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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
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 1/2 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:
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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: |
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You will see POP account is already filled in for you.
SMTP:192.168.1.1 |
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Checking Mail
Category:
Check for mail every: 15 minutes
Save password can be removed if extra security is needed. |
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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.
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When you have selected a directory click the Use Directory button. |
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Miscellaneous
Category:
"Close messages with mailbox" should be checked
Remove the check 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
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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. |
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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 |
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Click on the Gateway t
ab: Enter the new gateway as 192.168.1.1 and click Add |
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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:
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At least one of the computers listed in the window will be called Linux.
Double click on the computer listed as Linux: |
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A list of file and printer shares will appear
Right click on the folder labeled
public and click map network drive: |
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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.
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With the Linux shares still open, right click on your user name:
Click on map network drive: |
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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:
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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@yourdomain.com
To: root@yourdomain.com
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.
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:
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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.
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