Linux at PCUG Centre

The intention of this page is to provide a brief summary of settings that will enable the network and equipment at PCUG Centre to work with member's Linux computers. Similar settings should also work with Android devices, ChomeOS & MacOSX, but the author has no means of testing that. Most of these settings can be implemented by novice users.

LAN/Internet

IPv6

is not supported by peripherals at the Centre:

• IPv6 may be left enabled on your computer
• if doing so, then preferably disable DHCP6 (temporariliy) to improve network connection speed.

WiFi

Use the settings that are available from the Staffer at the Centre

Your computer's WiFi must be configured to use WPA2 or WPA security. Older verions of the latter might not work.

Wired

If connecting via the Cat5 cable in the Multi-media room, then a network configuration of DHCP or obtain address automatically should provide access to the LAN and Internet

• avoid using static addressing, which is likely to either:
  • be in the wrong network and not work at all or
  • clash with other addresses on the LAN

Firewall Setting

Internet access should be available after connection to the LAN is achieved

In order to use the file server and printers at the Centre, the firewall on your computer may need to have the Ethernet zone set to Trusted/Internal/Open

• the firewall in the Internet Gateway at the Centre should provide adequate protection in this mode

Mirrors

Please use the mirror:

http://mirror.internode.on.net/pub

if possible. This is an unmetered download to PCUG Centre, at all times of day.

Printing

Both Lexmark printers in the main room are supported. Finding a suitable driver for the T632 may not be intuitive:

• some implementations of CUPS do not include a driver explicitly for the T632
  • it may variously be described as Optra T632, Optra C 632, T632 etc
  • the driver for a T640 model will provide adequate functionality
• set as a "network printer"
  • Appsocket/Jetdirect protocol works
  • IP address of the printer should be found automatically by CUPS
  • use port 9100
• verify the settings for default options
  • tray1 & A4 paper are correct, but some distro of US origin may default to Letter size paper

Alternatively, Linux can print to the above printer without having a driver installed on your computer:

• Train04 must be booted to PCLinuxOS to provide network printing capablility
  • for this mode to work, CUPS on your computer must be configured to "use Printers shared by other computers"
  • from URL http://localhost:631 go to the Administration tab to set this mode
• then simply select the lex632 printer from the print menu of your application
  • it is often necessary to restart an application eg OpenOffice, Firefox etc, before it will recognize printers that have recently become visible on the network
  • see the article Network Printing via CUPS in this wiki, for further guidance and troubleshooting

Projector

The projector is compatible and routinely used with Linux.

• it is usually necessary to bypass the video splitter box, which appears not to pass projector/monitor parameters the the computer
• log out and relog in to the computer after connecting the projector
  • in some cases it may be necessary to reboot the computer, in order for the projector to be correctly recognised
  • most notebooks/netbooks require that the output to the projector be configured as a second "monitor"
• see the article Using an External Display or Projector with a Notebook in this wiki, for further guidance and troubleshooting

Scanners

The high resolution Canon scanner in the media room is not Linux compatible

• scans produced with it using Windows can be saved to formats which are Linux compatible
  • lossless formats such as TIFF, PNG or PNM may be the best choice for images that are to be enhanced.

A set of Canonscan D660U entry level scanners are held in the store room and may be deployed by the Training Co-ordinator, for courses. These do have a SANE backend, but are slow and suitable mainly for training purposes.

Server

The server has plenty of disk space for member use, but this is accessible only via Windows SMB network. In order to access from Linux, an SMB client must be installed and configured on any Linux computer. YMMV with different Linuxes.

• openSUSE
  • usually configured by default - file managers should find the only SMB domain deployed at the Centre - if not
  • from Yast, select Network Services, then Samba Client. The default Samba settings usually suffice for access to a Windows server
• 'buntu & derivatives
  • TBA

Training PC

Any member may use the installed Linux on any of the training room PC

• please inform the staffer of your intended use

Only open source Linux software is installed or stored on these computers. It may be copied by members.

--Rpeters 04:36, 21 April 2012 (UTC) --