updates for 2010

diff --git a/labsetup.php b/labsetup.php
index 55b54a05a075ce261c154e84a1e2c1aa69f76d97..a3218e12ebf165c12240307ddabb42b94dc4c08f 100644 (file)
--- a/labsetup.php
+++ b/labsetup.php
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
 include "8440head.php";
 ?>
 
-
-
 <center>
 <h1>
 <font color="#931515" size="+3">COMP8440: Lab Setup (2010)</font>
@@ -12,30 +10,9 @@ include "8440head.php";
 
 <h2>Background</h2>
 
-<p>The course will utilise the N115/N116 combined 40 place lab in the
-CSIT building. This lab has 40 machines each with 3.0GHz Pentium D
-CPUs, 2GB RAM, a 160GB hard disk and a 17" LCD monitor. The machines
-are networked onto a single VLAN with 100MBps ethernet.</p>
-
-<p>The machines in the lab are normally used by CS courses with a
-software image based on Ubuntu Karmic (9.10) Linux (from October,
-2009). The machines are set to"network boot" and obtain their software
-image from a lab server. This image is not suitable for use by this
-course as it does not allow students to add their own packages, nor to
-gain superuser access in normal use.</p>
-
-<p>The challenge has been to provide a lab environment where students
-can "own" the software installation on "their" machine in the lab, to
-be able to save that image to the course server and to be able to
-quickly restore it to another machine in the event of a hardware
-failure. We also need to be able to get the machines running with
-their normal image in a timely fashion as other classes will need to
-use the machines after the intensive part of our course is
-complete.</p>
-
-<p>To solve this requirement, we have set up an additional disk partition on each of the lab machines and set up additional network boot options to allow an encrypted filesystem on this partition to be the main (root) filesystem whilst the machines are being used by this course. The encrypted filesystem should prevent other lab users from accidentally or deliberately interfering with each FOSSD students setup.</p>
-
-<p>To speed up the installation for the first lab, we have pre-installed Ubuntu Karmic, released in October, 2009, hence with release number 9.10. It is anticipated that Ubuntu will release their next stable release sometime during the week of the intensive part of the course.</p>
+The COMP8440 course will use the lab machines in N115/N115. You will
+need to follow the instructions below to setup your own machine and to
+regularly backup the machine to the course server.
 
 <h2>Initial Setup</h2>
 
@@ -44,17 +21,30 @@ complete.</p>
   initial copy of the "master" image for FOSSD 2010, based on the
   Ubuntu Karmic Koala (9.10) Linux distribution.</p>
 
-<p>For the first (initial) setup, you will need to log into the machine whilst it is booted in the normal lab environment.</p>
+<p>For the first (initial) setup, you will need to log into the
+machine whilst it is booted in the normal lab environment.</p>
 
 <p>On your desktop you should see a icon "Setup FOSSD". Click that.</p>
 
-<p>A new terminal window should appear and you will be prompted for your login password (to allow you "superuser" access).</p>
+<p>A new terminal window should appear and you will be prompted for
+your login password (to allow you "superuser" access).</p>
 
-<p>Then you will be prompted for a passphrase for the encrypted filesystem, twice. You can press the "Enter" key each time to use the default FOSSD passphrase for the encrypted filesystem (written up on the whiteboard in the lab), or you can make up a new passphrase - but don't forget it!</p>
+<p>Then you will be prompted for a passphrase for the encrypted
+filesystem, twice. You can press the "Enter" key each time to use the
+default FOSSD passphrase for the encrypted filesystem (written up on
+the whiteboard in the lab), or you can make up a new passphrase - but
+don't forget it!</p>
 
-<p>Then you may be prompted for your login password one last time before the system initialises the partition with the Ubuntu Karmic image we have prepared. As a part of this initialisation, an account will be created for you in this image.</p>
+<p>Then you may be prompted for your login password one last time
+before the system initialises the partition with the Ubuntu Karmic
+image we have prepared. As a part of this initialisation, an account
+will be created for you in this image.</p>
 
-<p>When that is complete, you can reboot your machine and then select "fossd" from the network boot prompt which will boot into the encrypted filesystem. You will be prompted for the passphrase you have chosen for the encrypted filesystem. It is <b>very</b> important that you do not forget this passphrase!</p>
+<p>When that is complete, you can reboot your machine and then select
+"fossd" from the network boot prompt which will boot into the
+encrypted filesystem. You will be prompted for the passphrase you have
+chosen for the encrypted filesystem. It is <b>very</b> important that
+you do not forget this passphrase!</p>
 
 <p>Please try and use the same machine for all COMP8440 labwork, so
 that you are least likely to disturb another students machine</p>
@@ -72,12 +62,28 @@ that you are least likely to disturb another students machine</p>
 </ul>
 
 <h2>FOSSD Lab Server</h2>
-<p>A dedicated file server has been set up for the FOSSD course for 2010. This server has the DNS name "fossd.anu.edu.au" and is accessible from most anywhere on the Internet. You can log into this server from anywhere using Secure SHell (ssh), your standard ANU UniID and associated password. Please do not run large (CPU-intensive) jobs on this machine as it will be used heavily during the course for backups etc.</p>
 
-<p>Also, although this server has more or less unrestricted access to the Internet, please do not use this to run peer-to-peer applications (unless that is a part of your chosen Open Source project) or in any other way abuse access to this machine and it's Internet connection.</p>
+<p>A dedicated file server has been set up for the FOSSD course for
+2010. This server has the DNS name "fossd.anu.edu.au" and is
+accessible from most anywhere on the Internet. You can log into this
+server from anywhere using Secure SHell (ssh), your standard ANU UniID
+and associated password. Please do not run large (CPU-intensive) jobs
+on this machine as it will be used heavily during the course for
+backups etc.</p>
+
+<p>Also, although this server has more or less unrestricted access to
+the Internet, please do not use this to run peer-to-peer applications
+(unless that is a part of your chosen Open Source project) or in any
+other way abuse access to this machine and it's Internet
+connection.</p>
 
 <h2>Backing up your work</h2>
-<p>As a part of the Ubuntu Karmic software image we have prepared for you, there is an icon on the desktop "Backup System". Double clicking on that icon will backup your entire system image (including any new packages you have installed and your home directory). You may be prompted for your password on the FOSSD lab server.</p>
+
+<p>As a part of the Ubuntu Karmic software image we have prepared for
+you, there is an icon on the desktop "Backup System". Double clicking
+on that icon will backup your entire system image (including any new
+packages you have installed and your home directory). You may be
+prompted for your password on the FOSSD lab server.</p>
 
 <h2>Restoring your environment</h2>
 
@@ -85,10 +91,20 @@ that you are least likely to disturb another students machine</p>
 <pre><b>
  sudo /comp8440/bin/restore_fossd_system
 </b></pre>
+
 <p>This should not be needed during normal operation.
-<p>Make sure you have saved any work you are currently editing etc. and have "Backup System" your system!. After running the restore command, you should use the "&lt;ctrl&gt;&lt;alt&gt;&lt;Backspace&gt;" triple key-press to kill the running X-windows server and then you can re-login.</p>
 
-<p>You can also restore your environment onto another system (even one that someone else may have been using - so please be considerate and be careful!). Boot your lab machine using the "net" image and then follow the instructions as for an Initial Setup (above). If you change your encrypted filesystem passphrase, you will get a fresh install, which will take longer and will destroy any work already on the machine (including someone elses).</p>
+<p>Make sure you have saved any work you are currently editing
+  etc. and have "Backup System" your system!. After running the
+  restore command, you should reboot your machine.</p>
+
+<p>You can also restore your environment onto another system (even one
+that someone else may have been using - so please be considerate and
+be careful!). Boot your lab machine using the "net" image and then
+follow the instructions as for an Initial Setup (above). If you change
+your encrypted filesystem passphrase, you will get a fresh install,
+which will take longer and will destroy any work already on the
+machine (including someone elses).</p>
 
 <h2>Changing your filesystem passphrase</h2>
 
@@ -118,12 +134,49 @@ all your local files, run "sudo /comp8440/bin/restore_fossd_system"
 /comp8440/bin/change_passphrase"
 </ul>
 
-<h2>Final Note</h2>
-<p>You MUST backup your work regularly (using the "Backup System" icon on your desktop) as there is a possibility of hardware failure, software failure, accidental deletion and someone overwriting your encypted filesystem. You have been warned (again!).</p>
+<h2>Remember to Backup!!</h2>
 
-<?php
-include "8440tail.php";
-?>
+<p>You MUST backup your work regularly (using the "Backup System" icon
+on your desktop) as there is a possibility of hardware failure,
+software failure, accidental deletion and someone overwriting your
+encypted filesystem. You have been warned (again!).</p>
+
+<h2>Technical Information</h2>
+
+<p>The course will utilise the N115/N116 combined 40 place lab in the
+CSIT building. This lab has 40 machines each with 3.0GHz Pentium D
+CPUs, 2GB RAM, a 160GB hard disk and a 17" LCD monitor. The machines
+are networked onto a single VLAN with 100MBps ethernet.</p>
+
+<p>The machines in the lab are normally used by CS courses with a
+software image based on Ubuntu Karmic (9.10) Linux (from October,
+2009). The machines are set to"network boot" and obtain their software
+image from a lab server. This image is not suitable for use by this
+course as it does not allow students to add their own packages, nor to
+gain superuser access in normal use.</p>
+
+<p>The challenge has been to provide a lab environment where students
+can "own" the software installation on "their" machine in the lab, to
+be able to save that image to the course server and to be able to
+quickly restore it to another machine in the event of a hardware
+failure. We also need to be able to get the machines running with
+their normal image in a timely fashion as other classes will need to
+use the machines after the intensive part of our course is
+complete.</p>
+
+<p>To solve this requirement, we have set up an additional disk
+partition on each of the lab machines and set up additional network
+boot options to allow an encrypted filesystem on this partition to be
+the main (root) filesystem whilst the machines are being used by this
+course. The encrypted filesystem should prevent other lab users from
+accidentally or deliberately interfering with each FOSSD students
+setup.</p>
 
+<p>To speed up the installation for the first lab, we have
+  pre-installed Ubuntu Karmic, released in October, 2009, hence with
+  release number 9.10.</p>
 
 
+<?php
+include "8440tail.php";
+?>