Create the Alma Linux VM

virt-install --name cluster3 --memory 8096 --vcpus=1 --location ./AlmaLinux-9.5-x86_64-minimal.iso \
--os-type=linux --os-variant=almalinux9 --disk pool=default,bus=virtio,size=50 --network bridge=kvm_bridge,model=virtio \
--autostart --graphics none --console=pty,target_type=serial --extra-args "console=ttyS0,115200n8 locale=en_US auto=true"

Note: I have several kickstart files, but not sure if they'd work with Alma Linux and also wanted to manually do this as it'd been awhile.

Start the installation in text mode:

Starting installer, one moment...
anaconda 34.25.5.9-1.el9.alma.1 for AlmaLinux 9.5 started.
 * installation log files are stored in /tmp during the installation
 * shell is available on TTY2
 * if the graphical installation interface fails to start, try again with the
   inst.text bootoption to start text installation
 * when reporting a bug add logs from /tmp as separate text/plain attachments
================================================================================
================================================================================
Text mode provides a limited set of installation options. It does not offer
custom partitioning for full control over the disk layout. Would you like to use
VNC mode instead?

1) Start VNC
2) Use text mode

Please make a selection from the above ['c' to continue, 'q' to quit, 'r' to
refresh]: 2

Initial screen looks like:

================================================================================
================================================================================
Installation

1) [x] Language settings                 2) [x] Time settings
       (English (United States))                (America/New_York timezone)
3) [!] Installation source               4) [!] Software selection
       (Processing...)                          (Processing...)
5) [!] Installation Destination          6) [x] Kdump
       (Processing...)                          (Kdump is enabled)
7) [x] Network configuration             8) [!] Root password
       (Connected: enp1s0)                      (Root account is disabled)
9) [!] User creation
       (No user will be created)

Please make a selection from the above ['b' to begin installation, 'q' to quit,
'r' to refresh]:

Select 'r' to refresh and Installation source should have an 'x' (good to go):

================================================================================
================================================================================
Installation

1) [x] Language settings                 2) [x] Time settings
       (English (United States))                (America/New_York timezone)
3) [x] Installation source               4) [!] Software selection
       (Processing...)                          (Processing...)
5) [!] Installation Destination          6) [x] Kdump
       (Processing...)                          (Kdump is enabled)
7) [x] Network configuration             8) [!] Root password
       (Connected: enp1s0)                      (Root account is disabled)
9) [!] User creation
       (No user will be created)

Please make a selection from the above ['b' to begin installation, 'q' to quit,
'r' to refresh]: r

Select '5' to configure an installation destination. I have a single virtual disk which is automatically selected:

Installation Destination

1) [x] DISK: 50 GiB (vda)

1 disk selected; 50 GiB capacity; 50 GiB free

Select 'c' to continue. I have nothing special to configure, I just let it use all of the disk which is selected by default:

================================================================================
================================================================================
Partitioning Options

1) [ ] Replace Existing Linux system(s)
2) [x] Use All Space
3) [ ] Use Free Space
4) [ ] Manually assign mount points

Installation requires partitioning of your hard drive. Select what space to use
for the install target or manually assign mount points.

Please make a selection from the above ['c' to continue, 'q' to quit, 'r' to
refresh]: c

Select 'c' to continue. I just want a standard partition so I pressed '1' to select Standard Partition:

================================================================================
================================================================================
Partition Scheme Options

1) [ ] Standard Partition
2) [x] LVM
3) [ ] LVM Thin Provisioning

Select a partition scheme configuration.

Please make a selection from the above ['c' to continue, 'q' to quit, 'r' to
refresh]: 1

Select 'c' to continue when Standard Partition is selected:

================================================================================
================================================================================
Partition Scheme Options

1) [x] Standard Partition
2) [ ] LVM
3) [ ] LVM Thin Provisioning

Select a partition scheme configuration.

Please make a selection from the above ['c' to continue, 'q' to quit, 'r' to
refresh]: c
Saving storage configuration...
Checking storage configuration...

Select '9' to create a user and then '1' to create the user (seems superfluous, but meh):

================================================================================
================================================================================
User creation

1) [ ] Create user

Please make a selection from the above ['c' to continue, 'q' to quit, 'r' to
refresh]: 1

User creation screen:

================================================================================
================================================================================
User creation

1) [x] Create user
2) Full name
3) User name
4) [x] Use password
5) Password
6) [ ] Administrator
7) Groups

Please make a selection from the above ['c' to continue, 'q' to quit, 'r' to
refresh]:

Select '3' to enter the username:

================================================================================
================================================================================
User creation

1) [x] Create user
2) Full name
3) User name
4) [x] Use password
5) Password
6) [ ] Administrator
7) Groups

Please make a selection from the above ['c' to continue, 'q' to quit, 'r' to
refresh]: 3
================================================================================
================================================================================
Enter a new value for 'User name' and press ENTER: username

Select '5' to enter a password. Enter the password and then once again to confirm:

================================================================================
================================================================================
User creation

1) [x] Create user
2) Full name
3) User name
   username
4) [x] Use password
5) Password
6) [ ] Administrator
7) Groups

Please make a selection from the above ['c' to continue, 'q' to quit, 'r' to
refresh]: 5
================================================================================
================================================================================
Password:
Password (confirm):

Enter 'yes' if it tells you that the password is weak and asks if you want to keep it or 'no' to change it

================================================================================
================================================================================
Question

The password you have provided is weak: The password fails the dictionary check
- it is based on a dictionary word
Would you like to use it anyway?

Please respond 'yes' or 'no': yes

Select '6' to make them an Administrator

================================================================================
================================================================================
User creation

1) [x] Create user
2) Full name
3) User name
   username
4) [x] Use password
5) Password
   Password set.
6) [x] Administrator
7) Groups
   wheel

Please make a selection from the above ['c' to continue, 'q' to quit, 'r' to
refresh]:

Select 'c' to continue and then 'b' to begin installation.

================================================================================
================================================================================
Progress

.
Setting up the installation environment
Configuring storage
Creating disklabel on /dev/vda
Creating swap on /dev/vda2
Creating xfs on /dev/vda3
Creating xfs on /dev/vda1
...
Running pre-installation scripts
.
Running pre-installation tasks
....
Installing.
Starting package installation process
Downloading packages
Preparing transaction from installation source
...

Press Enter when the installation has completed

.
Installing boot loader
..
Performing post-installation setup tasks
.
Configuring installed system
..............
Writing network configuration
.
Creating users
.....
Configuring addons
.
Generating initramfs
....
Storing configuration files and kickstarts
.
Running post-installation scripts
.
Installation complete

Use of this product is subject to the license agreement found at:
/usr/share/almalinux-release/EULA

Installation complete. Press ENTER to quit:

Configure the OS

Test sudo works

[username@localhost ~]$ sudo su -

We trust you have received the usual lecture from the local System
Administrator. It usually boils down to these three things:

    #1) Respect the privacy of others.
    #2) Think before you type.
    #3) With great power comes great responsibility.

[sudo] password for username: 
[root@localhost ~]#

Test SSH works

My interface was named enp1s0, but your mileage may vary

ip a s enp1s0 | grep inet | grep -v inet6
    inet 192.168.0.118/24 brd 192.168.0.255 scope global dynamic noprefixroute enp1s0

From another computer, ssh into the new virtual machine

username@desktop:~$ ssh 192.168.0.118
The authenticity of host '192.168.0.118 (192.168.0.118)' can't be established.
ED25519 key fingerprint is SHA256:GhxhtW4UG/de3/rWqHRIbba2W0U8ca90gSMRgZw1ef4.
This key is not known by any other names.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])? yes
Warning: Permanently added '192.168.0.118' (ED25519) to the list of known hosts.
username@192.168.0.118's password: 
Last login: Thu Feb 13 18:09:05 2025
[username@localhost ~]$

Set the hostname

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname controller --static --transient

Configure networking

Install bash-completion

sudo dnf -y install bash-completion

Configure a static IP

nmcli connection modify [ interface_name ] ipv4.addresses [ ipv4_address ]/24 ipv4.gateway [ ipv4_gateway ] ipv4.dns [ ipv4_dns ] && \
nmcli connection modify [ interface_name ] ipv4.method manual && \
nmcli connection reload && \
nmcli connection up [ interface_name ]

For example

sudo nmcli connection modify enp1s0 ipv4.addresses 192.168.0.63/24 ipv4.gateway 192.168.0.1 ipv4.dns 192.168.0.1 && \
sudo nmcli connection modify enp1s0 ipv4.method manual && \
sudo nmcli connection reload && \
sudo nmcli connection up enp1s0

Re-establish another ssh connection to the new ip

username@desktop:~$ ssh 192.168.0.63
The authenticity of host '192.168.0.63 (192.168.0.63)' can't be established.
ED25519 key fingerprint is SHA256:GhxhtW4UG/de3/rWqHRIbba2W0U8ca90gSMRgZw1ef4.
This host key is known by the following other names/addresses:
    ~/.ssh/known_hosts:234: 192.168.0.118
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])? yes
Warning: Permanently added '192.168.0.63' (ED25519) to the list of known hosts.
username@192.168.0.63's password: 
Last login: Thu Feb 13 18:11:54 2025 from 192.168.0.31
[username@controller ~]$

Add public ssh key to virtual machine known_hosts

username@desktop:~$ ssh-copy-id -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub 192.168.0.63

Apply outstanding updates

sudo dnf -y update

and reboot

[username@controller ~]$ sudo reboot