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DLS Installation Guide
will help you step by step to install and configure a Desktop Linux Server (DLS).
The Desktop Linux Serveur (DLS) is released as a LiveCD which makes its installation easy. Hence, we will mostly provide informations concerning the DLS configuration.

Note: this documentation aims 2006 version of the DLS but it should also mostly apply to other versions.

Step 1: Requirements
- A Computer with a network card, a hard drive (to store persistent data),
- A Nexedi DLS 2006 Live CD (or DVD).

dls_bootlogo.png
Boot screen
Step 2: DLS Boot
  • Configure your computer's BIOS (if necessary) in order to boot on the CD/DVD first (and not the hard drive).
  • Insert your DLS 2006 CD (or DVD) in the drive and reboot your computer.
  • After a few seconds, you should see the LiveCD boot screen that will display possible boot parameters.
  • The DLS should now be booting. First, it will try to detect your hardware then it will launch Mandriva 2006 and Nexedi tools. Once the Graphical Interface is launched, you should be automaticcaly logged in as "dlsadmin" user and DLS Configuration Webpage should pop up.

Note: Do not worry if some scripts are displaying "Failed" during boot : it happens and it isn't necessary important. Some scriptslike "DLSCDTool" take more time than other, this is perfectly normal.
diskdrake.png
partitioning tool

Step 3: Hard Drive preparation

Before the DLS configuration with the webpage, it is strongly advised to prepare the hard drive for persistent data storage. This is important since the DLS is a LiveCD. Without any persistent partition on the hard drive, the whole configuration would be stored in memory and would be lost after reboot.

Mandriva provides a tool called "DiskDrake" that will allow you to manage your hard drive partitions. In order to execute this program, you need to go to KDE menu (yellow star at the bottom left of the screen) and click on "Run Command". In "Run Command", type the following command: "kdesu diskdrake". You should be prompted for a password : it has not been customized yet and the default one is "dlsroot".

You need to create two partitions:

  • Linux SWAP Partition (1 GB advised)
  • Persistent datat storage partition (all space left - XFS filesystem advised - "/" mount point)
Your partition table should look like the one on the right snapshot. Do not forget to format your partitions in order to make them directly usable.



Important note: You should remember the system name of your main partition ("/" mount point). It should be something like "hda2" (it is called "sda2" on our snapshot). You will need this information later (Step 5) for persistant data storage.

Note: Some advanced users may prefer to use a command line partitioning tool like "parted" (also provided).
configuration.png
DLS Initial Configuration

Step 4: DLS Configuration

In order to configure the DLS 2006, you will need to fill in the form "Initial Configuration" in the web interface. you will be asked for the following entries:

  • Host Name : default is 'dls'
  • Domain Name : Your domain name (e.g: "nexedi.com")
  • Root Password : Your root password (root user is the computer administrator). This password shouldn't be too simple
  • Web Password : Password for the web Interface (needed to add/delete users). This password shouldn't be too simple
  • Time Zone : Your Time Zone (e.g: "Europe/Paris")
  • Language : Your language (e.g: "fr_FR")
  • Connection type: DHCP (automatic) or static (The main DLS should use static connection)
  • IP Configuration: Your network configuration (Gateway and Nameservers are optional if you don't need them)
  • Wireless LAN Configuration: Your wireless network configuration (optional)

Click on Save Configuration" button once you have checked your input data. This step shoudn't take much time.
The following message should be displayed:

Creating config.xml file...
Done
Now, Please click here to finish the initial configuration. Note that this step can take several minutes to complete.


Click where you are asked, this step takes a lot of time.

Step 5 : Persistent data storage

This step is not yet automated, you will need to execute a script by hand, using the terminal (command line). To launch the terminal, you should click on the third icon at the bottom left of the screen (looks like a computer screen) : it is called "Konsole".


Note: At step 3, you should have written the system name of your main partition (e.g: "hda2"). In the following, replace the command : "/dev/PARTITION_NAME" by "/dev/hda2" (if your partition name is "hda2").


Once the terminal is launched, type the following commands:

xxxxxx$ su
Password: YOUR_PASSWORD
xxxxxx# /home/dlsadmin/nexedi-dls/persistent.sh /dev/PARTITION_NAME ...



Once the execution of this script is finished, it is advised to reboot the computer so that it is perfectly functionnal (even if it shouldn't be necessary).

Configuration file persistence (/etc)

The files modifications in /var will be kept after reboot but it is not the case for configuration files in /etc. If you edit a file in /etc (it will certainly be the case), you will want to keep them after reboot and this is possible.


Follow this procedure:

xxxxxxxxx$ su
Password: ROOT_PASSWORD
xxxxxxxxx# mkdir -p /mnt/storage/config/etc
xxxxxxxxx# cd /mnt/storage/config/
xxxxxxxxx# cp -af /etc/* etc/
xxxxxxxxx# tar czf ../config.tgz .

This archive will be automatically extracted during the DLS boot and this will allow you to keep your configuration.
usersmgmt.png
Users Management

Step 6 : Users Management

You are now able to manage your users. You will need to use the DLS web interface: Users Management Section.


You will be prompted for an username and a password : the username is "dlsadmin" and the password is the one you have chosen in initial configuration ("Web Password").


In this section, you will be able to add/remove groups or users. It is also possible to edit informations about a user or a group from here.

Notice : All users' data are stored in a LDAP database.


Conclusion

That's it ! Your Desktop Linux Server (DLS) is now installed and configured. You can now use it and customize it as you like. The thin clients present on the same network as the DLS will now be able to boot from network ("PXE Boot") and use a desktop on the distant DLS (Thanks to VNC graphical export).

Thank you for using the Nexedi Desktop Linux Server 2006 !

Author : Christophe Dumez - christophe@nexedi.com


**********************

       APPENDIX

**********************


Changelog : DLS 10.1 -> DLS 2006 : (still in test)
  • Migrated DLS to Mandriva 2006
  • Migrated thin clients image to Mandriva 2006
  • Fixed users delection/addition in web interface
  • Fixed PXE boot for thin clients (was't working)
  • AutoDetection of "thin client" screen resolution and use a corresponding VNC port
  • Extracting config.tgz AFTER configuration generation from templates
  • Added usb storage devices support on thin clients
  • Added Music playback support on thin clients
  • Automated Upgrade from a previous DLS version
  • Better device detection support
  • Created DVD version of the DLS with more software
  • Written a documentation to make DLS installation easier
  • Other minor bugs fixed

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RCS Roubaix Tourcoing 440 047 504 - IBAN: FR76 3002 7175 3900 0410 2760 135
Email: info@nexedi.com - Tel. +33(0)6 62 05 76 14 - Fax. +33(0)3 20 72 99 25
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