Linux Guidelines

Shutting Down

Log in to the console as root with correct password:

Welcome to Linux
Linux login: root
Password:

At the prompt Linux:/root # type the following: shutdown –h now

  • Messages relating to the shutdown process will scroll down the screen
  • Wait till the last line system halted appears
  • At this point it is safe to turn off the power

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Rebooting

Usually the only reason a Linux server ever needs a reboot is due to a system change that requires a reboot for the new setting to take affect.

Method 1

The easiest way to reboot the system is to use CTRL+ALT+DEL. Logging in the system is not necessary. At the console press the CTRL+ALT+DEL keys at the same time. Make sure everyone is logged out or not accessing the Server. Shutdown messages will scroll down the screen. The system will reboot and eventually you will see the following screen again:

Welcome to Linux
Linux login:

The system is ready, no need to log in.

Method 2

Another method of rebooting the system is the reboot command. Log in to the console as root with correct password:

Welcome to Linux
Linux login: root
Password:

At the prompt Linux:/root # type the following: reboot

Make sure everyone is logged out or not accessing the Server. Shutdown messages will scroll down the screen, the system will reboot and eventually you will see the following screen again:

Welcome to Linux
Linux login:

The system is ready, no need to log in.

We recommend turning off the screen saver.

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Email

Your Linux server is a powerful Email server with many capabilities making it a very flexible tool. This section describes the basics of the Linux Email server and how to configure a Windows Email Client such as Eudora or Outlook.

Basics of Email

If you have a 'dial-up' Internet connection, your Linux server will dial your Internet Service Provider on a given interval (Example: every ½ hour) to send any outbound Email waiting in the queue and collect any inbound Email waiting to be delivered to your users. The frequency of collection can be controlled by using the Webmin utility described later. If you have a permanent internet connection (T1, DSL, ISDN), email is received and sent immediately.

Configuration of a Windows Email Client

In order for your users to send and read Email from Windows, a Windows Email Client software package is necessary, sometimes referred to as a pop client. Eudora and Outlook are probably the two most popular Email clients. If you have another Email client this section should still assist you in configuring your software.

Eudora Lite is a free software package provided by QUALCOMM and is supplied to most of our users. Eudora Lite has quite a few options and features, for full documentation see www.eudora.com. The following instructions will assist with basic configuration and assumes the software is already installed.

Starting the Eudora program for the first time will automatically bring up the configuration screen:

POP account: username@192.168.1.1

Real name: Your Full Name

Return Address: username@yourdomain.com

Click on the Hosts button to bring up the following screen:

You will see POP account is already filled in for you.

SMTP:192.168.1.1

Checking Mail Category:

Check for mail every: 15 minutes

Save password can be removed if extra security is needed.

Attachments Category:

Click the Attachments button for the following screen:

 

Basically you need to find a directory on your C drive or a drive on the network to store attachments. We recommend C:\data\attach or P:\data\attach where "P" is a mapped path to your server. The directory \data\attach must be created before selecting it from this window or it will not be available.

When you have selected a directory click the Use Directory button.

Miscellaneous Category:

"Close messages with mailbox" should have a Ö.

Remove the Ö from Automatically open next message.

Click the OK button and you are done with Eudora Configuration.

 

Basic Email Parameters

Your Email client software may look quite different but basically the following parameters are required for ANY Windows Email Client:

POP Server: 192.168.1.1
SMTP Server: 192.168.1.1
POP Account
username@192.168.1.1
Return or Reply address:username@yourdomain.com

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Internet Gateway

Your Linux server can provide all computers on your network access to the Internet using only one connection. No additional modems, phone lines, monthly connection fees or dialup accounts are necessary. This feature also provides protection to your computers on your network from outside users in the Internet world, this is commonly called a firewall. Very few configuration settings are required on the workstations which makes Internet access very easy. The following example is for a Windows 95 workstation

Open up the Networking icon in the Control Panel

Highlight the selection TCP/IP and click on Properties.

If there is more than one TCP/IP component highlight the one pointing to your Ethernet card.

This screen is very important but easy to work with:

You should have a unique IP address assigned by your network administrator. It will start with 192.168.1.x. Subnet mask is always 255.255.255.0

Click on the Gateway tab:

Enter the new gateway as 192.168.1.1 and click Add

Click the DNS Configuration tab

Enable DNS should be checked.

Host: Name of your computer

Domain: yourdomain.com

DNS Server Search Order:
Enter a DNS Server number
click Add.

Domain Suffix Search Order:
yourdomain.com
click Add

You're done. Click OK twice on the Network Configuration screen. Your computer will need to reboot.

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Connecting to the Internet

If you don't have a ISDN, DSL or T1 dedicated line to the Internet, your server will be configured one of two different ways for connection to the Internet, automatic (diald) or manual (ppp-on).

Automatic or dial-on-demand (diald)

If any computer on the network requires access to the Internet, (example: a user tries to pull up a web page in Netscape or Internet Explorer) the Linux server will automatically dial. After a few seconds the selected web page should appear. The connection will remain for 15 minutes and then disconnect if no further Internet activity is detected.

Manual connection (ppp-on)

A manual connection is used in cases where an administrator controls connection to the Internet (perhaps in order to prevent abuse). Basically it requires the root user to log on to the system and issue a command to connect to the Internet and then another command to disconnect when the session is finished.

Log in to the console as root with correct password:

Welcome to Linux
Linux login: root
Password:

At the Linux:/root # type: ppp-on

The modem will dial and connect, a few seconds later the Internet will be accessible by all computers on the network.

Manual disconnect (ppp-off)

After Internet access is no longer needed, issue the command: ppp-off
To logout of the system type:logout

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Your unique IP address

It is possible for remote administration of the Linux server via the Internet, therefore it is necessary to know your dedicated IP address that was assigned to you by your ISP.

Log in to the console as root with correct password:

Welcome to Linux
Linux login: root
Password:

At the prompt Linux:/root # type the following: ifconfig

The following will appear on the screen:

lo Link encap:Local Loopback
    inet addr:127.0.0.1 Bcast:127.255.255.255 Mask:255.0.0.0
    UP BROADCAST LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:3584 Metric:1
    RX packets:18914 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0
    TX packets:18914 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0

eth0 Link encap:10Mbps Ethernet HWaddr 00:60:94:57:BC:B7
    inet addr:192.168.1.1 Bcast:192.168.1.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
    UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
    RX packets:89441 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0
    TX packets:129631 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0
    Interrupt:14 Base address:0x5100

ppp0 Link encap:Point-Point Protocol
   inet addr:207.241.61.189 P-t-P:207.241.61.254 Mask:255.255.255.0
    UP POINTOPOINT RUNNING MTU:1500 Metric:1
    RX packets:6465 errors:1 dropped:1 overruns:0
    TX packets:6869 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0

The ppp0 section contains the unique IP address. In this example it is 207.241.61.189.

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Windows Network File and Print Server

Most Linux servers installed by Advanced Horizons are configured as a Windows file and print server. This means the Linux server is a central location for users to share files (word, excel, databases, etc.) and printers.

To accomplish this a utility called Samba (see www.samba.org) is installed on the Linux server. Samba is a software package that makes the Linux server look like a Windows NT server. We feel Samba is faster and more reliable than Windows NT.

Mapping a Public Drive

The public drive is the common data storage place on the Linux server for users to share documents. Anything stored on the public drive is accessible by everyone else on the network. At a Windows workstation double click on the Network Neighborhood icon:

At least one of the computers listed in the window will be called Linux.

Double click on the computer listed as Linux:

A list of file and printer shares will appear

Right click on the folder labeled public and click map network drive:

Change Drive to:
Reconnect at logon should be checked.

Click OK

Mapping a Private Drive

A private drive is your own personal drive for storage of data on the Linux server. No one else on the network can see your private drive, the advantage of having a private drive is privacy, the ability to access your files remotely and your data is backed up daily.

With the Linux shares still open, right click on your user name:

Click on map network drive:

Change the drive to P: and make sure Reconnect at logon is checked.

Click OK and close all windows back to the desktop.

Connecting Printers on the Linux server

Basically you need to add a printer using the printer wizard or install your printer software and specify the printer is not a local printer but a network printer:

When asked for a network path, you can drill down to find it:

The printers that are connected to the Linux server will be listed under the Linux icon as a printer share. After selecting the network path to your printer follow the rest of the instructions for your specific printer to complete the installation.

 

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Backups

If your Linux server is acting as a file and print server, chances are you have a tape drive installed on the server as well. One person should be responsible for successful backups. Usually the person responsible will receive a daily Email message as to the status of the last backup.

The following is an example of an Email message notifying the user of a reliable backup:

Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 01:18:13 -0500
From: Cron Daemon root@Linux.n9sla.org
To: root@Linux.n9sla.org
Subject: Cron <root@Linux> /root/backup
Retension Tape
Erased Tape
Backup complete
./usr/local/samba/var/locks/browse.dat: Mod time differs
./var/run/printer: Mode or device-type changed
Verify complete

Your message may vary a bit but there should be no error messages. It should be dated properly and the entire Email message should be rather short like the one above.

If your work week is Monday through Friday you should have at least 5 tapes, one for each day. A better choice would be 6 tapes so that you can have a weekly off site copy in case of fire or theft. The person responsible for backups should make this procedure a high priority and one of their daily tasks. Two minutes of time a day can save weeks or in some cases months of work.

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Webmin Graphical Administration Utility

Many functions like adding users, changing passwords, shutting down the system, adding printers, scheduled backups and Email collection times can be administered from your workstation using a web browser such as Netscape or Internet Explorer.

Webmin is a free utility installed on the Linux server that makes this possible. (www.webmin.com) Webmin is password protected so unauthorized users can not change settings on the system.

Advanced Horizons can install Webmin on your Linux server in case it has not been installed.

To use Webmin, start your web browser and open a new document.

Enter 192.168.1.1:10000:

Click Open and if Webmin is installed the following screen will appear:

Enter the username and password for Webmin you were assigned and click OK.

 

The Webmin administration screen will appear. There are many different configuration settings you can change so make sure you know what you are doing before changing anything. Some of the icons and configuration screens are self-explaining.

Lets take a look at the icon Scheduled Cron Jobs:

 

These are tasks that will be automatically executed at a specified time. Some examples would be Email collection and scheduled backups. In this example we will check the schedule of the Email collection. Click on the command /root/getmail/.

If you need to change the schedule click on the times needed and click Save when done. Go back in to your scheduled job to verify the changes.

When done with Webmin just exit your web browser.

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