Back up important data before repartitioning, encrypting disks, or restoring backups. Wrong commands can destroy partitions or overwrite live files.
What you will achieve
Fedora Workstation installed with current kernels, Wayland by default, and dnf ready for development tools — a solid rolling-ish desktop that previews what RHEL will ship next.
1) Create boot media
sudo dnf install -y fedora-media-writer
# or on Debian/Ubuntu host:
sudo dd if=Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress conv=fsyncReplace /dev/sdX with the correct USB device — lsblk helps avoid wiping the wrong disk.
2) Install with custom partitioning (optional)
- Boot the live ISO, choose Install to Hard Drive.
- Enable disk encryption in Anaconda if you want LUKS (similar to Debian's guided encrypted LVM).
- Select Workstation software group; add Development Tools if you compile software.
3) Post-install essentials
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh -y
sudo dnf install vim git htop firewall-cmd
sudo systemctl enable --now firewalldFedora uses firewalld instead of UFW. SELinux is enforcing by default — use getenforce and ausearch if a service misbehaves after install.
4) Enable RPM Fusion (optional codecs/drivers)
sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpmVerify
cat /etc/fedora-release
gnome-shell --version
dnf check-update5) BTRFS snapshots (default on some Fedora layouts)
Fedora may install root on btrfs with subvolumes. List them with:
sudo btrfs subvolume list /
sudo btrfs filesystem df /Pair with Snapper or Timeshift for rollback before major dnf upgrade cycles.
6) SELinux booleans for desktop apps
If VirtualBox, Steam, or dev tools fail after install, check AVC denials rather than disabling SELinux:
sudo ausearch -m avc -ts recent
sudo setsebool -P use_nfs_home_dirs 17) Power management and laptops
sudo dnf install tlp
sudo systemctl enable --now tlptlp improves battery on laptops without the faff of manual cpufreq tweaks.
Troubleshooting
- Boot hangs at Plymouth — add
nomodesettemporarily at GRUB for problematic GPU drivers. - Secure Boot blocks third-party modules — enrol Machine Owner Key (MOK) when prompted after signing NVIDIA/VirtualBox modules.
- Free space on / — btrfs snapshots and flatpak layers consume space; monitor with
df -handflatpak uninstall --unused.
8) Default to dnf autoremove monthly
sudo dnf autoremove -y
sudo dnf clean allKeeps orphaned dependencies from accumulating after kernel updates and removed apps.
Prerequisites
8 GB USB stick, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot understood (you may need to enrol MOK after installing third-party drivers), and 50 GB free disk for Workstation with Flatpak apps. Wired internet during install avoids Wi‑Fi firmware chicken-and-egg problems.
Post-install package groups
sudo dnf group list --available
sudo dnf group install "Development Tools" "System Tools"Development Tools adds gcc, make, and headers required for building kernel modules and Ruby/Python native extensions.