Difference between revisions of "MAS OS Configuration email template"

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(OS Download and install)
(OS Download and install)
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== OS Download and install ==
 
== OS Download and install ==
  
There are currently two OS options:
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We currently support Ubuntu from version 6.06 through version 8.04.  For new installations we recommend Ubuntu 8.04 LTS.  It is available here.
  
1)  Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (Dapper Drake) Server Edition.  This has been chosen for its long support lifetime, but it does not work with some newer hardware (e.g. the Intel DG965 chipset).  The iso can be downloaded here:
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  http://releases.ubuntu.com/hardy/
  http://releases.ubuntu.com/6.06/ubuntu-6.06.1-server-i386.iso
 
  
2) Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) Server EditionThis is a more recent Ubuntu release.
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There is some flexibility in the OS, but we must patch and recompile the kernel and we're already familiar with these versions of Ubuntu. If you'd much rather use Fedora, or something, we can probably work that outUbuntu has a very strong user support presence on the internet.
  http://ubuntu-releases.cs.umn.edu/gutsy/ubuntu-7.10-server-i386.iso
 
  
There is some flexibility in the OS, but we must patch and recompile the kernel and we're already familiar with this distribution.  If you'd much rather use Fedora, or something, we can probably work that outUbuntu has a very strong user support presence on the internet.
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Installation is fairly straight-forward, just some basic network stuff and disk partitioning.  If you're comfortable with manipulating partitions, it is probably a wise idea to make a smallish (20-30 GB) partition for the root "/"  of the file-system, and then use the rest of the free space for data (mount as "/data")This will make it easier to replace the OS later, if that becomes desirable or necessary.
  
Installation should be straight-forward, just boot off of the CD and select Install option from the menu.  There's not a lot of configuration at this stage, just some basic network stuff and disk partitioning.  If you're comfortable with manipulating partitions, it is probably a wise idea to make a smallish (20-30 GB) partition for the root "/"  of the file-system, and then use the rest of the free space for data (mount as "/data").  This will make it easier to replace the OS later, if that becomes desirable or necessary.  The partitions should be of the variety "hda".
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If you install the Server Edition, it will not have programming tools or a window-manager installed by default.  To get started with those, you can login (on the text terminal) and then type:
 
 
When creating the first user, create mce, with the standard password.
 
 
 
This edition of Ubuntu is a very light-weight installation, and doesn't have programming tools or a window-manager installed by default.  To get started with those, you can login (on the text terminal) and then type:
 
 
   user:~#  sudo apt-get update
 
   user:~#  sudo apt-get update
 
   Password:
 
   Password:
 
   user:~#  sudo apt-get install build-essential ubuntu-desktop gdm
 
   user:~#  sudo apt-get install build-essential ubuntu-desktop gdm
  
Now restart the computer
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Note about "sudo": by default, the root account on ubuntu does not have a password (this means that no one can log in as root).  Instead, privileged users can do root things on a command-by-command basis using "sudo" (as above), or can open a root shell like this:
  sudo shutdown -r now
 
 
 
It will ask for your user password, not the root password.  Part way through, it will also ask if you want to continue.  Type 'Y'.  Later still, it will ask for the Ubuntu CD again.  Insert it and press [ENTER]
 
 
 
By default, the root account on ubuntu does not have a password (this means that no one can log in as root).  Instead, privileged users can do root things on a command-by-command basis using "sudo" (as above), or can open a root shell like this:
 
 
   user:~#  sudo -s
 
   user:~#  sudo -s
 
   Password:
 
   Password:
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To set up the rest of the system, we will need to ssh into that computer.  To make sure ssh access is enabled for normal users, install openssh-server:
 
To set up the rest of the system, we will need to ssh into that computer.  To make sure ssh access is enabled for normal users, install openssh-server:
 
   user:~# sudo apt-get install openssh-server
 
   user:~# sudo apt-get install openssh-server
 
Now restart the computer
 
  sudo shutdown -r now
 

Revision as of 20:08, 2 February 2009

OS Download and install

We currently support Ubuntu from version 6.06 through version 8.04. For new installations we recommend Ubuntu 8.04 LTS. It is available here.

 http://releases.ubuntu.com/hardy/

There is some flexibility in the OS, but we must patch and recompile the kernel and we're already familiar with these versions of Ubuntu. If you'd much rather use Fedora, or something, we can probably work that out. Ubuntu has a very strong user support presence on the internet.

Installation is fairly straight-forward, just some basic network stuff and disk partitioning. If you're comfortable with manipulating partitions, it is probably a wise idea to make a smallish (20-30 GB) partition for the root "/" of the file-system, and then use the rest of the free space for data (mount as "/data"). This will make it easier to replace the OS later, if that becomes desirable or necessary.

If you install the Server Edition, it will not have programming tools or a window-manager installed by default. To get started with those, you can login (on the text terminal) and then type:

  user:~#  sudo apt-get update
  Password:
  user:~#  sudo apt-get install build-essential ubuntu-desktop gdm

Note about "sudo": by default, the root account on ubuntu does not have a password (this means that no one can log in as root). Instead, privileged users can do root things on a command-by-command basis using "sudo" (as above), or can open a root shell like this:

  user:~#  sudo -s
  Password:
  root:~#

If you would rather enable the root account (so you can use "su" to get a root shell, for example), just do:

  user:~#  sudo -s
  Password:
  root:~#  passwd

and set the password.

To set up the rest of the system, we will need to ssh into that computer. To make sure ssh access is enabled for normal users, install openssh-server:

  user:~# sudo apt-get install openssh-server