Useful Links:

http://www.kernel.org -- web site for the Linux Kernel
http://www.debian.org -- web site for the Distribution
http://www.tldp.org -- The Linux Documentation project

Man pages:
lilo -- linux boot loader
minicom -- serial console terminal emulator

Getting Started:

1. How do I connect to my assigned machine?

2. What is the status of my assigned machine?

3. How do I reboot my assigned machine?

Using the VOSLAB machines:

(Updated 9/23/04)

1. How do I use the serial console terminal emulator (minicom)?

2. How do I setup LILO to boot my kernel?

Coming Soon!!!

3. How can I copy files to/from my assigned machine?

    You can use scp, ftp clients, and http clients from the voslab machines to download from and upload to remote servers.

4. How do I view the partition table on my assigned machine?

    The simplest method is to run "/sbin/sfdisk -l /dev/hda".

    Here is the current layout.

5.  Is there any unused disk space available on my assigned machine?

    Yes.  The unused portion of the disk can be found after /dev/hda10.  There is approximately 4GB of unused disk.  This has been set aside for projects involving filesystems

6.  What do I need to include (modules, drivers) when I compile a kernel?

    The config file for default kernel running on the voslab clients is /config-2.4.24. This file is available on all of the client machines.

    You can also get a copy here: config-2.4.24

Getting Help:

1. I've really broken my machine.  How long do I have to wait for a rebuild?
 
    You can usually expect the machine to be restored to it's "original" state within 24 hours during the week.   Requests made after 5pm on Fridays will be handled the following Monday.


2. I'm really stuck.  Where can I ask questions?
   
    a.  Your instructor
    b.  Your TA
    c.  

Background:

1. What is DCS?

     The Department of Computer Science.  See http://www.cs.rutgers.edu .

2. What is LCSR?

    The Laboratory for Computer Science Research (LCSR) was established as a separate unit of the Center for Mathematical Sciences Research in June, 1977. The main objective of LCSR is to provide a focus for computer science research in the University, and a base for the support functions that are needed for this research: administrative, technical and clerical support and appropriate computer and communication/networking facilities.
    The VOSLAB is designed to allow students to experiment with various aspects of operating systems in a "safe" environment.  The machines are located on a private network that is behind a NAT.  Access to the machines is controlled by a gateway machine that provides access to the individual machines.  Users log in with their NETID (username) and their CS UNIX password and are assigned to their machine based on their group.

    Along with network access to the machines, we provide the student with power control and console access through serial connections.  The power control allows a user to remotely power a machine on and off in the event of problems that may hang a machine.  The serial console access allows the user to diagnose problems that may have occurred during boot.

    The current version of the VOSLAB consists of 23 Dell PowerEdge 650 servers running Debian Linux 3.0.  The current linux kernel version on the machines is 2.4.24.  The gateway machine is a Dell PowerEdge 1750 running Fedora Core 2.  Serial console access is provided by a Cyclades Cyclom-Y card installed in the gateway machine.  This card is connected to an external box that provides 32 serial connections.  A Cisco 2950XL switch is used for the private network. 

Technical Details