[pve-devel] [PATCH docs 4/7] installer: revise introduction

[Shannon Sterz]

On Tue Mar 4, 2025 at 4:40 PM CET, Alexander Zeidler wrote:
> * Describe what the installer does, this was earlier included in the
>   installation introduction
> * Mention the importance of a redundant disk setup
> * s/CD-ROM/DVD/
> * Rephrase and expand the boot tip
>
> Signed-off-by: Alexander Zeidler <a.zeidler at proxmox.com>
> ---
>  pve-installation.adoc | 55 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++-----------------
>  1 file changed, 34 insertions(+), 21 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/pve-installation.adoc b/pve-installation.adoc
> index 0065bca..404d66c 100644
> --- a/pve-installation.adoc
> +++ b/pve-installation.adoc
> @@ -40,35 +40,48 @@ endif::wiki[]
>  Using the {pve} Installer
>  -------------------------
>
> -The installer ISO image includes the following:
> +The interactive installer guides you through the initial setup
> +process. It will help you to partition your disks, apply basic

you can lose the "to" here, "It will help you partition your disks" is
more concise

> +settings such as the language, time zone and network configuration,
> +and finally install all required packages within minutes.
> +
> +[IMPORTANT]
> +====
> +If your server does not yet meet the
> +xref:system_requirements[recommended system requirements] in the best
> +possible way, most points can also be improved at a later date.
> +
> +One exception is the installation of the hypervisor, which may not be
> +easy to change to a redundant disk setup afterwards. To avoid
> +reinstallation or data loss if a disk fails in the future, we
> +recommend having two disks available for the OS installation and

this should probably be split into two sentences "...for the OS
installation. Then make sure to select them in..."

> +selecting them in the installer for a mirrored RAID level, for
> +example, xref:chapter_zfs[ZFS RAID1].
> +====
> +
> +CAUTION: Any existing data on the selected drives will be overwritten
> +during the installation process. The installer does not add boot menu
> +entries for other operating systems.
> +
> +Please insert the
> +xref:installation_prepare_media[prepared installation medium] (for
> +example, USB flash drive or DVD) and boot from it.
> +
> +TIP: You may need to go into your server's firmware settings, to
> +enable booting from your installation medium (for example, USB) and
> +set the desired boot order. When booting an installer prior to {pve}
> +8.1, 'Secure Boot' needs to be disabled.
>
> -* Complete operating system (Debian Linux, 64-bit)
> -
> -* The {pve} installer, which partitions the local disk(s) with ext4, XFS,
> -  BTRFS (technology preview), or ZFS and installs the operating system
> -
> -* {pve} Linux kernel with KVM and LXC support
> +[thumbnail="screenshot/pve-grub-menu.png"]
>
> -* Complete toolset for administering virtual machines, containers, the host
> -  system, clusters and all necessary resources
> +After choosing the correct entry (for example, 'Boot from USB') the {pve} menu
> +will be displayed.

the installer's GRUB boot menu will be displayed.

or something like that would be more descriptive to me than "the Proxmox
VE menu". not sure what that would be if there wasn't a screenshot here
(which may be relevant to users that can't look at it, such as blind
people).

>
> -* Web-based management interface
>
> -NOTE: All existing data on the selected drives will be removed during the
> -installation process. The installer does not add boot menu entries for other
> -operating systems.
>
> -Please insert the xref:installation_prepare_media[prepared installation media]
> -(for example, USB flash drive or CD-ROM) and boot from it.
>
> -TIP: Make sure that booting from the installation medium (for example, USB) is
> -enabled in your server's firmware settings. Secure boot needs to be disabled
> -when booting an installer prior to {pve} version 8.1.
>
> -[thumbnail="screenshot/pve-grub-menu.png"]
>
> -After choosing the correct entry (for example, 'Boot from USB') the {pve} menu
> -will be displayed, and one of the following options can be selected:
>
>  Install {pve} (Graphical)::
>