Chapter 3. Installing and Initially Configuring SELinux

This chapter presents step-by-step procedures for installing and initially configuring SELinux on several popular Linux distributions. At the time of writing, only two popular Linux distributions officially support SELinux: Fedora Core and Gentoo. However, SELinux is also available for Debian GNU/Linux and SUSE, thanks to the unofficial work of independent software developers. In addition, Red Hat has announced that Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 will support SELinux. So those who are looking to install SELinux can choose from a variety of Linux distributions. You may also be able to download and apply the SELinux source release to a Linux distribution other than those mentioned. The final section of this chapter provides an overview of this process.

Tip

This chapter contains step-by-step instructions for installing and initially configuring SELinux on several Linux distributions. I exercised care in writing and testing these instructions, which were also reviewed and tested by others. However, I can’t promise that they’ll work in every situation or in your particular situation. And directions such as these tend to become outdated quickly. So don’t become alarmed if your system responds differently than expected. You’ll likely find the instructions more useful as a rough guide than as a detailed road map.

SELinux Versions

Every implementation of SELinux is based on one of the official NSA versions. The NSA has published four major ...

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