Clarkson Open Source Institute
MP151 (1 Credit)
This semester I was enrolled in MP151 for one credit. I have learned a lot about Linux and have helped keep the lab organized.
End of Semester Report (05/02/2007)
Organization
This semester I helped out with various things in the lab. Earlier in the semester I figured out a new layout for the lab and implemented it. The layout I designed allowed for use of all the computers compared to the previous design which only allowed for about half of the computers to be used. Cyrus and I also cleaned out a good portion of the server room at the end of spring break. We moved most of the old equipment that was no longer being used down to the old VR lab which made the server room a lot neater and allowed room for the Unisys server which was brought up this past Monday. I also helped run some of the new networking in COSI and the new networking we ran for COSI's servers in the server room. I also pick up stuff in the lab when I have spare time to do so. I also organized a list of all the static IP addresses in use in the lab so that we know which ones are in use and which ones are free.
What I Have Learned This Semester
Ubuntu Server
This semester I learned more about Linux in general and about Ubuntu server. I learned that Ubuntu server is very simple to set up and is what I choose to run on ITL's second file server (itlfs2). It takes very little human input during setup and is very simple for a new Linux user. It is just as simple as setting up Ubuntu Desktop.
Setting Up Static IP Addresses and Sending Hostnames in Linux
I learned how to set up static IP addresses in Ubuntu Linux as well. It was rather simple once I figured out how to do it. You first need to change the file "/etc/network/interfaces" and then check that the file "/etc/resolv.conf" to make sure it is correctly set to the correct dns servers. In order to make the server or computer sending it's host name you must edit the "/etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf" and make sure the "send host-name" line is uncommented. After all this you need to reload the networking by running the command "/etc/init.d/networking restart" and then test to make sure everything works.
An example of the setup on itlfs2:
Setting up SSH, Modifying the Logon Banner, and Modifying the Message of the Day
In order to a make an Ubuntu Linux machine be remote accessible thorough ssh you need to "apt-get install ssh." You then should be able to ssh into the machine through its IP address or through it's host name if your computer is set to send it's host name. You can modify the Message of the Day by editing the file "/etc/motd." If you would like to display a Banner before the user enters their password then you need to edit the file "/etc/issue.net" and edit the configuration file "/etc/ssh/sshd_config" and uncomment the line "Banner /etc/issue.net."
Setting up Apache
The first step to setting up Apache in Ubuntu Linux is installing Apache 2 by running the command "apt-get install apache2." Once installed you can put you files to be web viewable in the "/var/www/" folder. If you would like each individual user to have their own web directories then you need to create a "public_html" folder in each user's home directory. You must also create symbolic links in the "/etc/apache2/mods-enabled" folder by running the commands "ln -s ../mods-available/userdir.conf userdir.conf" and "ln -s ../mods-available/userdir.load userdir.load" in order to make the "public_html" directories active. Once this is all done you need to reload Apache by running the command "/etc/init.d/apache2 restart" and everything should work unless the permissions on the files or folders are wrong.
Learning HTML
This semester I have been trying to learn html. I have learned basic html from various websites. I wrote my mid-semester web page for the ITL from scratch. I then decided to use a design that was already made and free to make my Clarkson Home Page, my COSI Page, and my ITL Page. Both creating and modifying web pages has helped me learn some of the essential basics of html.
Future Projects
In the future, I am planning to hopefully work with Jim Owens on the temperature monitoring project, learn more about setting up dns and dhcp in Linux, and work with Zach Shepherd on a study of usability between Ubuntu Linux and Windows Vista.