--- doc/build/F9_install.frag 2008/09/24 13:48:06 1.1 +++ doc/build/F9_install.frag 2009/09/07 14:57:39 1.3 @@ -1,12 +1,12 @@

Installing LON-CAPA on a minimal Fedora 9 Linux System

This document guides you through the process of setting up a new LON-CAPA -server running Fedora 9 with a minimum of packages installed. -The computer will be configured solely as a LON-CAPA server and will be +server running Fedora 9 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/.

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ More information is available at

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, +some routine Unix commands. Familiarity with the Apache web server, mod_perl, perl, and MySQL are not required to install and run LON-CAPA.

@@ -23,32 +23,32 @@ perl, and MySQL are not required to inst The installation process takes the following steps:

    -
  1. Obtain Fedora 9 installation DVD or a Live Image CD or Rescue CD
  2. -
  3. Determine Network Settings
  4. -
  5. Install Fedora 8
  6. -
  7. Update your system
  8. -
  9. Install LON-CAPA
  10. -
  11. Create a Domain Coordinator
  12. -
  13. Start/Restart services
  14. -
  15. Log in to LON-CAPA
  16. +
  17. Obtain Fedora 9 installation DVD or a Live Image CD or Rescue CD
  18. +
  19. Determine Network Settings
  20. +
  21. Install Fedora 9
  22. +
  23. Update your system
  24. +
  25. Install LON-CAPA
  26. +
  27. Create a Domain Coordinator
  28. +
  29. Start/Restart services
  30. +
  31. Log in to LON-CAPA
- -

Obtain Fedora 9

+
+

1. Obtain Fedora 9

Fedora 9 ISO files can be obtained from the project's main site, http://fedoraproject.org/. You can either download an iso image(s) of the full distribution for burning to DVD, -or to CDs, or you can download a single net install for burning to CD. If you use the -net install CD, after booting from the CD, and selecting "Installation," +or to CDs, or you can download a single net install for burning to CD. If you use the +net install CD, after booting from the CD, and selecting "Installation," you will need to select HTTP as the installation source, and specify the -host and path to Fedora 9 files for your particular architecture, e.g.,
+host and path to Fedora 9 files for your particular architecture, e.g.,
Host: http://mirrors.kernel.org/
-Path: fedora/releases/9/Fedora/i386/os/ -

+Path: fedora/releases/9/Fedora/i386/os/ +

-

Determine Network Settings

+

2. Determine Network Settings

-You will need to know the following network settings for your installation. +You will need to know the following network settings for your installation. Note:You must have a static IP address to use LON-CAPA. DHCP is not supported. @@ -60,13 +60,13 @@ DHCP is not supported.

  • domain name server(s)
  • -

    Minimal Fedora 9 Install

    +

    3. Minimal Fedora 9 Install

    Installing Fedora is quite easy if you've installed any of the Red Hat products -before. Some documentation is available from +before. Some documentation is available from http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Distribution/Download#Understand. -Most of the installation screens are self explanatory. +Most of the installation screens are self explanatory. There are a few steps that require comment and are dealt with below.

    @@ -78,14 +78,14 @@ There are a few steps that require comme
    For a fresh install may want to use the automatic partitioning feature of the installer, however you should review the results and be prepared to modify them. If you want to customize partitioning use "Create Custom Layout". LON-CAPA resource files are stored in the /home directory, so the - majority of the disk space should be allocated here. If you have 20 GB - of space for Fedora 8, /home should receive at least 10 to 12 gigs. + majority of the disk space should be allocated here. If you have 20 GB + of space for Fedora 8, /home should receive at least 10 to 12 gigs. Since MySQL uses the /var filesystem to store its databases you should - have at least 4 gigs of space available on /var. Be sure to + have at 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.
    Network Configuration
    -
    LON-CAPA will not work with a machine set up to use a dynamic +
    LON-CAPA will not work with a machine set up to use a dynamic IP address. When configuring your network card, be sure to unselect the DHCP option and enter in your network information.
    Software
    @@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ There are a few steps that require comme

    Finish installing your server, reboot it, and log in as root. The first time you log-in, the Setup Agent will be displayed. If you have not already done so you can use this to configure your network interface.

    Exit the Setup Agent

    -

    Configure SELinux

    +

    Configure SELinux

    The default Fedora 9 installation includes SELinux enabled. Until such time as an SELinux security policy has been created for LON-CAPA, SELinux should be disabled. Retrieve the loncapa_selinux_config file from the LON-CAPA install site: @@ -111,16 +111,17 @@ mv /etc/selinux/config /etc/selinux/conf mv loncapa_selinux_config /etc/selinux/config

    -

    Firewall Configuration

    -To configure the firewall settings, use the system-config-firewall utility. Execute:

    -

    lokkit

    +

    Firewall Configuration

    +To configure the firewall settings, use the system-config-firewall utility. Execute:

    +

    lokkit

    Firewall Configuration
    Select Security Level: Enabled, and allow incoming: SSH (remote login), WWW (HTTP) and secure WWW (HTTPS). You should also open two additional ports used by LON-CAPA for TCP traffic: 5663 and 8080.

    Exit the system-config-firewall

    -

    Update your system

    + +

    4. Update your system

    Update your system to the latest versions of the system software using yum. -Yum is configured to check encyption keys for the packages it installs, so +Yum is configured to check encyption keys for the packages it installs, so you need to import the keys before invoking yum.

    @@ -147,7 +148,8 @@ mv /etc/yum.conf /etc/yum.conf.backup
     cp F9_loncapa_yum.conf /etc/yum.conf
     

    -

    Installing LON-CAPA

    + +

    5. Installing LON-CAPA

    Install prerequisites

    Import the LON-CAPA encryption key

    @@ -207,37 +209,37 @@ 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: no spaces, underscores or + meaningful. Restriction: no spaces, underscores or special characters (besides - and .).
    - Domain names which include a departmental + Domain names which include a departmental abbreviation are not recommended as although LON-CAPA may start in a single department, other departments frequently join subsequently. For a domain name: 'msu' is a superior choice to 'msuphys' for example.
    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.
    Domain's Primary Library Server ID
    If you are setting up a domain with a single library server, then the domain's primary library server ID will be the LON-CAPA host id of that server (e.g., msul1). Once your domain grows and you need to add more servers, one of the library servers in the domain should be assigned as the domain's primary library server. This will be where domain-wide settings will be stored.
    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.
    Support email address
    -
    If you enter an e-mail address here, then users of the system - will be able to click an "Ask Helpdesk" link in the system to +
    If you enter an e-mail address here, then users of the system + will be able to click an "Ask Helpdesk" link in the system to display a web form which they will complete to request support from - your institution's helpdesk. On form submission the contents - will be sent to the e-mail address you specify. + your institution's helpdesk. On form submission the contents + will be sent to the e-mail address you specify.
    @@ -250,18 +252,18 @@ cd /root/loncapa-X.Y.Z (X.Y.Z should ./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

    +

    6. 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.

    @@ -270,7 +272,7 @@ perl make_domain_coordinator.pl USERNAME
     (WILL PROMPT FOR PASSWORD HERE)
     
    -

    Start/Restart Services

    +

    7. Start/Restart Services

    The LON-CAPA network services take a moment to start. Most misconfigurations will be apparent at this step. @@ -281,20 +283,22 @@ will be apparent at this step.

    If you receive warnings when starting the httpd about missing perl modules, -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 MSU LON-CAPA support team. +contact the MSU LON-CAPA group.

    -

    Log in to your LON-CAPA Machine

    + +

    8. 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 send a help request to the MSU LON-CAPA support team. If there were errors in installation of the dependency RPMs or errors during the +If you've followed the steps above and the server doesn't start or you think +there's something wrong, please send a help request to the MSU LON-CAPA group. If there were errors in installation of the dependency RPMs or errors during the automatic setup, please send us as much information as possible. If some part of this document is unclear please let us know.