Guide to install Linux on lab computer
From Immersive Visualization Lab Wiki
- Preparation
- Hardware
- set up computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse on lab desk
- use wired, optical mouse
- connect monitor with DVI cable, not VGA
- connect to activated Ethernet jack
- Install Operating System
- insert CentOS 4.6 DVD-ROM
- reboot computer
- hit F12 during POST and select external USB or DVD drive to boot from DVD
- use default regional settings (US/English)
- set root password (consult Jurgen)
- enable NTP
- select custom configuration
- check administrative tools
- Configure OS
- configure network
- use assigned static IP (see above)
- net mask: 255.255.255.0
- DNS servers: 132.239.1.52, 128.54.16.2, 132.239.0.252
- configure network
- Update OS
- wait for round red icon at top right of screen, then click on it
- install all available updates
- reboot
- Configure server access
- add machine's IP address to server's "exports" file
- "exportfs -r" on server
- add mount line to /etc/fstab (copy from sessions)
- "mount -a"
- "vi /etc/init.d/netfs"
- insert the following line:
action $"Sleeping for 30 secs: " sleep 30
between line:[ ! -f /var/lock/subsys/portmap ] && service portmap start
andaction $"Mounting NFS filesystems: " mount -a -t nfs,nfs4
This makes sure the server directory gets mounted.
- Copy accounts
- ssh root@sessions
- cd .ssh
- scp * root@<new_machine>:.ssh
- cd
- vi labnodes.txt
- add "<new_machine>"
- ./passsync
- Configure updatedb
- configure automatic data bank updates: "vi /etc/updatedb.conf" and set "DAILY_UPDATE" to "yes"
- Install graphics driver
- on login screen: hit ctrl-alt-F1
- log in as root
- type "init 3"
- type "sh /home/jschulze/drivers/NVIDIA", then press TAB key
- skip FTP server lookup
- do not install 32 bit compatibility libraries
- do auto-configure graphics driver
- reboot
- log in as root
- open terminal window, type "nvidia-settings"
- configure display resolution
- save to default file ("/etc/X11/xorg.conf")
- Reboot and make sure users can log in and see their home directories