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The Computer Center currently supports Linux dekstops in two different configurations. In level 1 support, the user has full access to the home and group directories much like any other CUE Unix desktop. In addition, just like the other Unix desktops, the user does NOT have access to the root password. If there are problems with a particular Linux desktop, then you may be instructed to 'wipe and load' the system with the CDROM and floppy you created during the installation process. This will return you to the same state as you had before problems started occuring.
Before you can install Linux on your machine, you will need to obtain a bootable installation CD from the helpdesk. You can drop by any time they're open and request one.
If you're comfortable with burning your own CDROMs, you can also download and install the latest ISO image. We don't support this method, but it is convenient if you already know what you're doing and don't want to make a special trip to the helpdesk just to pick up a CDROM you could make at your desktop.
The latest ISO image can be found here.
In order to install the current version of Linux, you will need to create a floppy containing the configuration information for the new system. To do this:
/site/CC/linux/mkdisk --hostname your_hostname \
--user your_username \
--cuelevel 1
--class desktop
Where it says your_hostname, just put in the short name
of the machine you're going to install. For example, if this will be
jlabtest1.jlab.org, then you'd use "--hostname jlabtest1" without the
.jlab.org part.
Where it says your_userame, put in your CUE username. For example, if you login to db1 as "brad", then you'd use "--user brad". Whatever username you use here is going to be the only user allowed to log in to the machine when it's built, so you should usually put in your own login name. If you're going to install Linux for someone else to use, put their name instead.
The "--class" and "--cuelevel" options may deserve some explanation. "--cuelevel" specifies what level of a CUE supported machine you want to build. There are two valid options, "1" or "2". These instructions show you how to build a fully supported CUE Level 1 machine. The "--class" option specifies what sort of machine you want to build. You can actually build a few different kinds of machines, but you will almost always want to specify "--class desktop". This installs Linux in a configuration suitable for desktop use, with GNOME and KDE GUI desktops and a long list of preinstalled applications. You may occasionally want to build with "--class server", which installs a very stripped-down version of Linux suitable for creating a single-purpose server without a lot of extra stuff you won't need.
If you have already have Windows installed and want to configure this machine to boot either Windows or Linux, you can use the "--dualboot" option to mkdisk. This is something else we don't officially support, but provide because some people like it. You'll need to repartition your hard drive to take some room away from Windows and allocate it for Linux, and this is a tricky proposition. If you don't know exactly what you're doing, CONTACT THE HELPDESK BEFORE TRYING TO DUAL BOOT YOUR MACHINE.
Once you run the program with the correct options, you will be asked to insert a blank, formatted floppy disk and to press RETURN to continue. If you want, you can abort the procedure at this time by pressing CTRL-C. Otherwise, press RETURN to create your configuration floppy.
That was a long winded explanation, but it's really easy in practice. Here's an example, where user "ted" is building a new machine called "jlabtest1.jlab.org".
/site/CC/linux/mkdisk --hostname jlabtest1 --user ted --cue 1 --class desktop
Once the floppy disk has been created, insert the bootable CD into the system's CDROM drive and the configuration floppy disk into floppy drive of the system you are installing Linux onto and reboot the system.
This document is maintained by {helpdesk@jlab.org}
Copyright Jefferson Lab 2007