksum for security.

Step 02: Prepare a Bootable USB or Virtual Machine

If installing on physical hardware, create a bootable USB using tools like balenaEtcher, Ventoy, or Rufus. Insert the USB and ensure your BIOS/UEFI is set to boot from it.

For a virtual machine:
  1. Open your hypervisor (e.g., Vmware, Virtualbox, or Hyper-V).
  2. Create a new VM with at least 2 GB RAM and 20 GB disk.
  3. Attach the downloaded ISO to the VM's virtual drive.
This setup makes testing Rocky Linux 9 on a VM quick and risk-free.

Step 03: Start the installation

Power on your VM or boot from the USB on hardware. You'll see the boot menu—select "Install Rocky Linux 9" (or let it auto-select). Wait for the language selection screen.

Rocky Linux 9 boot selection menu screenshot

Step 04: Select Language

Choose your preferred language and locale (e.g., English - United States). Click "Continue" to proceed to the Installation Summary.
Rocky Linux 9 Language Selection menu screenshot

Step 05: Select Installation Destination, & Partitioning

Once you get to the "Installation Summary" menu, select "Installation Destination".


Select your target disk and choose "Custom" for partitioning, then "Done."


It will open the "Manual Partitioning" interface. This where you will create the partitions for your system. You can either create each partition from the scratch (simply click on the "+" sign) or create default partitions by clicking on "Click here to create them automatically" to customize them to meet your requirements(Please note that none of the changes you make here aren't permanent yet). 

You can also select one of the following partitioning schemes from the menu.
  1. Standard Partition: Splits a disk into fixed-size sections. Each partition gets its space upfront, and you can’t easily change its size later without reformatting or downtime.
  2. LVM(Logical Volume Management): Lets you treat one or more disks as a flexible storage pool. You can create volumes from this pool and grow or shrink them later without touching the whole disk layout.
  3. LVM Thin Provisioning: Allows you to create volumes that appear larger than the available disk space. Actual space is used only when data is written, helping avoid wasted storage and improve efficiency.

We'll use LVM with automatic creation, then customize. You can modify the Desired Capacity, File System, and Device Type etc. of a partition by selecting them, and editing the fields on the right side.


You can create separate partitions to improve stability, performance, and data safety. Common mount points include:

  • /boot (1 GiB) – Stores the Linux kernel and files required to start (boot) the system.

  • / (root) (minimum 10 GiB) – The main system partition where Rocky Linux and its core files are installed.

  • /home (at least 1 GiB) – Holds user files and personal data, keeping them separate from system files.

  • swap (minimum 1 GiB) – Used as virtual memory when the system runs low on RAM.

  • /boot/efi (200–600 MiB) – Required only on UEFI-based systems to store EFI bootloader files.

This partitioning scheme is mainly recommended for bare-metal installations. Virtual machines and cloud systems usually work well with simpler partition layouts. During installation, you can create additional partitions by clicking the “+” button at the bottom-left, selecting the required mount point, and assigning the desired disk size.

For example, I will first change the default "Desired Capacity" of the "/" partition from 17 GiB to 10GiB. Then I will create a mount point for "/home" and allocate freed 7GiB to that mount point. You should modify them based on your requirements.



After the partition/mount point configurations are finished, click "Done", and click "Accept Changes" on the confirmation dialog.



Step 6: Set Up Localization and Software

  • Localization: Keep defaults for Keyboard, Language Support, and Time & Date, or customize (e.g., set your time zone).
  • Software: Installation Source defaults to the ISO. Under Software Selection, choose "Minimal Install" or add environments like "Server with GUI" for desktops. We'll stick with defaults and install packages later via DNF.


Step 7: Configure User Settings

While this might not be a major concern on a single-user PC or laptop, it is recommended to disable direct root login on servers and use separate user accounts with administrative (root) privileges for better security and clearer audit logs. Therefore, I will be disabling the root account, and create a new account with administrative(root) privileges.

To disable the root account, click on "Root Password" under user settings, select "Lock root account", deselect "Allow root SSH login with password", and click "Done"

Then click on "User Creation" to create a user with administrative privileges.

Add the Full name, User name, and a Password. Then select "Make this user administrator", and "Require a password to user this account". Then click "Done". (Note: If your password is considered weak, you are required to click on "Done" twice to confirm)




Step 8: Begin and Complete Installation 

Review the summary, then click "Begin Installation." Wait for the process to finish (it partitions, installs packages, etc.). Once done, click "Reboot System."



Login with your new user credentials. Your Rocky Linux 9 setup is ready—configure as needed!



Post-Installation Tips

  • Update the system: Run sudo dnf update to get the latest packages and security fixes.
  • Install essential tools: A minimal Vim (vi) is already included, but for the full-featured version with syntax highlighting and more, run
    • sudo dnf install vim-enhanced net-tools. (This gives you better editing and classic networking commands like ifconfig.)
  • Set up firewall: To allow SSH access securely on the firewall use the
    • sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=ssh; sudo firewall-cmd --reload
  • Enable GUI for desktops: If you want a graphical interface (e.g., GNOME),
    • install it with
      • sudo dnf groupinstall "Workstation".
    • Then, set the default boot target to graphical:
      • sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target.
    • To apply changes reboot with
      • sudo reboot
  • Explore the official Rocky Linux documentation for more advanced configurations, like custom repos or SELinux tweaks.

This Rocky Linux 9 tutorial should get you up and running smoothly. If you're upgrading from CentOS or AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux is a seamless drop-in replacement.
Was this how-to-install-Rocky-Linux-9 guide helpful? Leave a comment below with feedback or questions—I'd love to improve future content!





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