Handbook
From Calculate Linux | Gentoo-based distribution and livecd
Contents |
Thanks for use Calculate Linux!
Hello user, We have tried to collect the most convenient system for your work, using the most exciting opportunities which are in the Portage package management system of project Gentoo Linux. The system is distributed by an installation which includes the best software packages. Most programs are free software, allowing to install, distibute and modify an initial code.
Aspire to be compatible to the original Gentoo, Calculate Linux offers the series of decisions which help to get a working system, making a minimum efforts from your side:
Calculate Linux is based on a system management utility - Calculate. With this program you can install the system, but else modify the liveCD by changing the software composition or build your own Linux from scratch. For system building uses the package manager Portage. Calculate helps you install system and make settings.
All support softwares install from Calculate Overlay. Connecting the overlay, you can use all the experience of Calculate Linux.
Desktop version of the system has a unique design, the most easy work with system. Server - server management utilities that integrate with LDAP services such as Samba, Mail, FTP, Jabber and Proxy via the UNIX-like commands: cl-useradd, cl-userdel, cl-usermod, cl-passwd etc.
By changing your Windows server to Calculate Directory Server, and you can perform a gradual transfer of jobs to Calculate Linux Desktop. Set up an account on the server, a Linux user can get access to shared files Windows users, using a single account, and carry profile settings of Linux desktop.
The monthly cycle of new system version release, simplicity of update, easy administration - these are just some advantages of system based on Gentoo.
Network Configuration
For the network configuration in Calculate Linux Desktop we have - Wicd Manager. The program has a graphical interface through which you can set up both wired and wireless network. Wicd tries to raise the network interface and obtain an IP address from a DHCP server during download. You can run the program using the icon in the right top corner of the screen. You can get access to wicd from the console, having typed wicd-curses. The network configuration in the Calculate Directory Server and Calculate Linux Scratch makes through the configuration file /etc/conf.d/net. You can see the settings description for this file in the following examples - /usr/share/doc/openrc/net.example.
Partitioning a disk
The easiest way to install the system is using the autopartition function. If you plan to use the Calculate Linux together with another systems, may be you will need to divide your hard disk and allocate there the place for installation
Calculate Linux can be installed in one section, with capacity more than 6 GB for KDE version and not less than 3 Gb for XFCE. As a rule, you need to make a swap partition with capacity approximately equal to the amount of RAM will be optimum. If you are already having a swap, you need not create again. Good to have a separate partition for personal files (home).
To view a list of available sections, open the console/terminal as root user and type:
fdisk -l
If you've never used Linux before, you will need some time to get used to the name of sections in the form of sda1, sda2,... instead of the usual C:, D:. but you will learn these things pretty fast.
If you have no experience with the program fdisk or cfdisk, try to use already prepared section, which you can create from Windows. Try to identify it correctly, based on its sequence,location and size. Typically drive D: corresponds to sda2, drive C: respectively sda3.
Installation
The programm Calculate is responsible for system installation. If you try installing "Calculate" without passing parameters, the program will ask you to specify the partition for installation of system. Calculate can make a disk partition, only if you are willing to allocate the entire hard drive for the system. Otherwise, you should either use the fdisk or cfdisk for partitioning a drive at its own discretion. To install the system it is desirable to use 10 GB of disk space, but really the requests can be less.
Please note that if you are going to install Calculate Linux in Virtual Box, it would need to point about 1 GB of RAM, otherwise the installation may hang suspending the virtual machine. But this in no way have a relation to the memory requirements to install it on real hardware. For Real installation you wont need that much resource.
So, to install in to second section of hard disk, you can simply do:
calculate -d /dev/sda2
( the number that comes after 'sda' shows the number of the partition. you may change it to sda1 or sda3 according to your convenience. Usually, after executing 'calculate -d /dev/sda2', Calculate is installed and don't need any user interference. but if you wish to set parameters manually, details are given below )
by the end of execution of calculate -d /dev/sda2, you will be asked to register a password. that is your root password. dont forget and pick a nice password. you will be needing it to the end.
for installation on the hard disk and removing the old data:
calculate -d /dev/sda
The program develops the stage4 system image and implements a system configuration files via the profile settings. In fact they are the same configuration files containing variable programs. Calculate identifies the type of equipment and fills these variables by values. You can view a list of variables make "calculate -v". The values of variables that you can change are marked in the list of flag [w], variables are read-only labeled [r]. To change the values of variables, use the option --set-variable_name.
List of most frequently used options, the installation
--set-format=reiserfs (ext4, ext3, ext2, jfs, xfs) - format of the file system;
--set-hostname=linux - the network computer name (the default is 'calculate');
--set-mbr=off - do not modify the MBR during the installation (set to 'off', if you want to use your loader);
--set-composite=on|off - the inclusion of a composite mode (the desktop effects).
More options
--set-video_resolution=1280x1024 (1024x768, 1152x864, 1280x800 и т.д.) - the screen resolution (true if the current screen resolution you are not satisfied);
--set-erase=off - does not comply with the formatting of this section before you install (use if unsure).
--set-march=i686 (x86_64) - set the distribution to 32 or 64-bit processor architecture (true, if you're upgrading a system from the hard disk);
The installation on the Flash-drive
At installation of system you can specify device USB-Flash and system will be established on yours Flash-drive. An example:
calculate-d/dev/sdb
Pay attention, the flash-drive it will be formatted in file system FAT32 during the installation. Before installation necessarily keep all data. In the next example the flash-drive is specified as a disk sdb. Whether to learn that it is a disk, will execute a command fdisk-l to look all accessible devices and sections. If your flash-drive was defined as ssd disk, you can add parametre:
- set-type=flash - to change carrier type on the Flash
The first run
After installation, you will have two users in the system: root and guest. Access to graphic conversation can get only the user guest. Use the username 'guest' with password 'guest' to login.
Username = guest Password = guest
you can change the password after logging-in. use the command 'passwd' in terminal to do that.
For user 'root', use the command "su". The users creation describes in detail on projects site.
Once you type 'su' in terminal window, you will be asked for password. enter the password that you have registered by the end of installation procedure. that is, by the end of execution of calculate -d /dev/sda2, you will be asked to register a password. that is your root password.
To create additional user than 'guest' and 'root', type the following command in terminal as 'root' (type 'su' and your root password to be root)
/usr/sbin/useradd --groups wheel,audio,cdrom,video,cdrw,usb,plugdev,games login
('login' at the end of command is for example only. you can enter your name or any word you wish in place of 'login' in that command and that will be the user name)
following that type
/bin/passwd login
(here substitute 'login' with the password you want to set. re-enter to finish)
now you can login using the newly created user name and password.
In default you can enter to the system distantly, using ssh only by root-user. Also, you can add another users through the gap or change the root-user by correcting the AllowUsers parameter for /etc/ssh/sshd_config file.
Update
You can update the system virtually unlimited times, using Portage Manager installation programs emerge. To start the update Portage and Calculate Overlay run:
eix-sync
If you use the Calculate Linux Desktop XFCE, with the first update Portage, make:
emerge-webrsync
After that, you can upgrade existing or install new versions of programs, using emerge.
Every month Calculate Linux Desktop is updated. If you've used the autopartition drive function during the installation or you have a free second section more than 6 GB, you can download the ISO file system into the directory /usr/calculate/share/linux and upgrade:
calculate -d /dev/sdaX
here instead sdaX use the free partition for install.
Most of the current system settings like users accounts, network settings, mounting points, screen resolution and etc. will be carried over in the new system.
Help
If you are installing the system and having doubts or other technical difficulties, or you want to share your experience, come to the IRC channel #calculate @freenode.net Calculate Linux community.
Just click on 'Xchat' icon on your desktop from your Live CD/DVD and you will reach on '#calculate' channel and you will definitely get help from us.
Feel free to contact us.
Project site http://www.calculate-linux.org
Forum: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/calculate-89/
Dispatch: http://groups.google.com/group/calculatelinux-en
IRC chat: http://irc.calculate-linux.ru
Good Luck!
Calculate Linux team.