Archive for January, 2008

Linux Ubuntu

Posted in Linux by admin on January 24th, 2008

Having the successful deployment of the two Open Source variants of the Linux on the IBM T40 notebook over the past five years, a much compelling comparison could be made between the Ubuntu and the Fedora. Fedora, being the Red Hat’s Open Source version, required an installation expertise of few Linux gurus from the Belleville Ontario. It has worked fine, but it required few ninja system administration of Linux every six to nine months. The Administration items that are applied during those visits included the upgrades to the Open Office (an open source version of the Star Office), the Linux OS fixes and the new peripheral drivers. This, has turned out to be a drain on my scarce time again for doing the real business.

Now the new Linux called the Ubuntu has been installed on my notebook. Ubuntu by the Canonical is a complete Open Source Linux that is based on the Debian Linux. The Ubuntu is available now on the Dell systems and the Federal Governments are adding up this operating environment of Linux to the list of their standard available Operating systems for the entire notebook and the desktop computers. Right out from the gate, the Ubuntu was very simple to install. You even could bring down the trial copy to feel exactly how it might behave on the notebook before you download and commit the Ubuntu Linux OS environment to the machine. But a best part is that the Ubuntu keeps continuously on the top of the OS and all the related updates of the application software. The Ubuntu has the Update Manager that appears magically in the tool bar of the desktop. And with just a simple click (and the password) you can be kept current on the very latest versions of the Ubuntu patches, or any application software of the Linux that you’ve installed from the Open Office and the Canonical upgrades. The Linux rebooting the machine after receiving an update is almost non-existent.

As an added cream with the Ubuntu, the Ubuntu gets booted up on the machine in much less than 60 seconds. But I still go for a coffee when the desktop of the Microsoft is booting up. Another additional advantage of the Ubuntu: there isn’t need for installing the anti-spyware and the ant-virus software. The Ubuntu rebels these vial internet scourges inherently. Ubuntu is the linux-based, community developed operating system that is very perfect for servers, desktops and laptops. It contains every application that you need - instant messaging, spreadsheet and document software, presentation, a web browser and much more.
The Ubuntu Promise
· Ubuntu always will be free of charge, including the enterprise releases and the security updates.
· Ubuntu arrives with complete commercial support from the Canonical and several hundreds of companies from all around the world.
· Ubuntu includes the best translations and the accessibility infrastructure that a community for free has to offer.
· The CDs from Ubuntu contain only the free software applications

With the Ubuntu, the your life will become painless and simple. You could spend more quality hours of business marketing and selling.

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Is Your Domain Really Important?

Posted in Domains by admin on January 17th, 2008

If you need to ask yourself the above question then you do not really understand how the internet works. A relevant domain name cannot only help customers to spot you and understand what you do in an instant, it can also give you an extra boost with regards to search engine placement. Is Selecting a Domain Name really that vital?

In order to stand out form the crowd you need to let potential customers know what you do in a split second, something which a relevant domain name can offer. As competition continues to grow in almost every area of the online community surfers are becoming lazy and many are not prepared to do extra research (i.e. click on your site) just to see what you do – they want you to tell them!

Whether you are lucky enough to be highly ranked on Google, listed on a business directory or perhaps get the bulk of your traffic form link sales you need to make yourself as visible as possible. You should use every legitimate trick in the book to get yourself pushed to the top of the listings because traffic is the life blood of your site and you will die without it.

So is it worth buying a premium domain name for my business?

Many people do actually choose to go down the premium domain name route, but this can often be very expensive and fewer and fewer people can actually afford this method. By buying a domain which actually says what you do, you also have the chance of natural key entries by customers who are looking for a service, rather than going through the search engines and business directories. This type of natural traffic is very focused and has shown to offer a good rate of conversion into money, i.e. people buying your products or services.

While it would be wrong to say that your domain name is the be all and end all of a successful business, it can often set the tone for your business and dictate the amount of traffic you receive. Take you time and think of a relevant name, and if it is not available just keep looking!

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Managing Disk Quotas in Linux

Posted in Uncategorized by admin on January 11th, 2008

Managing or restricting the amount of disks on each partition by every user or group of users is very important. This could be enabled using disk quota feature in Linux Redhat/Fedora and it is very simple and easy to implement.

Setting Up Quotas

Filesystem in Linux server plays a role in setting up disk quotas. Here are some steps how to set up disk quotas in single user mode.
Enter Single User Mode:
First of all you should remount /home filesystem and it needs to make sure that no user or processes are using it or accessing from console. After making sure that you are the only user on the system then you can skip entering single user mode setup. When you will enter single user mode, it will automatically logs off all users and stop cron jobs. Here are the steps of entering single user mode.
1) First of all use who command to view all users currently logged in, you can inform network users message that system is going to shutdown. Send this message to currently logged in user using wall command.
[root@linux-server tmp]# who
root pts/0 Nov 6 14:46 (192-168-1-242.my-website.com)
bob pts/0 Nov 6 12:01 (192-168-1-248.my-website.com)
bunny pts/0 Nov 6 16:25 (192-168-1-250.my-website.com)
[root@linux-server tmp]# wall The system is shutting down now!

Broadcast message from root (pts/0) (Sun Nov 21 15:04:27 2007):

The system is shutting down now!

[root@linux-server tmp]#

2) Log into the VGA prompt and enter single user command init 1

[root@linux-server tmp]# init 1

Simple eh?

Edititing /etc/fstab Configuration File

You can use /etc/fstab configuration file is used to list all disk partitions which are required to be mounted automatically whenever the system boots. Disk quotas are however enabled on Linux system file system by making some editing in /etc/fstab file and modifying options for home directory. You can add usrquota option and this option is mentioned in fstab main pages.
The file /etc/fstab looked like

LABEL=/home /home ext3 defaults 1 2

After editing /etc/fstab it should be
LABEL=/home /home ext3 defaults,usrquota 1 2

After editing /etc/fstab it should be
LABEL=/home /home ext3 defaults,usrquota 1 2

Remounting The File system

After editing /etc/fstab file it needs to view the file for /home. This could be done using this command.
# mount –o remount /home
user exit command to get out from single user mode.
# exit
Creating Quota Configuration Files:

Aquota user file contains the quotas information for users and aquota.group file contains quotas by group. This information is stored on uppermost directory. Per user quotas could be enabled on /home file system.
[root@linux-server tmp]# touch /home/aquota.user
[root@linux-server tmp]# chmod 600 /home/aquota.user
[root@linuxserver tmp]#
Initializing Quota Table
While editing /etc/fstab file and remounting file system shows that Linux filesystem has disk quota capabilities. Linux quota is initialized by the following command.
[root@linux-server tmp]# quotacheck -vagum
quotacheck: WARNING - Quotafile /home/aquota.user was probably truncated. Can’t save quota settings…
.
.
quotacheck: Scanning /dev/hda3 [/home] done
quotacheck: Checked 191 directories and 930 files
[root@bigboy tmp]#

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Troubleshooting Linux using syslog.conf

Posted in Linux, Technical by admin on January 11th, 2008

Different Linux packages have their own configuration files for Linux network configuration and troubleshooting. Due to this reason Linux system administration becomes daunting. However most of Linux applications use syslog utility for handling errors and status messages for the files stored in /var/log directory path. Linux troubleshooting for each Linux core like fedora, redhat and ubuntu etc becomes easy using syslog file. It is very useful to know that all applications do not display errors and status messages on computer screen. Linux log server contains Linux syslog file and logrotate utility makes it easier handle computer network troubleshooting same like windows network troubleshooting.
The error messages in syslog could be very helpful in finding malfunctions in the products manuals, items manuals and web searchers documentation. The both syslog and logrotate files relatively easy to configure but it needs some special skills to troubleshoot all Linux applications of which information is included in each Linux system syslog file. Syslog utility is used for tracking and handling all error messages which are critical in Linux system syslog server.
An error message contains tow information first function information which has generated it like applications such as mail and cron which could be identified easily and second is degree of severity of that error message. There are eight messages which could display in syslog file are listed below. Syslog’s configuration file like /etc/syslog.conf could be configured by placing all different facilities.
Table: Syslog facilities details
Severity Level Keyword Description
0 emergencies System not usable
1 alerts Action required immediately
2 critical Critical condition
3 errors Error conditions
4 warnings Warning conditions
5 notifications Significant and Normal conditions
6 informational messages with information
7 debugging Debugging messages

The /etc/syslog.conf File

Each type of message is written to syslog configuration file /etc/syslog.conf and this file contains two columns. First column contains facilities included in syslog and second column contains description of each keyword in syslog file. Redhat and Fedora /etc/syslog.conf file is configured to store all messages in file /var/log/messages like
*info;mail.none;authpriv.nono;cron.none /var/log/messages
In this message all info messages are logged in syslog without mail, cron or facilities. This logging could be more insightful by replacing this line and debug severity and /var/log/messages file. Here is a example
*.debug /var/log/messages

All syslog debug messages excluding auth,news,mail and authpriv are logged to /var/log/ debug file. You can however change configuration syntax in several lines by using slash (\) at the end of every line. Here is example
*.=debug;\
auth,authpriv.none;\
news.none;mail.none -/var/log/debug
/var/log/ messages files is configured to store only info and warning messages only excluding news,mail,auth and authpriv facilites like
*.=info;*=notice;=warn;\
auth.arhtpriv.none;\
mail.news.none -/var/log/messages

There are specific type of messages sent to the screen for all users logged in. File definition is normally replaced using an asterisk like
*.emerg 8

Some specific applications can log to have their own application log files and independent syslog.conf files. Here is example of these files and directories and using them you can make syslog analysis and handle errors.
Files:
/var/log/maillog : Mail information
/var/log/httpd/access_log : Apache web server page access logs

Directories:
/var/log
/var/log/samba : Samba messages
/var/log/mrtg : MRTG messages
/var/log/httpd : Apache webserver messages
Restart syslog.conf using this command.

[root@linux-server tmp]# service syslog restart

To restart syslog in Ubuntu:

root@u-linux-server:~# /etc/init.d/sysklogd restart

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Configuring DNS Server in Linux

Posted in Linux, Technical by admin on January 9th, 2008

Introduction

DNS or Domain Name System coverts website name like http://www.linuxsolutions.fr/ to an IP address 91.102.68.2. It is very important to covert hostname into IP address.

Testing DNS Resolution

DNS server resolves fully qualified domain name like www.linuxsolutions.fr into an IP address and this is know as forward lookup. While in reverse lookup DNS can find out fully qualified domain name associated with IP address.

One IP address could be associated to only one FQDN but many websites may have the same IP address. It means that forward lookup and reverse lookup may not match. Reverse lookup is handled by ISP hosting you website. There are many command in Linux to do lookups. Mostly used command is host command in Linux and nslookup in windows.

Host Command In Linux

Host command accept both parameters either fully qualified domain name or the IP address of the server. Here is forward lookup command to be used

[root@linux-server tmp]# host www.linuxsolutions.fr

www.linuxsolutions.com has address 91.102.68.2
[root@linux-server tmp]#
For reverse lookup

[root@linux-server tmp]# host 91.102.68.2

34.71.115.65.in-addr.arpa domain name pointer 65-115-71-34.myisp.net.

[root@linux-server tmp]#
Mostly forward and reverse entries do not match while the reverse entry matches with ISP entry.

Nslookup Command In Windows

Nslookup command is used on windows computer and provides the same results. Here is nslookup command

C:\> nslookup www.linuxsolutions.fr

Server: 10.2.3.4.my-site.com

Address: 192.168.2.200

Non-authoritative answer:

Name: www.linuxsoluitons.fr

Address: 91.102.68.2

C:\>
For reverse lookup

C:\> nslookup 91.102.68.2

Server: 10.2.3.4.my-site.com

Address: 91.102.68.2

Name: 65-115-71-34.my-isp.com

Address: 10.2.3.4

C:\>

Download and Install BIND Packages

It is easy to download and install Linux packages most of Linux packages and most of people want to know how to install and configure dns on redhat/fedora. First of download BIND package file and search it on internet or CD. Its name starts with package filename “bind” followed by its version number such as bind-9.2.2.p3.i386.rpm.

Starting BIND on Redhat/Fedora

Use chkconfig command to start BIND at boot time.

[root@linux-server tmp]# chkconfig named on

To start, stop, and restart BIND after booting, use:

[root@linux-server tmp]# /etc/init.d/named start

[root@ linux-server tmp]# /etc/init.d/named stop

[root@ linux-server tmp]# /etc/init.d/named restart
You have to restart BIND service each time you have made some changes to configuration file for package to take effect during run time.

/etc/resolv.conf File
DNS servers which not running BIND make use of /etc/resolv.conf configuration file to find out location of DNS server and domains.This file contains keywords and its values separated by commas. See below the example of this file.


Keywords In /etc/resolv.conf
Command Value
Nameserver It will show IP address of DNS nameserver. Only one entry per nameserver is accepted at one time.

Domain It is the local domain name used by default.
Search Referring to other servers because of its name without adding domain name. It is timing saving feature for referring to other servers using the same domain.

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Configuring NTP Server

Posted in Linux, Technical by admin on January 9th, 2008

What is NTP Server?

NTP or Network Time Protocol in Linux is used for atomic time synchronization on system’s clock using correct time source. There are two types of NTP sites
There are that allow the general public to synchronize with them. They are divided into two types:

  • NTP sites which are using atomic clock for timing

  • NTP sites with not complete accurate time source


  • It is best idea to have one server in your network to manage local time server for all devices used in network. It will create a relationship between different system events much easier and reduces internet bandwidth usage because of NTP traffic and reduces needs for managing firewalls rules and regulations for every NTP client on a network.
    Downloading and Installing NTP Package
    Mostly Linux all Linux packages are available in RPM format and you can easily download these products from internet or from Linux CD. NTP’s file name normally starts with phrase ntp following the version number such as ntp-4.1.2-5.i386.rpm

    The /etc/ntp.conf File

    /etc/ntp.conf file is used for NTP configuration and you have to edit it and place IP address of stratum 1 and stratum 2 servers which are needed to use. Follow these steps for creating NTP configuration file by using sample NTP servers.

    1. Decide about servers in which you are interested for example


    2. server otherntp.myserver.org # A stratum 1 server at myserver.org

      server ntp.myresearch.gov # A stratum 2 server at myresearch.gov

    3. Limit access types to your servers like servers should not be allowed to change run-time configuration or query from Linux NTP server.


    4. restrict otherntp.myserver.org mask 255.255.255.255 nomodify notrap noquery

      restrict ntp.myresearch.gov mask 255.255.255.255 nomodify notrap noquery

      255.255.255.255 mask is used for limiting every IP address on remote NTP servers.

    5. If NTP time server is providing atomic time clock information for other computers like workstations, Linux servers and networking devices then you should define proper networks and from that network server will accept NTP time synchronization requests.


    6. Use this command using non query keyword to permit network to query NTP server.

      restrict 192.168.2.0 mask 255.255.255.0 nomodify notrap

      It will be applied to all possible IP addresses on local network.

    7. Restrict localhost universal IP address using this command
    8. restrict 127.0.0.1

    9. Save NTP configuration file and restart NTP for these settings to take effect.


    10. Starting NTP Server

      Restart NTP each time you have edit its configuration file to make changes takes effect during running time.

      Use this command to get configured NTP start at boot.

      [root@linux-server tmp]# chkconfig ntpd on

      Use these commands to start,stop and restart NTP after booting by following these commands.
      [root@linux-server tmp]# service ntpd start

      [root@linux-server tmp]# service ntpd stop

      [root@linux-server tmp]# service ntpd restart

      Checking NTP working

      Use this command to check to test whether NTP is working correctly or not.

      [root@linux-server tmp]# pgrep ntpd

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    Configuring Linux Mail

    Posted in Linux, Technical by admin on January 8th, 2008

    Configuring Linux Mail


    Introduction :

    In a business company or organization a dedicated mail server must be required because email is an important part of website. Here is brief description about how to use sendmail to create mail server in Linux which will be used to communicate with users emails with a local mail box. You will read here how to install and start sendmail.


    Configuring Sendmail

    Domain mails are handled by setting up DNS to use MX record within the configuration zone file. Sendmail is the most popular Linux mail agent between some others like postfix and qmail. The steps to convert Linux box into sendmail server is as follows.


    Sendmail Working

    sendmail agent can handle both incoming and outgoing emails for your domain. Here is the detail of incoming mail and outgoing mail.

    Incoming Mail

    Using a Linux mail server each user has his own separate login account. Mails sent to users are stored on mail server and then sendmail forward them into the users login account.
    Mails are not sent directly towards the user’s machine but these are retrieved from the mail server using some mail client software like Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express which supports both POP and IMAP protocols.
    Some text based GUI clients and Evolution can used by users to read mails from the mail server directly and workstation users can also use these applications to access their mails from remote side.

    Outgoing Mail

    When you are sending mails using mail server the procedure is somehow different. PC and Linux workstation users configure their email client software to create their own outbound SMTP mail server.
    If it would be used for local users in specific domain then sendmail stores a message in the customer mail box and they can retrieve it.
    However if mail is going to send towards another domain then sendmail first uses DNS to retrieve MX record of other domain. It then tires to send mail to suitable destination mail server by using SMTP protocol.

    Installing Sendmail

    Redhat and Fedora packages are available in RPM format mostly and you need to make sure that sendmail-cf and m4 packages are already installed. While looking for RPMs keep in mind that filename normally starts with package name and version number like sendmail-8.12.10-1.1.1.i386.rpm.

    Starting Sendmail

    Use chkconfig command to check sendmail configuration.

    [root@linux-server tmp]# chkconfig sendmail on
    These commands are used to start,stop and restart sendmail after booting process.

    [root@linux-server tmp]# service sendmail start

    [root@linux-server tmp]# service sendmail stop

    [root@linux-server tmp]# service sendmail restart

    Keep in mind that to restart sendmail procedure each time you have to make some changes to configuration files to take effect during running process.
    Pgrep command is used to test whether sendmail process is running or not.


    [root@linux-server tmp]# pgrep sendmail

    You will get a reply of plain old process ID numbers.

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    Linux VPN Configuration

    Posted in Linux, Technical, VPN by admin on January 8th, 2008

    Linux VPN Configuration

    As the company network grows it needs to make some secure data links with business partners, customers, sellers and vendors while you are providing them access to your servers behind internet firewall. It can be done using a private network known as VPN which is used to provide an encrypted data stream between the company firewall and customers or vendors etc.
    VPN is very convenient and secure to access remote server not only using the public translated IP address but also using their real IP addresses. To do this you can avoid from some inherent problems to access servers following many to one relation.
    Here you will read about permanent one-to-one VPN link or tunnel by using Openswan which is known as one of the most famous VPN package in Linux.


    Before Starting SOHO Linux VPN

    Here is some information which is recommended to consider before configuring a simple SOHO Linux VPN.

    • Disable NAT of firewall for the packets which will traverse VPN because IPSec protocol on which VPNs are based will tolerate the data packets.
    • First of all configure and test the firewall and then configure VPN and make Linux VPN box to perform as firewall.
    • IP addresses at both ends of a network must be unique and you can assign them again if overlaps occurs.
    • VPNs are needed permanent and site to site at both ends using static DHCP and IP addresses.

    Figure below shows VPN topology between two SOHO network environments using this scenario.

    • Both sites needs VPN to communicate with each other without danger of eavesdropping.
    • Here site 1 is using private IP address 172.168.1.0/24 and is using Linux VPN/firewall as default gateway and have external IP address 97.158.253.25.
    • While site 2 is using private address 10.0.0.0/24 and using VPN/firewall device as default gateway using external IP address of 6.25.232.1.



    Openswan Topolology Figure

    Example of Openswan VPN 1

    Downloading and Installing Openswan Package :

    Download openswan RPM package from www.openswan.org and you can find guideline from here about how to install this package on Fedora and Redhat and other core of Linux. Before downloading this package, you must have installed ipsec-tools RPM package on you PC.

    Getting started with Openswan:

    Configure openswan using chkconfig command:

    [root@linux-server tmp]# chkconfig ipsec on

    Start, stop and restart openswan by using ipsec service initialization script:

    [root@linux-server tmp]# service ipsec start

    [root@linux-server tmp]# service ipsec stop

    [root@liux-server tmp]# service ipsec restart

    Keep in mind that always restart the ipsec process whenever you make some changes to ipsec.conf file so that changes can take effect instantly.

    Find out status of Openswan Installation :

    After you have installed openswan check the status of using ipsec verify command. It should show an [OK]status.

    [root@vpn3 tmp]# ipsec verify


    Checking your system to see if IPsec got installed and started properly

    Version check and ipsec on-path [OK]
    Linux Openswan U2.2.0/K2.6.8-1.522 (native)

    Checking for IPsec support in kernel [OK]

    Checking for RSA private key (/etc/ipsec.secrets) [OK]

    Checking that pluto is running [OK]

    Three or more interfaces found, checking IP forwarding [OK]

    Checking NAT and MASQUERADEing [N/A]

    Checking for ‘ip’ command [OK]

    Checking for ‘iptables’ command [OK]

    Checking for ’setkey’ command for native IPsec stack support [OK]

    [root@vpn3 tmp]#

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    Network based Linux Installation

    Posted in Technical by admin on January 7th, 2008

    Network based Linux Installation

    Introduction:
    Many versions of Linux allow installing operating system using network connection with the help of kickstart server. This type of installation is however faster than installation using CDs process could be automated.
    Here is the procedure to install Linux remotely:
    • Connect the client machine to installation server which has already loaded with installation files.
    • Boot installation client from bootable CD
    • There are there methods of installation to choose from i.e. FTP, HTTP and NFS with network parameters.
    • The installation process will start and you can select installation method from the available options.
    Configuring Kickstart Installation Server:
    Kickstart installation server could be configured on FTP, NFS and Apache Server by using the following procedure.
    Kickstart is however easy using a web server because:
    • Kickstart server need to be located on remote location, passing it through firewall and rules of firewall for HTTP is somehow easy to configure as compared to FTP and NFS.
    • Kickstart can use :// nomenclature to access files and it is more easy and familiar for users with respect to NFS and FTP and this is crucial for automatic kickstart installation.
    Preparing for Remote Server:
    Here is an example of configuring kickstart server which will be used in Fedora Core installation. All files will be uploaded to /data/network-install directory.
    Create Installation Directory:
    First of all create installation directories at /data/network-install/RPM and data network-install/ISO where necessary files will be copied.
    [root@linux-server tmp]# mkdir -p /data/network-install/RPM
    [root@ linux-server tmp]# mkdir -p /data/network-install/ISO
    It is now need to copy the network installation driver files in the base directory.
    Copying The Files:
    All methods HTTP, NFS and FTP kickstart needs base set of Fedora files to be installed on Kickstart server. Here is the procedure to install it.
    1) Create a mount point for your CD ROM drive.

    [root@linux-server tmp]# mkdir /mnt/cdrom
    2) Mount the Linux CD ROM.
    [root@linux-server tmp]# mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom

    3) Copy the files from the CD ROM dir to the hard disk

    [root@linux-server tmp]# cp /mnt/cdrom/* /data/network-install/RPM
    4) Unmount the CD ROM and remove cd using eject command.
    [root@linux-server tmp]# umount /dev/cdrom

    [root@linux-server tmp]# eject cdrom
    5) Repeat steps 2 to 4 with all your CDROMs. Overwrite files if required.
    HTTP & FTP Preparation:
    To configure for HTTP and FTP copy all data of each installation CD to /data/network-install/RPM directory. It needs 3-5 GB disk space. After completing copying data into this directory will be shown as below.
    [root@linux-server tmp]# ls -1 /data/network-install/RPM
    eula.txt
    RedHat
    redhat.css
    GPL
    images
    index.html
    isolinux
    README-Accessibility
    RELEASE-NOTES-en_US.html
    repodata
    RPM-GPG-KEY
    RPM-GPG-KEY-beta
    RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora
    RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora-extras
    RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora-legacy
    RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora-rawhide
    RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora-test
    RPM-GPG-KEY-rawhide
    stylesheet-images
    [root@linux-servertmp]#
    Preparing for NFS:
    First of all create ISO images of installation CD’s and store them in /data/network-install/ISO directory. It will also needs disk space from 3-5 GB. You can download ISO files from official Linux core website like Fedora or Redhat and you also take these files from installation CDs but you have to make sure that these are with same name as on the official website.
    Here are the steps which you should follow by replacing filename where it is necessary.
    [root@linux-server tmp]# cd /data/network-install/ISO

    [root@linux-server ISO]# dd if=/dev/cdrom of=filename.iso bs=32k


    [root@linux-server ISO]# eject cdrom
    Note: This is an example to make ISO files using mkisofs command. You can select to install the mkisofs RPM on newer Fedora versions also and this command needs a mounted CDROM drive, so don’t overlook the mount command.
    [root@linux-server ISO]# mount /mnt/cdrom

    [root@linux-server ISO]# mkisofs -J -r -T -o filename.iso /mnt/cdrom

    [root@linuxserver ISO]# eject cdrom

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    Configuring DHCP Server in Linux

    Posted in Technical by admin on January 7th, 2008

    Configuring DHCP Server in Linux

    DHCP Introduction:

    While you are using cable modem or DSL connection the IP is assigned to your PC dynamically by the service providers. If you are using router between home computer and Internet then your PC will get IP address from router at the boot time.
    If you are looking to configure your Linux machine as DHCP Server then you can disable this feature from router.
    Here is detail about configuring Linux machine as DHCP Server.

    Download and Install DHCP Package:

    Normally Linux packages are in RPM format and to download and install is not difficult.
    To search for a DHCP package remember that dhcp file name always starts with name dhcp followed by its version number such as dhcp-4.01rc 14-1.i386.rpm.
    While using Ubuntu package name may consist of version number also. In Ubuntu you can use dpkg –list | grep dhcp command to find out dhcp packages list and find dhcp package name.

    Editing /etc/dhcpd.conf File:
    When DHCP initialize, it reads file configuration from /etc/dhcpd.conf. DHCP RPM package is not installed by default but you have to manually install it. However you can find its sample copy at the following path
    /usr/share/doc/dhcp-/dhcpd.conf.sample

    It is necessary to copy this sample file dhcpd.conf into /etc directory and then edit this. Copy this file using this command
    [root@linux-server tmp]# cp /usr/share/doc/dhcp-3.0p11/dhcpd.conf.sample/etc.dhcpd.conf

    While in Ubuntu file configuration name is /etc/dhcp*/dhcpd.conf and you have to follow the same syntax which is used in Redhat/ Fedora.
    Complete Information of dhcpd.conf is detailed here
    Ddns-update-style interim
    Ignore client-updates

    Subnet 192.168.2.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {

    #Here is the range in from which DHCP server will assign Ip Addresses to clients
    range 192.168.2.201 192.168.2.220;

    # set number of seconds that a client PC will keep specific IP address

    default-lease-time 86400;

    max-lease-time 90000;

    #Here is the information to set the default gateway used by PC clients

    option router 192.168.1.1;

    # Do not forward DHCP requests from this NIC Interface

    option ip-forwarding off;

    # Broadcast address and subnet mask which is used by DHCP clients

    option broadcast-address 192.168.2.255;
    option subnet-mask 255.255.255.0;

    # Set DNS server used by DHCP clients

    option domain-name-servers 192.168.2.100;

    # Set NTP server used by DHCP client

    option nntp-server 192.168.2.100;

    # For WINS server for your Windows clients,
    It needs to include this option in the dhcpd.conf file:

    option netbios-name-servers 192.168.2.100;

    # Assign IP addresses based on the clients and ethernet MAC address as follows (Host’s name is “linux-server”:

    host Linux-server {
    hardware ethernet 08:00:2b:4c:59:23;
    fixed-address 192.168.2.222;
    }
    }
    #
    # List an unused interface here
    #
    subnet 192.168.2.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
    }

    Here you can find DHCP option page to find out more information after dhcp installation.

    [root@bigboy tmp]# man dhcp-options

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