How to Install Fedora 40 Server

Fedora Server 40 is the upstream rolling-forward cousin of RHEL — newer packages, six-month release cycle, the same DNF tooling. Fine for staging, lab, and developer workstations; not the right pick when you need a five-year support window.

Prerequisites

• Server / VM with 2 vCPU, 2 GiB RAM, 20 GiB disk.
• Fedora-Server-dvd-x86_64-40-...iso from getfedora.org.
• The matching CHECKSUM-Server-40-x86_64 file.

Step 1: Verify the ISO

gpg --verify Fedora-Server-40-x86_64-CHECKSUM
sha256sum -c Fedora-Server-40-x86_64-CHECKSUM --ignore-missing

Step 2: Boot the Anaconda installer

Standard Anaconda flow — same as RHEL/Rocky. Configure:

• Language, keyboard, timezone (Asia/Riyadh)
• Network & host name: set FQDN, switch NIC on
• Software selection: Fedora Server Edition (default), no extra add-ons unless you need GUI
• Installation destination: Custom + LVM with /, /var, /home, swap split

Step 3: Root password + administrator user

• Root password: 32+ chars and tick "Lock root account" if you will only ever administer via the operator account.
• User Creation: tick "Make this user administrator" (puts them in wheel).

Step 4: First boot

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh -y
sudo dnf install -y vim curl htop firewalld policycoreutils-python-utils
sudo systemctl enable --now firewalld sshd

Push your SSH key and lock down passwords/root:

ssh-copy-id ops@fedora-host.example.sa
sudo sed -i 's/^#\?PermitRootLogin.*/PermitRootLogin no/' /etc/ssh/sshd_config
sudo sed -i 's/^#\?PasswordAuthentication.*/PasswordAuthentication no/' /etc/ssh/sshd_config
sudo systemctl restart sshd

Step 5: Cockpit for casual admin

Fedora Server enables Cockpit on https://host:9090/ out of the box — useful for ad-hoc inspections without leaving the browser:

sudo systemctl status cockpit.socket
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=cockpit
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Verify

cat /etc/fedora-release
uname -r
sestatus
sudo ss -tulpn

Conclusion

Fedora Server gets you to the next version of the RHEL platform six months ahead of the rebuild. Treat it like a dev/staging tool; for production where you want LTS-grade stability, choose Rocky 9 or Alma 9.

Next steps

• For the production-grade RHEL equivalent see Install Rocky Linux 9.
• Read DNF vs YUM for the Fedora-specific differences.
• Plan the next release jump with Upgrade Fedora to the next release.