Kadapa Schools Computer Project

Lab Setup Guide

Prepared by
Amaresh Joshi,
Shawn Rich,
Sashi Reddy
Date: 5/22/2004

TABLE OF CONTENTS

READ ME FIRST!!!................................................................................................3
Introduction.............................................................................................................4
Setting Up the Computer Lab................................................................................5
Lab Setup Diagram.................................................................................................6
Server Setup Instructions.......................................................................................7
X Window Graphical Mode Setup Instructions...................................................8
Server Configuration Instructions.........................................................................9
Printing Setup Instructions..................................................................................10
Reinstalling Software on a Client Computer......................................................11
Instructions for creating server and client floppies............................................12

Setup instructions

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IMPORTANT!!!
READ ME FIRST!!!

Before turning on a computer for the first

time make sure to set the switch on the
power supply to 220volts
Whenever connecting a monitor to a
computer for the first time make sure to
configure the graphics before allowing the
students to use the machine

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Introduction
The project team here in US installed the following software on
all client computers.

RedHat 9.0 which includes a full featured Windows like user interface
KOffice (an MS Office like suite of tools, wordprocessing, spreadsheet etc.)
Web browser
Games

Each of the nine client computers is connected to a server. The

server installation is Coyote Linux floppy firewall. Please read
the following sections before setting up the computers.

Setup instructions

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Setting Up the Computer Lab

Unpack all equipment.
2. Before plugging in any machines please read the READ
ME FIRST instructions page.
3. Connect each computer to one of the ethernet hubs.
4. Start the server computer first (see the separate instructions
for setting up the server computer).
5. After the server is started start the client computers.
6. Configure the graphical interface on each client computer
(see separate instructions for configuring graphics).
7. Setup printing (see separate instructions for setting up a
printer server and printer clients).
8. After the computers are all setup the students may log onto
each machine using the following information:
o login name: student
o password: student
9. The students can then start the graphical interface using the
command: startx
1.

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Lab Setup Diagram

Setup instructions

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Server Setup Instructions

The complete server software resides on a single floppy diskette. A DHCP server is part of the
server software. The DHCP server assigns the IP addresses to the client computers. Therefore,
the server computer must be started before the client computers. To start a server:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Make sure server computer is connected properly to lab network and power.
Insert the server floppy disk into the floppy drive of the server.
Turn on monitor and computer.
The server will boot from the floppy diskette. The server is completely booted when the
login prompt is displayed.
5. At this point you can start the client computers.
6. After starting the client computers, server configuration can be verified using a web
browser at any one of the client computers. (see separate instructions for server
configuration)

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X Window Graphical Mode Setup Instructions

After connecting a client computer to a monitor for the first time, the graphical settings on the
machine must be configured to match the monitor.
1. Log in as root
2. Run redhat-config-xfree86
3. Follow on-screen instructions
4. Save your settings on exit
5. Test your setup by running startx

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Server Configuration Instructions

The server configuration can be done completely from a web browser at any one of the client
computers. To check server status or to configure server:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Go to one of the client computers and start a web browser.

Enter the following url: http://192.168.1.1:8180
The server login prompt will appear. Enter the root id and password at the prompt.
The following screen will appear. From this page you can perform all server related
configuration and status checking.

Setup instructions

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Printing Setup Instructions

1. Setting up Printer Client
Configure the printer.
1.1. log in as root
1.2. run redhat-config-printer
1.3. choose New
1.4. for the Name type netprint
1.5. next
1.5.1. queue type: Unix print queue
1.5.2. server: 192.168.1.120
1.5.3. queue: kadapa
1.6. pick the attached printer from the list
1.7. choose printer by brand and model
1.8. choose the default driver
1.9. print a test page and exit
2. Setting Up Printing on a Computer with attached Printer
2.1. Configure the printer
2.1.1. log in as root
2.1.2. run redhat-config-printer
2.1.3. choose New
2.1.4. choose
- queue name: kadapa
- queue type: LOCAL
2.1.5. pick the attached printer from the list
2.1.6. choose printer by brand and model
2.1.7. choose the default driver
2.1.8. print a test page and exit
2.2. Set the IP address to static
2.2.1. log in as root
2.2.2. run redhat-config-network
2.2.3. deselect DHCP
2.2.4. set the network parameters:
- ip address: 192.168.1.120
- netmask: 255.255.255.0
- gateway: 192.168.1.1
2.2.5. save changes
2.3. Setup network printing
2.3.1. edit the file /etc/xinetd.d/cups-lpd
2.3.2. change the "disable = yes" line to disable = no
2.3.3. save the file
2.4. Restart the computer
Setup instructions

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Reinstalling Software on a Client Computer

If a client computer is having problems you can reinstall the software to reset the computer to its
original state using the following steps:
1. Insert the custom install floppy disk and the first Red Hat CDROM in the computer.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Following the directions on the screen insert the 2nd and 3rd Red Hat CDROMs when
requested.

Setup instructions

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Instructions for creating server and client

floppies
These instructions are for creating floppy diskettes from image file using RedHat Linux.

Open an Xterm window

You may need to format the diskettes. You can format the diskette with this command:
fdformat /dev/fd0
For creating RedHat Client Install Disk:
dd if=client.img of=/dev/fd0
For creating Server Disk:
dd if=server.img of=/dev/fd0

Both of these assume you are in the directory where the image files reside. If not, you can
include the path to the image files in the "if" part of the command. Refer to dd man page (man
dd) for more complete info.

Setup instructions

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