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VlizedLab Project

An Open Source Solution for Running PC Labs in Schools and Educational Institutions


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Subprojects: [ Vlizedlab Remote alias lab1 ]     [ Vlizedlab External alias labx ]


Overview


Most Simple Traditional Vlizedlab Installation

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The most simple way to install a Vlizedlab client is to use our install CDs, which can be burnt to an install CD or copied to a bootable USB stick by standard tools.

Basically this install media can be used on a standard PC without any further preparations and without user intervention. You will get a very basic Vlizedlab client system for testing only. Careful: Any data on the hard disk of the PC you install the Vlizedlab client on will get overwritten.


Traditional Vlizedlab Installation with Install CD

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You will use the install CDs for installing lab PCs, but prepare an environment for them, such they will work in a real lab with the adaptions necessary for practical use. For this purpose you will need a server in your network which is called the "Vlizedlab root server", that is used as a central service for the configuration of the Vlizedlab clients.

Prerequisites

We assume that you have a DHCP-service and a DNS-Service running in your network. The Vlizedlab root server must be accessible via the name "vlizedlabroot" in your network. Alternatively, your Vlizedlab Root Server can be accessible with 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, 192.168.2.1, ... or 192.168.9.1. If none of this is possible, you must "brand" your Vlizedlab clients to your root server by hand. See below.

Configuring a Vlizedlab Root Server

The Vlizedlab root server serves for maintaining the current configuration data for the Vlizedlab clients in your network. We assume, you run your Vlizedlab root server with Debian GNU/Linux. If you install a firewall, make sure your server is accessible at ports 80, 873, 3142 (and possibly 22 for ssh).

Installing and configuring an apt-cacher

Type as root:


	apt-get update
	apt-get install apt-cacher-ng
	nano /etc/apt-cacher-ng/acng.conf
Change line to:

		CacheDir: /home/cache/
Go ahead:

	mkdir -p /home/cache
	chown -Rvf apt-cacher-ng.apt-cacher-ng /home/cache
	/etc/init.d/apt-cacher-ng restart

Install a Simple Web Server

The web server is needed for distributing the configuration data to the Vlizedlab clients.

Type as root:


	apt-get install lighttpd
	nano /etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf
Change lines to:

		...	
		server.document-root        = "/home/vlizedlabroot"
		...
		server.modules += ( "mod_accesslog" )
		accesslog.filename          = "/var/log/lighttpd/access.log"
		# include_shell "/usr/share/lighttpd/include-conf-enabled.pl"
Proceed:

	mkdir -vp /home/vlizedlabroot
	/etc/init.d/lighttpd restart	

Installing and Configuring an Rsync Server

The rsync server is used for distributing the virtual PCs. In principal, this can also be done via the web server, but rsync is more efficient for this purpose. Note that there can be many hosts that distribute virtual PCs and there is no necessity to run this service at "vlizedlabroot".

Type as root:


	apt-get install rsync
	nano /etc/default/rsync
Change lines to:

		RSYNC_ENABLE=true
Procee with:

	nano /etc/rsyncd.conf
Make this file look like this:

		uid = root
		gid = root
		[vbox]
		  path = /home/vboxmachines
		  read only = yes
Procee with:

	/etc/init.d/rsync restart

Generate The GPG Key for Authenticating the Configuration at Your Vlizedlab Clients

Type as root:


	gpg --gen-key
Choose an appropriate key length (2048 or 4096), an email-address (let's call it VLIZEDLABROOT@HERE for now, but it can be any address). Choose password and expiry as you wish. You are strongly advised to keep the secret keyring at /root/.gnupg/secring.gpg very secret, at this is the key for authenticating configuration data for your Vlizedlab clients.

Proceed as root:


	gpg --armor --export VLIZEDLABROOT@HERE > /home/vlizedlabroot/configkey.asc

Create and Fill the Vlizedlab Root Config Space

In this space we maintain the configuration data for all the Vlizedlab Clients in the network.

Type as root (take this as an example, the config data can be kept at any directory):


	mkdir -vp /root/vlizedlabroot

Edit /root/vlizedlabroot/vlizedroot as such (example):


		# List of Possible vlizedroot servers. Makes search path
		vlizedlabroot
		192.168.3.1
		10.0.134.9
		root.vlizedlab.at
This is the search path for the Vlizedlab root server(s) in your network. Lines starting with # are considered to be comments.

Type:


	touch /root/vlizedlabroot/configdate
It doesn't make sense to edit this file, as we are going to overwrite it in the vlpublishconfigspace script.

Edit /root/vlizedlabroot/vmsources as such (example):


		# This is /etc/vlizedlab/vmsources
		# it defines where this vlizedlab client can get its virtual machines
		# Format is
		# method            name         source
		rsync               mysite       vlizedlabroot::vbox
		http                vlizedlab    http://download.vlizedlab.at/machines
		# for local ressources uncomment and adapt this line:
		# rsync              localdisc     /mounteddir
This is the search path for virtual PCs. E.g. the first line rsync mysite vlizedlabroot::vbox refers to the rsync server we just configured. The next line refers to the public virtual PCs at "http://download.vlizedlab.at/machines". Lines starting with # are considered to be comments.

Type:


	echo 'YourRootPasswordForTheVlizedlabClients' | mkpasswd -Hmd5 -s 
	echo 'YourStudentPasswordForTheVlizedlabClients' | mkpasswd -Hmd5 -s 
and note (copy&paste) the strings that are displayed. You will need them in the following scripts (see TheRootPWString and TheStudentPWString).

Edit /root/vlizedlabroot/postinst as such (example):


		#!/bin/bash
		echo "vlizedlab postinst script"

		######### /etc/vlizedlab/mystudentlist
		if [ ! -f /etc/vlizedlab/mystudentlist ]; then
		   echo "Writing /etc/vlizedlab/mystudentlist"
		cat > /etc/vlizedlab/mystudentlist <<EOF
		# This is /etc/vlizedlab/mystudentlist.
		# Write one PC (host name or IP) per line for every student 
		# you are responsible for.
		# Lines starting with # and blank lines are ignored. 
		# Call vlmaketeacherpc afterwards.
		# 10.1.2.3
		# 	Insert other IPs as you wish
		# 10.1.2.99
		EOF	
		fi

		######### Clients should use the apt-cacher
		cat > /etc/apt/apt.conf <<EOF
		Acquire::http::Proxy "http://vlizedlabroot:3142";
		APT::Cache-Limit "134217728";
		EOF

		######## Passwords
		# Call: 
		#      echo 'yoursecrectpassword' | mkpasswd -Hmd5 -s 
		# and patch the resulting string here
		ROOTPWSTRING='TheRootPWString'
		usermod -p "$ROOTPWSTRING" root
		STUDENTPWSTRING='TheStudentPWString'
		usermod -p "$STUDENTPWSTRING" student

Type:

	chmod a+x /root/vlizedlabroot/postinst

Create a Script for Publishing the Root Config Space

Let's call the script we are going to use vlpublishconfigspace and let's assume ~root/bin is in the path for root.

Edit ~root/bin/vlpublishconfigspace as such:

		#!/bin/bash
		VLCROOT=/root/vlizedlabroot
		# echo "MY`date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S`" > $VLCROOT/configdate
		echo "MY`date +%Y%m%d`" > $VLCROOT/configdate
		mkdir -p /root/tmp
		(
		cd $VLCROOT ; 
		tar -cvz --exclude='*.svn' -f /root/tmp/config.tar.gz *
		)
		cd /root/tmp
		if [ -f config.tar.gz.asc ]; then rm config.tar.gz.asc; fi	
		gpg -v --local-user VLIZEDLABROOT@HERE -s --armor config.tar.gz
		mv -vf config.tar.gz.asc /home/vlizedlabroot/
		rm -vf /root/tmp/config.tar.gz
and type:

	chmod a+x ~root/bin/vlpublishconfigspace

Generating and Publishing the Configuration for Our Vlizedlab Clients

As we just generated the script, we simply call


	vlpublishconfigspace

Creating/Offering Virtual PCs - The Simple Way

For offering virtual PCs that don't have special requirements, just network, sound and a (virtual) hard disk, just copy the .vdi-file of the virtual machine you may have created with Virtualbox somewhere else. Let's say we have Testmachine.vdi, type


	mkdir -p /home/vboxmachines/TestMachine
	cp whereeveritis/Testmachine.vdi /home/vboxmachines/TestMachine/TestMachine.vdi
Now we must adapt the machinelist of our server.

Edit /home/vboxmachines/machinelist as such:


		# List of Virtual Machines here
		#
		# Format is:
		# TYPE/NAME:FILELIST
		# currently vb is the only known type
		vb/TestMachine:  TestMachine.vdi
Now the TestMachine will appear in the menu of downloadable machines at the Vlizedlab clients.

Creating/Offering Virtual PCs - The Expert Way

For offering virtual PCs with special requirements, you can provide a script with vboxmanage commands to generate the virtual PC at the Vlizedlab Clients.

For example consider TestMachine2 with a mounted CD-ROM (with image blub.iso): Type


	mkdir -p /home/vboxmachines/TestMachine2
	cp whereeveritis/Testmachine2.vdi /home/vboxmachines/TestMachine2/TestMachine2.vdi
	cp whereeveritis/blub.iso /home/vboxmachines/TestMachine2/blub.iso
Now we must edit /home/vboxmachines/TestMachine2/init.sh as such:

		#!/bin/bash -x
		VERSION=2
		# PREDEFINED ARE:
		# MACHINEDIR= (e.g. /vm/vb/MyMachine)
		# MACHINE= (e.g. MyMachine)
		VBoxManage --nologo createvm --name $MACHINE --register --basefolder $MACHINEDIR
		VBoxManage --nologo modifyvm $MACHINE 	--ostype linux26
		VBoxManage --nologo modifyvm $MACHINE 	--memory 750
		VBoxManage --nologo modifyvm $MACHINE 	--vram 128
		VBoxManage --nologo modifyvm $MACHINE 	--acpi on
		VBoxManage --nologo modifyvm $MACHINE 	--ioapic on
		VBoxManage --nologo modifyvm $MACHINE 	--hwvirtex on
		VBoxManage --nologo modifyvm $MACHINE 	--bioslogofadein off
		VBoxManage --nologo modifyvm $MACHINE 	--bioslogofadeout off
		VBoxManage --nologo modifyvm $MACHINE 	--bioslogodisplaytime 1
		VBoxManage --nologo modifyvm $MACHINE 	--nic1 nat
		VBoxManage --nologo modifyvm $MACHINE 	--audio alsa

		VBoxManage --nologo storagectl    $MACHINE --name C$MACHINE \
			--add ide --controller PIIX4 --hostiocache on
		VBoxManage --nologo storageattach $MACHINE --storagectl C$MACHINE \
			--port 0 --device 0 --type hdd \
			--medium $MACHINEDIR/$MACHINE.vdi --mtype immutable
		VBoxManage --nologo storageattach $MACHINE --storagectl C$MACHINE \
			--port 1 --device 0 --type dvddrive \
			--medium $MACHINEDIR/blub.iso
And we extend /home/vboxmachines/machinelist as such:

		# List of Virtual Machines here
		#
		# Format is:
		# TYPE/NAME:FILELIST
		# currently vb is the only known type
		vb/TestMachine:  TestMachine.vdi
		vb/TestMachine2:  TestMachine2.vdi blub.iso init.sh
Now also TestMachine2 will appear in the menu of downloadable machines at the Vlizedlab clients.

Installing a Vlizedlab Client PC

With the running vlizedlabroot server, this is easy: Just download the appropriate iso from the download area and boot your client from it. The fully automated boot procedure will install the Vlizedlab client for you and will load the public key and the configuration data from your vlizedlabroot server.

Converting a Vlizedlab Client PC to a Teacher PC

Vlizedlab Teacher PC's are ordinary Vlizedlab Clients, that are given admission to control other Clients by a one-time registration at the respective Clients.

For creating a Vlizedlab teacher PC, install it as an ordinary Vlizedlab client first. Then login as root and edit /etc/vlizedlab/mystudentlist by entering every Vlizedlab client (student PC) that this teacher PC is going to control.


		# This is /etc/vlizedlab/mystudentlist.
		# Write one PC (host name or IP) per line for every student 
		# you are responsible for.
		# Lines starting with # and blank lines are ignored. 
		# Call vlregisterTeacherAtStudentPCs afterwards.
		192.168.1.10
		192.168.1.11
		192.168.1.12
		# ...

After this, call vlregisterTeacherAtStudentPCs. The machines in the list must be up and running and accessible over the network. You will be asked to enter the root password for every Vlizedlab client in the list. After this, logout from the teacher PC.

You will notice, that the Remote Maintenance Menu is accessible from the Maintanence Menu of your teacher PC.

Rebranding a Vlizedlab Client To a New Root Server

If you happen to switch a Vlizedlab client PC to a new root server, login as "root" at the client PC, edit /root/vlizedlabroot/vlizedroot appropriately and call


	vlrebrand2newrootkey
The comments from the script are self-explaining.


Traditional Vlizedlab Installation with Network Installation

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Additionally to the basic services needed for running your Vlizedlab lab room you need an installation of FAI - Fully Automated Installation at your central vlizedlab server.
See the details for installation of FAI at the FAI home page.

Copy the files in /usr/share/doc/fai-doc/examples/simple/ over to your /srv/fai/config/ directory, recursively.

Get additional files from our scripts download area - see the vlizedlabfai.tar.gz - and copy them over the existing file tree in /srv/fai/config/ .

Finish your FAI installation and network-boot your lab PCs. They should install the Vlizedlab client now.


Vlizedlab Remote Installation

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Additionally to the other services mentioned here and/or here you need a Guacamole server running on you lab server. A script system that accompanies the Guacamole server handles user accounts and access permissions.

More information to come.


Vlizedlab External Installation

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You need a Guacamole server running, but different to the Vlizedlab remote this Guacamole server can run on any machine with a publi IP Address and some DNS name pointing to it. A script system that accompanies the Guacamole server handles user accounts and access permissions.

More information to come.


Vlizedlab External Usage for Students and Teachers

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There is a special page for that.


Good luck and have fun. And if it works (or doesn't) don't hesitate to drop me an mail.