::== USEFUL INFORMATION FOR INSTRUCTORS (ALL SEMESTERS - PLEASE READ!)== # In the '''Linux Commandslab 1 instructions for SSD''', students are instructed to download the image to their windows machine (i. Try e. Downloads), then create a '''VM template, then edit it with instructions:'''<br><br><span style="background-color:yellow;">In this setup dialog box, click the options tab and then click the Advanced option at the bottom of the list. On the right-hand side, click the checkbox to enable the option to bridge Boot with EFI instead of BIOS.<br>Then click on the Hardware tab, and then select the CD/DVD (IDE) device and select in the right-side select the radio button for the use ISO Image file. Click the Browse button and specify the gap path of Linux commands throughout your downloaded Centos7 Full install DVD (most likely file is contained in your Downloads folder). Click Processors, and click the OPS235 check-box to enable Virtual Intel VT-X/ OPS335 EPT or AMD-V/ OPS435 RVI. When finished, click on the OK button. </ OPS535 streamspan><br><br>Many students have done this for more than 3-4 semesters with their SSDs. Generally no problems encountered. '''Occasionally, students do not follow instructions and forget to set virtualisation for host VM with would affect nested VMs using KVM in lab2...'''. Examples: Can't edit Grub boot file, VMs cannot be installed properly in KVM, Installed VMs in KVM cannot be started, etc.<br><br>The instructions are there. Recommended '''I usually do install with students for Winter 2015 semester lab1 Investigation 1 with students (only time I do lab with students) to help them get on the right track'''.<br><br># Subject: RE: '''How to allow students to add previous reference sheets and/or lab logobtain free VMware Workstation 12 Pro for use at home''' (eg. SSDs)<br><br>'''*** REQUIRED FOR INSTRUCTORS TO DO THEMSELVES -books NO ONE WILL DO THIS FOR YOU ***'''<br><br>Students are entitled to existing materialfree licensed version of VMware Workstation 12 Pro.<br >It is available for ALL OPS235 /OPS335 students, but particularly useful for students that have SSD drive and want to work from home of notebook computer. You, as an instructor NEED to send Clive (e-mail:<br>clive.beetge@senecacollege.ca) with just usernames (For example, allow ULI101 reference sheet to can be added to done via Blackboard or moodle) students. I recommend you also post an announcement for your student like this:<br><br><blockquote>''"All OPS235 lab logbook, /OPS335 contains students in my course is allowed a free version of VMware Workstation 12 Pro for their personal use. This particularly useful for students that have Solid State Drives and want to work on OPS235 lab logbook notes plus ULI101 reference sheetlabs at homeusing VMware Workstation 12 Pro. I have e-mailed the administrator your seneca userid, etc)and you should be getting an email with a long subject line. Would it be worthwhile <br><br>WARNING: Check your quarantine and spam filters to print empty ULI101 reference sheet see if this email gets trapped since spam filters may automatically trap suspicious emails with already long subject lines.<br><br>Open that e-mail to obtain your VMware Workstation 12 Pro software and registration key.<br><br>FYI<br>Insructor's Name"''</blockquote><br><br>'''NOTE:''' If students cannot access this information from their email, and if Clive has created section headers so their accounts, they can place commands in required area (students associate use the type of tool link and following instructions to refer obtain their program:<br>https://e5.onthehub.com/WebStore/Welcome.aspx?ws=d529a1f1-b430-e511-940e-b8ca3a5db7a1&vsro=8<br><br># It is possible to get run VMware VMs from the command line using the job done)following steps <syntaxhighlight lang="bash">Create a directory for links to your VMware VMs# mkdir ~/links# cd links # ln -s /path/to/VMs/file.vmx Use vmrun to start/stop/list/getGuestIPAddress/listProcessesInGuest# vmrun | less# vmrun -T ws start ~/links/name-of-CentOS-VM-link. Action taken: Murray Saul notified Mark Fernandes vmx [gui|nogui]# vmrun list# vmrun -T ws getGuestIPAddress ~/links/name-of idea, Mark had a discussion with some -CentOS-VM-link.vmx# ssh user@address-got-from-line-above# vmrun -T ws -gu <guest-user> -gp <guest-password> listProcessesInGuest ~/links/name-of ULI101 faculty-CentOS-VM-link. The decision to vmx</syntaxhighlight>In case you get an error message about Guest Additions not being installed, you have reference sheets for ULI101 course was due to prevention rerun <code>vmrun installTools ~/links/name-of students cheating -CentOS-VM-link</code> and, during the Guest Additions installation, choose yes to automatic kernel modules (default during installation is no), see: [ [https://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2050592 Known issue about Guest Additions not being loaded despite being installed] ] and [ [https://www.vmware.com/pdf/vix162_vmrun_command.pdf (PDF) manual for vmrun ] ] for additional information.# When updating packages if answers to final exam obtainedyou abort suddenly, then you might end up with a broken package database. '''Suggestion was made ## In that case, you can fix a template Linux command reference sheet will be made broken yum package system using the following blog post: [ [https://wphosting.tv/how-to-fix-duplicate-packages-in-yum/ How to help students study prior fix duplicate packages in yum] ].<br>Good to ULI101 final exam, know and this standardized sheet can be added include somewhere (OPS235 future content update).## This might another set of steps to the OPS235 lab follow:<syntaxhighlight lang="bash"># yum-complete-transaction# yum check | tee /tmp/yum-check.log# yum update --skip-broken# package-cleanup --problems# package-cleanup --dupes# package-cleanup --cleandupes# yum install initial-setup initial-setup-gui gnome-initial-book'''.setup# yum update# reboot</syntaxhighlight><br/><br/># VMware on Linux requires Secure Boot to be disabled on the Linux host otherwise VMware cannot run CentOS VMs:[ [https://communities.vmware.com/message/2461448#2461448 Comment # 5 talks about disabling Secure Boot to make VMware on Linux boot VMs] ]. = Current: Summer 2018 Semester =# '''A quick note about replacing firewalld with iptables: ''I've found that disabling firewalld isn't always enough.''''YUM Command ' Certain processes and packages can re-enable firewalld automatically and without notice. When this happens, though firewalld and iptables are both set to start with the system, firewalld takes precedence. Iptables will never start up. This can cause problems for Local Installsstudents, as firewalld can interfere with some of our labs and they assume firewalld is disabled at this point. I recommend we amend Lab 1 to instruct students to fully remove firewalld from their systems. I also recommend checking status of firewalld be part of your troubleshooting toolbox when helping students with strange issues. --Chris Johnson = Winter 2018 Semester =# It appears that doing yum update after May 2018 reintroduces the GRUB issue mentioned in '''#3''' of '''Fall 2017'''below for removable HDD on HP machines. The rpm command A possible solution, since the one proposed in lab3 relating the earlier solution does not work, might be (to local installs appears be confirmed whether the solution linked to be deprecated here resolves the issue) https://noobient.com/post/165797742756/fixing-the-efi-bootloader-on-centos-7 = Fall 2017 Semester= # '''Network glitch corrected by Mehrdad where network install (favoring yum local URL copy from Belmont) hung up install)due to missing software repository'''. <br>'''Cause'''OPS235 team : due to meet to discuss firewall protocol system implementation (Statusin Spring/Summer, it blocked the "yum" protocol, and now has been <u>'''fixed'''</u> system-wide.<br><br>'''FYI: WIP)''''''Murray Saul''' verified that the fix worked by successfully created a VM via network install.<br><br># <span style="color:red;">'''ATTENTION:# '''Online Collaboration </span> Mehrdad mentioned that possibly in the next semester (OPS235 Instructor Resourceor eventually)''', the belmont server URLs will be removed. There The alternative (and eventual replacement) that affects OPS235/OPS335 is a considerable amount of work to do to ensure items are updated : mirror.senecacollege.ca/centos/7/os/x86_64/<br>Therefore, this corrections should be made for OPS235 and OPS335 labs for the Winter 2018 startup prior to semester startupclasses.<br><br># <span style="color:red;">'''ATTENTION:'''</span> Verify your CentOS release version using '''rpm -qa centos-release'''. I think If it would be a good idea to have is '''1708''' <u>and</u> you are using a '''check-listremovable hard drive''' with boot issues then do the following: copy '''grubx64.efi''' for all items such asfrom [http: Covering off with OPS335 for version //mirror.centos.org/centos/7/os/x86_64/EFI/BOOT/ CentOS EFI/BOOT site here] into your /boot/efi/EFI/BOOT directory of your hard drive. To get to that directory of your hard drive you would need to boot from a live CentOS USB or CD/DVD and mount the /boot partition of CENTOS your HDD. Try to usedo this yourself, update otherwise ask for help from the labtutor or instructor. You would also need to refresh your grub configuration using help from [https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-US/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/7/html-book semester infosingle/System_Administrators_Guide/index.html RedHat], update instructors [https://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/Grub2 CentOS] and photos, testing and update links [http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html Grub] or use the following [[File:grub.cfg]] for media install, update weekly dates for notes, update professor names and sections help. This directory tree is known to work<br><br><syntaxhighlight lang="bash">/boot/efi/EFI/├── BOOT│ ├── BOOTX64.EFI│ ├── fbx64.efi│ ├── grub.cfg <=== NEW: MUST BE PRESENT (create using grub2-mkconfig -o filename)│ └── grubx64.efi <=== NEW: MUST BE PRESENT (get using link CentOS EFI/BOOT in text above)└── centos ├── BOOT.CSV ├── BOOTX64.CSV ├── fonts │ └── unicode.pf2 ├── grub.cfg ├── grubenv ├── grubx64.efi ├── mmx64.efi ├── shim.efi ├── shimx64-centos.efi └── shimx64.efi</syntaxhighlight><br><br># In Lab2 (both main WIKI and Weekly Scheduleversions), submit Weekly schedule change from downloading raw image file (.img) to Diannaqcow2 file, etcand call it sample_test_image to get student to launch and login a sample version for exposure for future practical tests.<br><br># For next semester add in procedure for SSDs to create a duplicate image file for c7host in case the original is corrupted. Should also include warning about properly unmounting SSD device prior to removing from computer<ulbr><libr> = Winter / Summer 2017= # There seems to be a procedure that works if you are booting Centos7 from your removable SATA drive in your labs and it doesn't connect to the Internet...<br>Note: If you cannot connect, you should see on the top right-hand corner before you login such as: ''OPS235 Instructor's Guide<span style="font-size:1.5em;font-family:monospace;">[...]</span>'''<br>This means there is no Internet connection.<br><br>If that is the case, perform the following steps:<br><ol type="a"><li> Quickly press the power button (do not hold it down!). This should put it in suspend mode. You can confirm it is in suspend mode if the blue power light is flashing.</li><li>Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again. This will go out of suspend mode. You can confirm is is not in suspend mode if blue power light is solid (not flashing).</li><li>In a few seconds, the symbol on the top right-hand side should appear like: <span style="border-color:black;border-width:2px;border-style:solid;"> &nbsp; &nbsp; </span>.<br>This symbol means that you can connect to the Internet.</li></ol><br><br># A problem with kernel panic discussed on this thread and is on going as of Jan 10, 2017 (solved but Mark F. is facing difficulties after performing an aborted upgrade on my centos1-like VM which I was using for teaching ULI101. This solution doesn' t help Mark but the advice given on this thread might be relevant to some). Here is link: [ [https://docswww.googlecentos.comorg/documentforums/d/1b9VosmlEg-oyFx7JaeqXqKBMvhQvK5djOSONdqFfBlI/editviewtopic.php?uspf=47&t=51911&start=sharing OPS235 Instructor's Guide10 Kernel panic at restart after so update] ] <br /><br /># We keep (Currently Under Developmentbut rename to something more appropriate)the existing HDD option in OPS235 labs because some students are requesting to install CentOS on their laptop (dual boot or single boot) and so continue doing the lab with all 3VMs on the laptop itself. So no VMs inside a VM stuff for them, except maybe name the labs from external HDD to 'using your own laptop' or some such.<br /li><libr /># In case a yum update goes wrong and the advice given by the next run of yum update does not work in making the VM boot into GNOME, then try the following: '''yum install initial-setup initial-setup-gui gnome-initial-setup'''Sample OPS235 Semester Startup Checklist . You might have to reboot and agree to the license conditions at firstboot. <br /><br /># Nested virtualization is incredibly slow if the host VM (VMware c7host) is using GoogleDocs Formsthe default number of processor cores (1). Since all processing is done under c7host, it is safe to share all of your cores with Windows and VMware (c7host).<br /><br /> =Fall 2016= # Lab 1:Unusual problem of network not showing up in c7host VM. Happened because I had not enabled a second network adapter in VMware Workstation Pro (use Team as the type).<br><br># Change all VM sizes to be at least 20GB because some (lab 2 VMs) still say 15GB and they cause problems during installation for CentOS 7.2<br><br># Keep consistent lab1 checking scripts for ALL OPS235 instructors (This semester was exception for Mark F., due to caching problem showing older partitions for previous semester).<br><br># I think in future (based on scripting questions I gave on midterm) that we will need to add to the questions section of the labs something to do with shell scripting - even a simple walk-through. This can be incorporated into future quizzes.<br><br># VMware gets odd naming for interfaces, for example ifconfig in VMware on CentOS 7 I get this (among other network setup). The problem is they''' [ [ve switched from the interface naming. There is a workaround in CentOS FAQ: https://docswiki.googlecentos.comorg/formsFAQ/dCentOS7<code>eno16777736: flags=4163<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST> mtu 1500 </1pKCMrckEkHPbR9icDjoUC3FPwcfKtug_as9RujWEWlM/viewform?usp=send_form code><br><br># I noticed that some students have a different volume group name for centos2 than centos_centos2<br>I suspect it is that students didn't follow instructions when creating the centos2 VM by specifying the correct hostname: centos2<br>This could be corrected by including centos2 being checked for correct hostname in lab2 checking script, but not time to do that for this semester.<br><br># Add youtube video on how LVM works for lab5 notes<br><br># Check learning outcomes and topic outline match for OPS235 course<br><br># For OPS235 Semester Startup Checklist] ]Assignment #2, remove references to chkconfig command (deprecated), should use systemctl status service-name</libr><libr>   == CentOS 7 VM (VMware) Known Issues ==HP Z230 machines on campus# Not getting network interface in CentOS (VMware network configured to using NAT). Solved (sometimes) by adding another network interface and setting that interface to VMnet8# USB failure from Windows host. Could this be due to bad USB cable, but one student reported Windows on HP Z230 automatically unmounts the USB drive while the VM was running thereby freezing CentOS in VMware == Lab 5 suggestion (received from a student) == Create a virtual disk /dev/vda in centos2 and use that virtual disk (vda) instead of /dev/sda (so use '''fdisk /dev/vda'''View Status instead of OPS235 Semester Startup Checklist:using ''' [ [https:fdisk /dev/docssda''').googleThis makes Lab 5 easier to handle accidental corruption students might make while doing that lab thereby destroying their centos2.comThis might require Lab 5 checker script to be tweaked to work with /spreadsheetsdev/d/1tqxNs3YqQghL41jCfY2nyWc_StdpPjiRQjCZ2cdXAvY/edit?uspvda. == Lab 7 Issue == Some students could only get their labs to work with the browser after they did this: iptables -I INPUT -m state --state RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT == Assignment 2 == chkconfig gives an error message telling students to use:# systemctl list-dependents httpd# systemctl list-dependents mysql =Previous Semesters= Summer 2016 (Refer to previous semesters below)= # No entries  ==Winter 2016==sharing OPS235 Semester Startup Status] ] # '''</lispan style="color:red">N.B. - On "TODO list"</ulspan> ''' - '''LAB 1 - Picture under part 2''' - The picture called "Partition Verification" shows a LVM setup, but the instructions ask specifically for a standard partition setup.<br><br># '''<span style="color::#red">FIXED BUT REQUIRES VERIFICATION THAT FIX WORKED</span>''' - '''AODA AccomodationLAB 1 - Investigation 3 - Part 2 - Questions 21'''- Not important but, report3.bash script uses the command "cat /root/install.log >> installation_report.html", the file /root/install.log does not exist on centos7 install.<br><br>#'''Issue #1<span style="color:red">N.B. On List for Murray Saul to work on during non-contact period</span>''' - "tweak" '''lab2check2.bash''' to provide additional checks including xml dumps to home directory for all VMs and reminder from script to back those items to USB key. Also should check if '''centos2''' has '''/ for 8 GB and /home for 2GB'''. I read somewhere that '''xfs can mess up with LVM which we talk about in lab5'''. For next time, I will '''add in requirement in lab2 signoff that students show for all VMs the /etc/fstab to ensure ext4 fs'''. Perhaps checking script can be modified next time to check for that... Good idea to '''expand shell script check for ALL labs. Student would be required to show same information PLUS the results from running the checking shell script'''.<br><br> #'''<span style="color:red">N.B. On List for Murray Saul to work on during non-contact period</span>''' - It is recommended would be nice to rearrange the content for lab5 to '''discuss df -h and space concerns <u>first</u>, then flow into LVM. This would provide a better "flow" to reinforce student understanding'''. Shell script at end would remain at end to show how to use crontab to make available automate (flag) space issues.<br><br>#'''<span style="color:red">N.B. On List for Murray Saul to work on during non-contact period</span>''' - Good idea to '''review study questions at end of each lab'''to see if they are applicable to each lab or classroom a method .<br><br>#Would be neat to safely keep a door open while '''create prezi slide shows for each lab preparation (for class is )'''. This would be in session without propping the door open sync with a chairOPS335 course. Online slides can be exported to PDF files as well.<br><br>#'''<span style="color:red">N.B. On List for Murray Saul to work on during non-contact period</span>''' - If door is not opened, door is locked which can Would be helpful for a distraction script or program to check all links in all OPS235 (OPS335, etc) WIKIs to check for professors when delivering non-working links. This would allow course materialoverseer to run just prior to the start of the semester and be incorporated into the startup checklist.<br><br>#'''<span style="color:red">N.B. On List for Murray Saul to work on during non-contact period</span>'''It has been noted there - Some students note different vg name (like centos instead of centos_centos2). Solution is to get students to issue vgs to obtain vg name. Should investigate why this is no consistency in the TEL building wrt many happening to prevent (eg. shell script check at end of the labsa lab).<br><br>#'''<span style="color: Some have door stops, many do notred">N.B. If door stops are On List for Murray Saul to work on during non-contact period</span>''' - Check '''mailx''' package when installed (lab5 example) for OPS235 to see why not somehow attached sending mail to lab, they go missing or are used demo that script works for a lower threshold point for other labsfile space usage.<br><br>#'''<span style="color:red">N.B. If door is opened with propping chair, can be unsafe On List for students with special needs Murray Saul to work on during non-contact period</span>''' - Method to better explain in lab7 tunnelling via local ports (for eg. show some command of available ports, etc) - example blind :<br>'''sysctl net.ipv4.ip_local_port_range'''<br>net.ipv4.ip_local_port_range = 32768 61000<br>(But where does that fit in with using 20808?)  == Summer 2015 ==# '''LAB 1 - Installing NON-GUI version of Linux OS:''' A lot of students) ran into the same problem with lab 1, that is they didn't pay close enough attention to the instructions and problems installed the OS without a GUI. But that is no flaw in your wiki, just the event tendency of an emergency (students to rush through things. I have done my best to enforce that they should read all the instructions carefully BEFORE they start on the labs.<br><br># '''LAB2 - Backup Script demo:''' Current VM backup script should also allow for examplebacking up xml configuration files.<br><br># '''LAB - LVM: fire)''' Current VM backup script does not factor in virtual hard drive images. AlsoMay be a good idea to add this to the backup script, so students can be encouraged to run backup scripts.<br><br># The wget http://belmont.senecac.on.ca/centos/7/isos/x86_64/CentOS-7-x86_64-LiveGNOME-1503.iso command is still not working<br><br># When students issue the “service iptables restart” command it has been noted challenges returns a message that says the service is dead and not running. Yet, I’ve tested the iptables themselves by adding a few rules and they are certainly still working. I’m really not sure what exactly is going on. Perhaps it’s just a glitch in providing Linux drivers CentOS7?<br><br># The virtualization software also seems to need a system reboot before the virtual network will come into effect. Simply restarting the virt-manager or the libvirtd service doesn’t seem to do it. So, again, rebooting the system is the way to go to communicate with devices make sure the virtual default NAT network becomes visible for individuals with special needsnew VMs. '''These issues when solved should <br><br># Some students in lab2 may not be shared performing the correct steps in a central repository with support creating VMS (image paths and suggestions types). A shell script to be run to check this would be useful, but may need release time to allow better access through create a student's duration comprehensive and with different instructors, staff'''user-friendly shell script.<br><br> == Winter 2015 ==* Winter 2015: [[OPS235 - Short-term - Older Issues]]