Linux Graduate Machine Install

• Open the computer case
• Mount the cloned drive into the hard drive bay
• Attach power and ribbon cable
• Close case
• Boot computer

• Open a terminal window (even if xserver is running)
• Check which graphics device the machine has

$ lspci

• As root, change the graphics driver setting from VESA (default) to that machine's specific graphics driver (i810, etc).

# dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

 note: Although the xfree86 xserver had no problems with the Intel i810 graphics chip, xorg does.  To correct the problem, specify the amount of memory to use (try 64MB, or 64000kB) during dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg.

• Open the computer case; install a PCI modem card (note what kind it is, 3Com, Conexant, etc); close case; boot computer.
• Follow installation procedures for the correct modem type:
  • 3Com
  • Conexant
  • LTModem
  • PCTel
  • other
• Determine the serial port (ttyS#) for the modem, by running as root: dmesg | grep -i tty
• Create a persistent /dev/modem symlink, like this:
  • do the following as root
  • navigate to /etc/init.d/
  • create file (vi, touch, gedit, etc.) called setmodemlink to use as script with the following lines:

    #!/bin/bash
    ln -s ttyS_PCTEL0 /dev/modem

• (note, use the appropriate serial port, determine as listed above)
• save script, make executable by running chmod +x setmodemlink
• Navigate to /etc/rcS.d/
• Create the link to your script to be called during startup, as follows:

    ln -s /etc/init.d/setmodemlink S37setmodemlink

• In script form:

  # copy these line first
  dmesg | grep -i tty | grep -w -v -e ttyS0 -e ttyS1
  # be sure to set the bw_tty variable below to the correct serial port, e.g. ttyS_PCTEL0
  bw_tty=/dev/ttyS14
  
  # copy'n'paste these lines
  cd /etc/init.d/
  cat <<eof > setmodemlink
  #!/bin/bash
  ln -s ${bw_tty} /dev/modem
  eof
  chmod +x setmodemlink
  cd /etc/rcS.d/
  ln -s /etc/init.d/setmodemlink S37setmodemlink
  tail +1  /etc/init.d/setmodemlink /etc/rcS.d/S37setmodemlink
  # done

• Boot up the computer. If the KDE ARTS Message comes up, saying no /dev/dsp device exists, you will need to configure the sound driver. If you don't get the error message, test sound by playing a music CD or .mp3 file.
• See if the device is recognized, by using 'lspci' and looking for multimedia audio controllers, or examining the kernel log or dmesg.
• See if the sound module for the device is loaded, by using 'lsmod' (for example, if it's a soundblaster card, is 'sb' listed?).
• To load a driver, use 'modprobe' (for example, 'modprobe sb' will load the soundblaster driver).
• If there are no erors, add the module to /etc/modules so it will load on boot.
• If the computer has an onboard sound chip rather than a PCI or ISA sound card, physically examine the chip, google the ID number to determine the chipset, and then try to find a solution to getting that chipset working under Debian (for example, a Compaq Deskpro machine had an onboard ESS1869f sound chip – the solution there was to update ALSA, which also added support for additional sound chips, including ES18xx).
• If the sound card is ISA, it may require installing (apt-get install) isapnptools and running pnpdump to create /etc/isapnp.conf; that can then be configured to specify the IRQ and IO port settings; then load the driver as listed above.
• Note: sound is muted by default; use a mixer (KMenu/Multimedia/Kmixer does nicely) to unmute the sound and adjust the volume.
• If none of this works, go to http://www.tldp.org and read up on sound under linux.
• If the sound driver loads, and media files seem to play, but no sound is heard, test sound output devices. Are the speakers working, and plugged into the correct socket? Is the sound cable from the CD-ROM to the sound card plugged in, and a good cable? Test with headphones. Check the volume with Kmixer, make sure sound is unmuted.
• If still having troubles, look into ALSA, try running alsaconf

• (should already be in place, but verify)
  • Student is a member of groups 'dip' and 'dialup'
  • /etc/ppp/options has entry changed from 'auth' to 'noauth'
  • modem is installed and working
• start up KPPP; click 'Configure…'
• Add a new account
  • from the 'Accounts' tab of the 'Configuration' window click 'New…'
  • from the 'Create New Accounts' window click 'Manual Setup' (as opposed to Wizard)
  • from the 'Dial' tab in the 'New Account' window, enter the Connection Name ('CIN')
  • click 'Add…' to add the phone number
  • make sure the 'Store Password' checkbox is selected
  • click 'OK'
• Add a second new account
  • just as above, but name it 'CIN_with-call-waiting'
  • when adding the phone number, preface it with '*70,'
• Add a modem
  • from the 'Modem' tab of the 'Configuration' window click 'New…'
  • from the 'Device' tab of the 'New Modem' window, enter the Modem Name ('modem')
  • (note, make sure /dev/modem symlink was set as mentioned above) select '/dev/modem'
  • set the Connection Speed to 57600
  • click 'OK'
• Test a modem
  • from the 'Modem' tab of the 'Configuration' window select 'modem' and click 'Edit…'
  • from the 'Modem' tab of the 'Edit Modem' window click the 'Query Modem' button
• Test the connection
  • from the main 'KPPP' window, enter the student's Login ID and Password
  • click 'Connect'
  • after establishing a connection, test by browsing the Internet

  # become root
  su -

  # enable networking
  ifup eth0

  # update and upgrade
  apt-get update && apt-get -y upgrade
  # done