====== Minimal installation of Rocky Linux 9 ======

**For Rocky / Alma / RHEL 9**

This is how to do a minimal installation of Enterprise Linux 9. We are using Rocky Linux,
but the instructions should also work for Alma Linux 9 and RHEL 9

  - Grab the Boot ISO from https://rockylinux.org/download
  - Boot the CD, choose “Install Rocky Linux 9.1”
  - Choose your language, click continue
  - Choose "Installation Destination", choose "Storage Configuration" -> "Custom", click "Done"
  - Create partitions as you wish, click "Done"
  - Back in the Installation summary choose "Software selection"
  - choose “Custom Operating System” (**Note:** this is even smaller than the “Minimal Installation” option)
  - Create a User account by clicking at "User Creation"
  - Click “Done”, then “Begin Installation” 
  - When finished click "Reboot System"


After installation login and become **root** and execute the following commands

<code bash>
systemctl mask systemd-hostnamed
dnf update
# replace dnf with microdnf, a more lightweight and faster implementation of dnf
dnf install microdnf
ln -sf /usr/bin/microdnf /usr/bin/dnf
dnf upgrade

# remove unnecessary packages
dnf remove firewalld
dnf remove audit
dnf-3 remove NetworkManager*
dnf install dhcp-client
echo "dhclient eth0" >> /etc/rc.d/rc.local #replace eth0 with your network interface
chmod +x /etc/rc.d/rc.local

</code> 


Then reboot. Congratulation, you have now the smallest EL 9 system possible.