Guide to install Linux on lab computer

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CentOS 5.3 on Dell Studio Hybrid

IP: 137.110.115.231

Hardware specs:

  • CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T8100, 2.10GHz
  • NIC: Realtek RTL 8111/8168B PCI-E
  • Graphics: Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, Chipset: 965GM
  • RAM: 3GB
  • Native OS: Windows Vista Home
  • Dell 1909Wb display: 1440x900@60Hz

Notes:

  • To insert/remove DVD touch Eject icon on front panel.
  • Installation policy: erase Windows partition, but leave recovery partition intact
  • NIC should install automatically
  • Select DHCP based configuration for network parameters
  • Graphics driver: use Intel GM965/GL960
  • install GRUB on MBR, no GRUB password
  • create 6GB swap drive (should be default)

xorg.conf: 

# Xorg configuration created by system-config-display

Section "ServerLayout"
        Identifier     "single head configuration"
        Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
        InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier  "Keyboard0"
        Driver      "kbd"
        Option      "XkbModel" "pc105"
        Option      "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "Monitor1"
    VendorName "Dell"
    ModelName "Dell 1440x900"
    HorizSync 30-83
    VertRefresh 56-75
    ModeLine "1440x900@60" 106.40 1440 1520 1672 1904 900 903 909 934 -Hsync +Vsync
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier      "VGA-0"
    Option "Ignore" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier      "LVDS-0"
    Option "Ignore" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
        Identifier "intel"
        Driver      "i810"
#       Option     "monitor-TMDS-1" "Monitor1"
#       Option     "monitor-VGA" "VGA-0"
#       Option     "monitor-LVDS" "LVDS-0"
#        Option "UseDisplayDevice" "DFP, CRT"
        Option     "AccelMethod" "EXA"
        Option      "RenderAccel" "true"
        Option      "EnablePageFlip" "true"
#       Option      "MigrationHeuristic" "greedy"
#       Option      "ExaNoComposite" "false"
#       Option     "DRI" "true"
#       Option     "ForceCRT1" "false"
#       Option     "DPMS"
        Option  "AperTexSize" "131072"
        Option  "ModeDebug" "true"
EndSection

Section "Module"
        Load "glx"
        Load "dri"
        Load "GLcore"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
        Mode 0666
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Screen0"
        Device     "intel"
        Monitor    "Monitor1"
        DefaultDepth     24
        SubSection "Display"
                Depth     24
                Modes     "1440x900@60" "800x600"  # mode 1920x1440 must previously have been overwritten with 1440x900 using the 915resolution tool
                Viewport 0 0
        EndSubSection
EndSection

Getting the Intel graphics unit to work:

http://people.redhat.com/ywong/RHEL-5-addons/x86_64/compiz-fusion/libpthread-stubs/libpthread-stubs-0.1-1.el5.x86_64.rpm

  • Download 915resolution from http://www.geocities.com/stomljen/download.html
  • Run 915resolution: 915resolution -c G965 5c 1440 900 32
  • Restart X11 (init3; init5)
  • To always run the 915resolution script at startup add this text as file "/etc/init.d/915start". 
#!/bin/sh

PATH=/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin
PROG=/usr/sbin/los-915resolution
NAME=los-915resolution
DESC=los-915resolution

# test -x $DAEMON || exit 0

case "$1" in
  start)
        echo -n "Starting $DESC: "
        start-stop-daemon --start --quiet --exec $PROG
        echo "$NAME."
         915resolution 38 1280 768
        ;;
  stop)
        #echo -n "Stopping $DESC: "
        #echo "$NAME."
        ;;
  restart|force-reload)
        #echo -n "Stopping $DESC: "
        #echo "$NAME."
        echo -n "Starting $DESC: "
        start-stop-daemon --start --quiet --exec $PROG
        echo "$NAME."
        ;;
  *)
        N=/etc/init.d/$NAME
        # echo "Usage: $N start" >&2
        echo "Usage: $N start" >&2
        exit 1
        ;;
esac

exit 0

Then create a symlink to /etc/init.d/915start as /etc/rc2.d/S20915start.

Then create a file "/etc/default/915resolution" and put the following text in it: 

MODE=5c
XRESO=1440
YRESO=900
BIT=32
HTOTAL=1904
VTOTAL=934

CentOS 5.2 on Dell Optiplex GX620

  1. Preparation
    1. request static IP address in 137.110.118 or 137.110.119 subnet, suggest DNS name (find inspiration at [1])
    2. send DNS name to Jurgen to update data bank at [2]
  2. Hardware
    1. set up computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse on lab desk
    2. make sure mouse is wired and optical
    3. connect monitor with DVI cable, not VGA
    4. connect network cable to activated Ethernet jack
  3. Install Operating System
    1. insert CentOS 5.2 DVD-ROM
    2. reboot computer
    3. hit F12 during POST and select external USB or DVD drive to boot from DVD
    4. use default regional settings (US/English)
    5. set root password to IVL password
    6. in time zone settings: enable NTP
    7. Configure network
    8. start network configuration tool in System->Administration->Network
    9. double click on connected Ethernet port
    10. enter this computer's static IP address
    11. net mask: 255.255.255.0
    12. DNS servers: 132.239.1.52, 128.54.16.2, 132.239.0.252
    13. reboot
  4. Configure server access
    1. add machine's IP address to server's "exports" file
    2. "exportfs -r" on server
    3. add mount line to /etc/fstab (copy from sessions.ucsd.edu)
    4. mount -a
  5. Give OS time to get network ready before mounting the NFS
    1. "vi /etc/init.d/netfs"
    2. insert the following line: 
      action $"Sleeping for 30 secs: " sleep 30
      between line: 
      [ ! -f /var/lock/subsys/portmap ] && service portmap start
      and 
      action $"Mounting NFS filesystems: " mount -a -t nfs,nfs4
      This makes sure the server directory gets mounted.
  6. Copy accounts
    1. ssh root@sessions
    2. cd .ssh
    3. scp * root@<new_machine>:.ssh
    4. cd
    5. vi labnodes.txt
    6. add "<new_machine>"
    7. ./passsync
  7. Install additional libraries 
yum -y groupinstall "Development Tools"
yum -y groupinstall "Development Libraries"
yum -y groupinstall "Chinese Support"
yum -y install kernel-devel
yum -y install arts-devel
yum -y install freeglut.x86_64
yum -y install freeglut-devel.x86_64
yum -y install libpng-devel.x86_64
yum -y install compat-libstdc++-33
yum -y install boost.x86_64
yum -y install boost-devel.x86_64
yum -y install ImageMagick.x86_64
yum -y install ImageMagick-devel.x86_64
yum -y install ImageMagick-c++.x86_64
yum -y install ImageMagick-c++-devel.x86_64
yum -y install mysql.x86_64
yum -y install mysql-devel.x86_64
yum -y install screen
yum -y install gnuplot
rpm -Uhv /home/jschulze/drivers/Cg-2.1_November2008_x86_64.rpm
  1. Update all installed CentOS software:
    1. yum -y update RUN THIS COMMAND TWICE
    2. reboot
  2. Install graphics driver
    1. on login screen: hit ctrl-alt-F1
    2. log in as root
    3. type "init 3"
    4. "sh /home/jschulze/drivers/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2.run"
    5. skip FTP server lookup
    6. do not install 32 bit compatibility libraries
    7. do auto-configure graphics driver
    8. reboot

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