Category: Linux

I needed a quick set-up for some lab virtual machines so I used a laptop I had  and played with oVirt 3.6 over the past few days and things look promising. In then end after experimenting with Vmware ESX on the  laptop I settled with VirtualBox running in Centos7.

This is my walkthrough as I was installing oVirt 3.6, running everything on a single 1tb hard disk. They are my working notes using mainly https://glennsnead.wordpress.com/2016/02/28/ovirt-3-6-installation/

First install Centos7 minimal install, ensure that the network interface is on (off by default), you will need at least 10Gb in /var/tmp.

(optional) update to the latest available version:

# yum -y update

check the hostname:

hostnamectl status
hostnamectl set-hostname [new host name]

edit /etc/hosts file and add the entries for the host and engine:

# vi /etc/hosts
# systemctl restart systemd-hostnamed

disable NetworkManager:

# service NetworkManager stop
# chkconfig NetworkManager off
# service network start
# chkconfig network on

add correct gpg key for glusterfs:

# yum install -y wget
# wget http://download.gluster.org/pub/gluster/glusterfs/LATEST/CentOS/rsa.pub
# rpm –import ./rsa.pub
# rm -f ./rsa.pub

install required apps (this will take a while):

# yum localinstall -y http://resources.ovirt.org/pub/yum-repo/ovirt-release36.rpm
# yum install -y ovirt-hosted-engine-setup screen glusterfs-server nfs-utils vdsm-gluster system-storage-manager mailx
# yum install -y ovirt-engine-appliance

create a partition for the glusterfs storage

# fdisk /dev/sda
………
# partprobe

list all partitions:

# lsblk

set-up gluster:

# pvcreate /dev/sda6
# ssm add -p vg_gluster /dev/sda6
# ssm create -p vg_gluster –fstype xfs -n lv_gluster

Add line to /etc/fstab:  /dev/mapper/vg_gluster-lv_gluster  /gluster  defaults  0 0

# mkidr /gluster
# mount /gluster
# mkdir -p /gluster/{data,engine,iso}/brick
# systemctl start glusterd && systemctl enable glusterd

Create the gluster “bricks”

# gluster volume create engine $HOSTNAME:/gluster/engine/brick
# gluster volume create data $HOSTNAME:/gluster/data/brick
# gluster volume create iso $HOSTNAME:/gluster/iso/brick
# gluster volume set engine group virt
# gluster volume set engine storage.owner-uid 36 && gluster volume set engine storage.owner-gid 36
# gluster volume set data group virt
# gluster volume set data storage.owner-uid 36 && gluster volume set data storage.owner-gid 36
# gluster volume set iso group virt
# gluster volume set iso storage.owner-uid 36 && gluster volume set iso storage.owner-gid 36

Start the Gluster volumes

# gluster volume start engine && gluster volume start data && gluster volume start iso

Check the Gluster volume status and availability

# gluster volume status
# showmount -e $HOSTNAME

deploy ovirt engine:

# hosted-engine –deploy

 

*** In case the engine deployment fails and you want to run it again, you can simply delete the host:/engine volume and recreate it.

# gluster volume stop engine
# gluster volume delete engine
# rm -rf /gluster/engine

and then recreate it as per above

 

 

It’s back to Debian, as I haven’t got the time for technological adventures. Everything is set-up like before with the exception of sound which is not set for both surround 5.1 and dmix with this .asoundrc

pcm.!default plug:both

ctl.!default {
type hw
card 0
}

pcm.both {
type route
slave.pcm {
type multi
slaves {
a.pcm "dfront"
a.channels 2
b.pcm "drear"
b.channels 2
c.pcm "dcenter"
c.channels 2
}

bindings {
0.slave a;
0.channel 0;
1.slave a;
1.channel 1;

2.slave b;
2.channel 0;
3.slave b;
3.channel 1;

4.slave c;
4.channel 0;
5.slave c;
5.channel 1;

}
}

ttable {
0.0 1;
1.1 1;

0.2 1;
1.3 1;

0.4 1;
1.5 1;

}
}

ctl.both {
type hw
card 0
}

pcm.dfront {
type dmix
ipc_key 1024
slave {
pcm "front"
period_time 0
period_size 1024
buffer_size 8192
rate 48000
}
}

ctl.dfront {
type hw
card 0
device 0
}

pcm.drear {
type dmix
ipc_key 2048
slave {
pcm "rear"
period_time 0
period_size 1024
buffer_size 8192
rate 48000
}
}

ctl.dfront {
type hw
card 0
device 1
}

pcm.dcenter {
type dmix
ipc_key 4096
slave {
pcm "center_lfe"
period_time 0
period_size 1024
buffer_size 8192
rate 48000
}
}

ctl.dcenter {
type hw
card 0
device 3
}

pcm.sblive {
type plug
slave {
pcm "hw:1,0"
rate 48000
}
}

from

I have been using debian OS for close to ten years now, anywhere there was a need for a linux set-up. There are many good things about debian like the fact that you can have a working machine in less than you can say “ctrl alt delete”. For me though it was the right time for a change.

I have decided to go with Arch for my next re-install. Things I like about Arch Linux so far: fairly well documented, more transparent about what is installed, the latest packages, less bloat.

This is also my second compiz adventure; so far so good:

I listed below the steps required to achieve this: compiz, transparency, semi-transparent Conky, cairo-dock and a panel bar (tint2).

install:
edit rc.conf:
LOCALE=”en_GB.UTF8
KEYMAP=”uk”
MOD_AUTOLOAD=”yes”
HOSTNAME=”[your hostname]”
ineterface=eth0

check:
/etc/hosts
/etc/locale.gen
/etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

test networking:
#ping -c 3 example.com

# pacman-db-upgrade

# pacman -Syy

upgrade system:
#pacman -Syu

add a user:
# adduser
additional groups (comma separated) []: audio,lp,optical,storage,video,wheel,games,power,scanner

install sudo:
pacman -S sudo
visudo (uncomment as appropriate – group wheel)

install X:
pacman -S xorg-server xorg-xinit xorg-utils xorg-server-utils mesa mesa-demos

setup Nvidia:
pacman -S xf86-video-nouveau
pacman -S nouveau-dri libgl

touchpad:
pacman -S xf86-input-synaptics

set-up keyboard in X:
#vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-evdev.con
add to [Identifier “evdev keyboard catchall”]:
Option “XkbLayout” “gb”

pacman -S dbus
add dbus to Daemons in rc.conf

pacman -S ttf-dejavu

# pacman -S compiz-core ccsm emerald fusion-icon compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-fusion-plugins-extra

# pacman -S tint2 conky gnome-terminal

install cairo-dock from AUR
$ sudo pacman -S base-devel
$ wget http://aur.archlinux.org/packages/cairo-dock/cairo-dock.tar.gz
$ tar xvfz cairo-dock.tar.gz
$ cd cairo-dock
$ makepkg -s
$ pacman -U cairo-dock-2.3.0-3-i686.pkg.tar.xz
cairo-dock-themes is installed in the same way.

my .xinitrc:
tint2 &
cairo-dock -o &
conky -o ~/.conkyrc &
exec ck-launch-session fusion-icon

my .conkyrc:
alignment top_right
background no
border_width 1
cpu_avg_samples 2
default_color white
default_outline_color white
default_shade_color white
draw_borders no
draw_graph_borders yes
draw_outline no
draw_shades no
use_xft yes
xftfont DejaVu Sans Mono:size=12
gap_x 5
gap_y 60
minimum_size 5 5
net_avg_samples 2
no_buffers yes
nvidia_display yes
out_to_console no
out_to_stderr no
extra_newline no
own_window yes
own_window_class Conky-semi
own_window_type normal
own_window_hints undecorated,below,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager
own_window_argb_visual yes
own_window_argb_value 49
stippled_borders 0
update_interval 1.0
uppercase no
use_spacer none
show_graph_scale no
show_graph_range no
double_buffer yes

TEXT
$nodename – $sysname $kernel on $machine
$hr
${color 494949}Uptime:$color $uptime
${color 494949}Frequency (in MHz):$color $freq
${color 494949}Frequency (in GHz):$color $freq_g
${color 494949}RAM Usage:$color $mem/$memmax – $memperc% ${membar 4}
${color 494949}Swap Usage:$color $swap/$swapmax – $swapperc% ${swapbar 4}
${color 494949}CPU Usage:$color $cpu% ${cpubar 4}
${color 494949}Processes:$color $processes  ${color grey}Running:$color $running_processes
$hr
${color 494949}File systems:
/ $color${fs_used /}/${fs_size /} ${fs_bar 6 /}
${color 494949}Networking:
Up:$color ${upspeed eth0} ${color 494949} – Down:$color ${downspeed eth0}
$hr
${color 494949}Name              PID   CPU%   MEM%
${color lightgrey} ${top name 1} ${top pid 1} ${top cpu 1} ${top_mem mem_res 1}
${color lightgrey} ${top name 2} ${top pid 2} ${top cpu 2} ${top_mem mem_res 2}
${color lightgrey} ${top name 3} ${top pid 3} ${top cpu 3} ${top_mem mem_res 3}
${color lightgrey} ${top name 4} ${top pid 4} ${top cpu 4} ${top_mem mem_res 4}

Setting up auto mounting of devices
$ sudo pacman -S autof
$ sudo vi /etc/autofs/auto.master
uncomment the last line
$ cp /etc/autofs/auto.misc /etc/autofs/auto.media
$ vi /etc/rc.conf
add ‘autofs’ to DAEMONS section and ‘autofs4’ to modules
$ sudo reboot
make sure that the modules load and that’s it, auto-mounting sorted.

sudo ifup [name of wireless interface]
then delete any connections in Network manager and connect again.
It worked for me

this proved to be a simple fix
apt-get install phonon-backend-xine

http://www.phwinfo.com/forum/linux-debian-user/379210-amarok-2-1-playback-problems.html

the install with lxde is much more of a breeze for the less technical amongst us. Just start the net-install cd, select advanced options and the choose alternative options. Select lxde and then install in the usual way. I have selected desktop and standard and this installs lxde rather than the standard gnome.
I left it like this because it offers the minimal install I would have chosen anyway. Copying libflashplayer.so to /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins works for i386 platform. I find this the easiest way to install flash 10.
same customisation for alsa like in lenny
and that’s about it.

I’ve installed lenny, despite a message talking about not using mmconfig (I have no idea what that means yet)

then:

sudo apt-get install lxde
I have sorted my audio like in here
then restart alsa

sudo /etc/init.d/alsa-utils restart

I couldn’t find a perfect alternative to adobe flash player, so I have installed the adobe player like this:
cp libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/
this worked in x64 (and in Squeeze), if you have i386 and iceweasel crashes with Adobe Flash Player 10, the you may want to use the deb package from the adobe site:
dpkg --install Desktop/install_flash_player_10_linux.deb
then go to synaptic and choose fix broken packages.
This may not be the best way, but it worked in my case

If you want to keep you install ‘clean’ this is how I set-up gnash before,
like in here

# apt-get remove --purge flashplugin-nonfree
# apt-get install gstreamer0.10-alsa gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mp3 gstreamer0.10-gnomevfs gstreamer0.10-plugins-base gstreamer0.10-plugins-good
# apt-get install gnash gnash-common gnash-common gnash-cygnal gnash-tools konqueror-plugin-gnash klash mozilla-plugin-gnash

restart iceweasel

install a media player.
apt-get install amarok

in order to mount ntfs drives (usb drives formated in windows)
apt-get install ntfs-3g

My eyecandy adventures took me into OpenSuse land. I’ve installed OpenSuse11. I run for a couple of weeks, missed the debian apt-get too much. I just couldn’t get used to the mess that OpenSuse seems to present as package installation process.

So I am back on Debian Lenny, with good old xfce and a nice little dock, called cairo-dock.

I am upgrading the desktop in the house and looked for “eye candy”… is 2008 after all. Although I didn’t fancy the big fat desktops (kde, gnome) and wanted to go for slightly slimmer I have tried Gnome in the process and found it a bit too slow for my machine (pentium4 2G ram). Over a weekend of looking at various eye candy packages (OpenBox, fvwm-crystal)
I saw some nice examples of Openbox implementations, but I haven’t got the time to work on the various configs.
Fvwm-Crystal was nice but I found it quite buggy and had to much crystal type add-ons that I didn’t like much.
I settled on E17 in the end, although it is more of a temporary rest place, as there are now further implementations which one has to choose.
There are a couple of distributions out there which implement E17 desktop environment. I have tried elivecd, ozos, and of course installing E17 from cvs on debian lenny.
I didn’t like elive although it might have been ok, if not for their admin console which is buggy and ugly.
Ozos is quite nice, they are getting their fundamentals right, good documentation, good forums. On the forums they appear welcoming, but I’ll see what replies I get to a couple of posts I made before making further comments.
I have tried Ozos, but at the moment some fundamental things (their update of configurations) don’t work for me. I also don’t like the ubuntu repositories.
I am therefore back to true debian land, taking advantage of Lenny being virtually stable. My aim is to have an usable e17 desktop on top of debian lenny, taking advantage of as much of OzOs goodies as I can without breaking my machine.

I’ll document here what I’ve done so far

– install debian lenny from the netinst CD, with nothing at all (deselect any package including base)

# apt-get update && apt-get upgrade
# apt-get install alsa-base alsa-utils alsa-oss xorg
# echo 'deb http://cafelinux.org/Downloads/oz-os tinwoodman main' >> /etc/apt/sources.list
# wget -q http://cafelinux.org/Downloads/oz-os/key.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -
# apt-get update
# apt-get install e17-cvs

before going any further time to do a back-up.

I use a usb drive and SystemRescueCd
it is very easy to use:

• boot the SystemRescueCd
• mount -t ext3 /dev/sdb1 (you could use gparted in the gui version – startx
• partimage (in the console) no compression is best for not so big partitions (<5G)

I have sorted my audio like in here

installed flash, mainly

cp libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/
cd /usr/lib/mozila-firefox/plugins
ln -s ../../mozilla/plugins/libflashplayer.so

a nice little add-on is itask-ng
It works well with xcompmgr

add-apt get install subversion xcompmgr

add a .desktop entry like either through new application (configuration>configuration panel>applications>new application) in E17 or manually:

gvim ~/.local/share/applicatinos/xcompmgr.desktop

(paste the code bellow)

[Desktop Entry]
Hidden=false
Name[en_US]=Xcompmgr
NoDisplay=false
Exec=xcompmgr -cCfF -r7 -o.65 -l-10 -t-8 -D7
Type=Application
Version=1.0
Categories=Settings;
StartupNotify=false
GenericName=Xcompmgr
Name=Xcompmgr
Terminal=false
Comment=Xcompmgr
Comment[en_US]=Xcompmgr
GenericName[en_US]=Xcompmgr

then it is a question of following the instructions in itask-ng logged in as your normal user (not root – at least doing the installation as root didn’t work in my case)

svn checkout http//::itask-module.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/itask-ng
cd itask-ng
./autogen.sh --with-enlightenment-config=/opt/e17/bin/enlightenment-config
make
make install


then Configuration|>System|>ItaskNg|>Load Module

then you add the actual ItaskNg on your desktop through Configuration|>EnlightenementConfiguration|>Extenstions|>ItaskNg