2.2. Choosing the ISO Files

⁠2.2. Choosing the ISO Files

Fedora is distributed as a single DVD-sized ISO image file, smaller 1GB spin ISO image files, or as a netinstall image. Refer to the Fedora Live Images guide at http://docs.fedoraproject.org to learn more about spins.

⁠

Table 1. Comparing image types

Image type Features

DVD image

Sized for 3.5 GB DVD media and 4 GB or larger USB media.

Offers the most flexible installation options.

Suited for customized installs, offline use, and low memory systems.

netinstall image

Sized for CD media and 512 MB or larger USB media.

Offers flexible installation options, downloads latest packages during installation.

Suited for customized installs, network deployment, and metered bandwidth connections.

Spin images

Sized for 1 GB USB media or larger optical media.

Various spin images offer a live preview of the desktop environment they represent. They install only the features available from the spin, but can be added to after installation.

Suitable for demonstrations or installing a specific desktop environment.

File size limits

A file system is a method that your computer uses to organize the files and data on its storage devices. Older file systems, notably FAT32, cannot handle large files like the DVD image. If downloading with such a system, you should choose a smaller image.

The exact files you need from the download server depend upon your system and the version of Fedora you are downloading. The file names will always contain Fedora, the release version, the image's target architecture, and the type of image.

⁠

Example 2. Filenames

Default live image

Fedora-Live-Desktop-x86_64-19-1.iso

32-bit KDE Spin

Fedora-Live-Desktop-i686-19-1.iso

64-bit netinstall image

Fedora-19-x86_64-netinst.iso

The computer processor architecture is usually i386 for 32-bit PCs, including the Pentium and Athlon processor families. The architecture is usually x86_64 for 64-bit PCs, including the Athlon 64 processor family. The architecture is usually ppc for PowerPC computers, including most of Apple's Macintosh offerings before they began using Intel chips in the MacBook. If in doubt, your system probably requires the x86_64 versions.

For example, if downloading Fedora 19 for a Pentium 4 computer, the correct file is Fedora-19-i386-DVD.iso. You may also need the CHECKSUM file to verify that the files you have downloaded are complete and correct.