--- doc/build/suse10.3_install.frag 2008/05/22 21:39:15 1.2
+++ doc/build/suse10.3_install.frag 2010/05/26 23:42:50 1.5
@@ -1,36 +1,41 @@
Installing LON-CAPA on a minimal SuSE Linux 10.3 System
This document guides you through the process of setting up a new LON-CAPA
-server running SuSE Linux 10.3 with a minimum of packages installed.
-The computer will be configured solely as a LON-CAPA server and will be
+server running SuSE Linux 10.3 with a minimum of packages installed.
+The computer will be configured solely as a LON-CAPA server and will be
expected to have no other services running. Your server is expected to have a reasonably fast connection to the internet.
-More information is available at
+More information is available at
http://install.lon-capa.org/.
+
Before you begin
Installing Linux is getting easier and easier. You will be required to log in to the machine and execute some routine Unix commands. Familiarity with the Apache web server, mod_perl, perl, and MySQL are not required to install and run LON-CAPA.
+
Installation Overview
The installation process takes the following steps:
- - Obtain SuSE 10.3 installation media (DVD, or CD)
- - Determine Network Settings
- - Install Suse 10.3
- - Update your system
- - Install LON-CAPA
- - Create a Domain Coordinator
- - Start/Restart services
- - Log in to LON-CAPA
+ - Obtain SuSE 10.3 installation media (DVD, or CD)
+ - Determine Network Settings
+ - Install Suse 10.3
+ - Update your system
+ - Install LON-CAPA
+ - Create a Domain Coordinator
+ - Start/Restart services
+ - Log in to LON-CAPA
-Obtain SuSE Linux 10.3
+
+
+
A SuSE 10.3 iso for burning to DVD can be obtained from the opensuse download site: http://http://software.opensuse.org/, or from an opensuse mirror site - http://en.opensuse.org/Mirrors_Released_Version. You will also find links there to sites with iso files for burning a Start-CD-Image (a mini.iso) used in a network install, if burning a CD is more convenient for you.
-
-Determine Network Settings
+
+
+
You will need to know the following network settings for your installation.
Note:You must have a static IP address to use LON-CAPA.
@@ -43,10 +48,11 @@ DHCP is not supported.
gateway
domain name server(s)
-Minimal SuSE 10.3 Install
+
+
Installing SuSE 10.3 is quite easy if you've installed Linux products
-before. Some documentation is available from
+before. Some documentation is available from
http://en.opensuse.org/INSTALL_Local for installations from DVD and
http://en.opensuse.org/INSTALL_Internet for installations via the network, booting from the mini.iso CD.
@@ -61,19 +67,19 @@ There are a few steps that require comme
Software Selection
Choose Expert Mode and for Software enable Base System, Yast Installation Packages and Software Management
Partitioning your Drive
- For a LON-CAPA library server (i.e., the main server used
- for permanent storage of course and user data),
- a separate partition is recommended for /home, as this
+ For a LON-CAPA library server (i.e., the main server used
+ for permanent storage of course and user data),
+ a separate partition is recommended for /home, as this
simplifies future upgrades of the operating system.
- If you are adding an additional access server to an
- existing LON-CAPA domain, this does not apply as no
+ If you are adding an additional access server to an
+ existing LON-CAPA domain, this does not apply as no
permenent data are stored on an access server.
As LON-CAPA resource files are stored in the /home directory,
the majority of the disk space should be allocated here.
- If you have 20 GB of space for SuSE 10.3, /home should
- receive at least 10 to 12 gigs. Since MySQL uses the /var
- filesystem to store its databases you should have as least
- 4 gigs of space available on /var. Be sure to
+ If you have 20 GB of space for SuSE 10.3, /home should
+ receive at least 10 to 12 gigs. Since MySQL uses the /var
+ filesystem to store its databases you should have as least
+ 4 gigs of space available on /var. Be sure to
include adequate swap space. A minimum is 512 Megs, but you should
typically have 1 or 2x as much swap space as you do physical RAM.
@@ -85,7 +91,7 @@ There are a few steps that require comme
IP address. When configuring your network card, you should include host name information (e.g., host name = tmp1, domain = lite.msu.edu), as well as name server. Other settings (ip address, gateway, netmask will have been set when you included them in the boot configuration).
Firewall
- Enable the firewall, and allow the following services: web services (http and https) and login services (SSH). Use the "Advanced..." option to open the following ports for TCP services: 8080 5663.
+ Enable the firewall, and allow the following services: web services (http and https) and login services (SSH).
Online Update Configuration
It is recommended that you register your server with Novell for future updates during the installation process, and then run the online update.
@@ -96,7 +102,8 @@ proceed to have you create a user accoun
and let you configure any extra hardware, and then finish up the boot
process. At the prompt login as root.
-Change software sources for your system
+
+
If you do not already have a SuSE 10.3 installation source at your location, you may want to consider creating one from the iso file for the DVD. Proceed as follows (e.g., for 32 bit):
mkdir -p suse103/DVD
@@ -127,9 +134,10 @@ Select "Installation Source" and change
Authentication
Anonymous
-After saving this configuration information for the LON-CAPA repository, you will need to import a public LON-CAPA key, before the catalog is read, and the repository is available to you. Quit yast.
+After saving this configuration information for the LON-CAPA repository, you will need to import a public LON-CAPA key, before the catalog is read, and the repository is available to you. Quit yast.
-Installing LON-CAPA
+
+
Install prerequisites
Execute:
@@ -171,23 +179,23 @@ for it to function at all. Below is a l
The server must be designated a 'library' or an 'access' server. In
general you should have a library server for your instructors to create
their course content on and run their courses. Students should connect
- to access servers. If you are doing the first install of LON-CAPA at
+ to access servers. If you are doing the first install of LON-CAPA at
your site, or if you are playing with it for your own edification you
should make your machine a 'library' server.
LON-CAPA domain
Each site or school which installs LON-CAPA needs its own domain.
Here at MSU we use 'msu'. You should choose something short but
- meaningful. Restriction: One word, no hyphens, underscores, or
+ meaningful. Restriction: One word, no hyphens, underscores, or
special characters.
LON-CAPA host id
Each LON-CAPA server requires a unique internal name. We use names
- such as "msul1" for the first library server. Restriction: One word,
+ such as "msul1" for the first library server. Restriction: One word,
no hyphens, underscores, or special characters.
Host administrator email
The amount of email sent to this address is relatively minimal. Messages
- are sent every time the system starts up, or if the system is in
+ are sent every time the system starts up, or if the system is in
serious trouble. On a laptop, make this root@localhost.
@@ -201,17 +209,18 @@ cd /root/loncapa-N.N (N.N should cor
./UPDATE
-You will need to enter the LON-CAPA configuration information you determined
-in the previous section.
+You will need to enter the LON-CAPA configuration information you determined
+in the previous section.
-Creating a Domain Coordinator
+
+
You will need at least one user at your site who has the role of
'domain coordinator'. This user creates accounts for other users and
grants them additional privileges. The make_domain_coordinator.pl script
invoked below requires that you enter the users password. The password will
show in plaintext as you type it. Feel free to use the "passwd username"
-command to change it later. Replace USERNAME and DOMAIN with an
+command to change it later. Replace USERNAME and DOMAIN with an
appropriate user name and your domain.
@@ -219,7 +228,8 @@ cd /root/loncapa-N.N/loncom/build
perl make_domain_coordinator.pl USERNAME DOMAIN
(WILL PROMPT FOR PASSWORD HERE)
-Start/Restart Services
+
+
The LON-CAPA network services take a moment to start. Most misconfigurations
will be apparent at this step.
@@ -230,22 +240,25 @@ will be apparent at this step.
If you receive warnings about missing perl modules when starting apache2,
-please make sure you followed the instructions in
+please make sure you followed the instructions in
Installing LON-CAPA Dependencies. If you still have errors, please
-contact the LON-CAPA support team.
+contact the MSU LON-CAPA group.
-Log in to your LON-CAPA Machine
+
+
Point a web browser at your new machine and log in as the domain
coordinator. Congratulations!
+
+
If things aren't working right
If you've followed the steps above and the server doesn't start or you think
-there's something wrong, please get in touch with the LON-CAPA support team.
+there's something wrong, please get in touch with the MSU LON-CAPA group.
You can submit a help request using our web form:
-http://support.loncapa.org/help/
+http://help.loncapa.org/help/
If there were errors in installation of the dependency RPMs or during the
-automatic setup, please send us as much information as possible.
+automatic setup, please send us as much information as possible.
Please let us know if any parts of this document are unclear.