CentOS 5 from DVD – Why is it so difficult?
I spent the best part of yesterday attempting to install CentOS 5 onto a server via a USB DVD drive (something you could expect to take the smaller part of 15 minutes). Every step of the installation process took an age – even checking package dependencies took nearly 10 minutes. Finally when I get to the installation – it hangs at approximately 25%.
I tried multiple DVDs and drives with no luck – and was nearly about to put it down to an incompatibility with the hardware. However, for some reason unbeknown to me I decided to try the installation from an IDE drive (after of course taking the lid of and balancing one on top). Low and behold it worked. Installed in about 10 minutes… very fast, no errors, no slowdowns.
What’s wrong? I have no idea - I am hoping somebody else knows. I’ve now experianced this behavior on approximatly ten servers. I will continue to quiz those around me. As yet, all have looked as me strangly and claim never to have seen this. I can’t be unlucky 10 times in a row can I? Anyway… moral of the story is, if CentOS 5 is being a bitch to install - check your not using USB.