--- doc/build/RHEL5_install.frag 2008/12/10 19:57:29 1.4
+++ doc/build/RHEL5_install.frag 2009/09/07 14:56:19 1.5
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
Installing LON-CAPA on a minimal Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 System
This document guides you through the process of setting up a new LON-CAPA
-server running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 with a minimum of packages installed.
-The computer will be configured solely as a LON-CAPA server and will be
+server running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 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.
@@ -23,28 +23,28 @@ perl, and MySQL are not required to inst
The installation process takes the following steps:
- - Obtain Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 installation CDs
- - Determine Network Settings
- - Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- - Update your system
- - Install LON-CAPA
- - Create a Domain Coordinator
- - Start/Restart services
- - Log in to LON-CAPA
+ - Obtain Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 installation CDs
+ - Determine Network Settings
+ - Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
+ - Update your system
+ - Install LON-CAPA
+ - Create a Domain Coordinator
+ - Start/Restart services
+ - Log in to LON-CAPA
-
-Obtain Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 CDs
+
+
-RHEL5 CDs can be purchased from Red Hat:
+RHEL5 CDs can be purchased from Red Hat:
http://redhat.com/.
For the minimal install on 32-bit architecture you will need only the first CD.
For the minimal install on 64-bit architecture you will need CDs 1, 2, and 4.
-
+
-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.
@@ -56,13 +56,13 @@ DHCP is not supported.
domain name server(s)
-Minimal Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Install
+
Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux is quite easy if you've installed any of the Red Hat products
before. Documentation is available from
http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/enterprise/
-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.
@@ -75,15 +75,15 @@ 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 RHEL, /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 RHEL, /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
@@ -106,11 +106,11 @@ setup
loncontrol startup script should open and close thos ports
itself.)
- - Set SELinux to Disabled.
+ - Set SELinux to Disabled.
- Select OK, and then Quit
-Update your system
+
Update your system to the latest versions of the system software using yum.
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ cp rhel5_loncapa_yum.conf /etc/yum.conf
yum update
-Installing LON-CAPA
+
Install prerequisites
Execute:
@@ -192,36 +192,36 @@ 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: One word, no hyphens, underscores, or
- special characters.
Domain names which include a departmental
+ meaningful. Restriction: One word, no hyphens, underscores, or
+ special characters.
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.
@@ -234,18 +234,18 @@ cd /root/loncapa-N.N (N.N should cor
./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
+
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.
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ perl make_domain_coordinator.pl USERNAME
(WILL PROMPT FOR PASSWORD HERE)
-Start/Restart Services
+
The LON-CAPA network services take a moment to start. Most misconfigurations
will be apparent at this step.
@@ -265,19 +265,20 @@ 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 group.
-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
+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.