Linux at PCUG Centre: Difference between revisions

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Following closure of the PCUG Centre at Holder, most of the previous info on this page is no longer relevant. A brief summary of some has been retained, in case needed with the remaining PCUG equipment at U3A.
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 ==
== LAN/Internet ==


=== IPv6 ===
=== IPv6 ===
is not supported by peripherals at the Centre:
support by peripherals at U3A is unknown:
*IPv6 may be left enabled on your computer
*IPv6 may be left enabled on your computer
*if doing so, then preferably disable DHCP6 (temporariliy) to improve network connection speed.
*if doing so, then preferably disable DHCP6 (temporariliy) to improve network connection speed.
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=== WiFi ===
=== WiFi ===


availablity unknown
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 ===
=== 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
If connecting via a Cat5 cable, 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:
*avoid using '''static''' addressing, which is likely to either:
**be in the wrong network and not work at all or
**be in the wrong network and not work at all or
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=== Firewall Setting ===
=== Firewall Setting ===


In order to use a printers at the U3A, the firewall on your computer may need to have the Ethernet zone set to '''Trusted/Internal/Open'''
Internet access should be available after connection to the LAN is achieved
*not that the level of protection in the firewall at U3A has not been assessed

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 ==
== Mirrors ==


TBA
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 ==
== Printing ==


TBA
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 version #> 1.4.x
***CUPS on your computer must be configured to "use Printers shared by other computers"
***from URL http://localhost:631 on your computer 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 ==
== Projector ==


The projector is compatible and routinely used with Linux.
Both PCUG projectors are compatible and routinely used with Linux.

=== Cables ===
*use the HDMI cable, if your computer has a suitable socket/adaptor
*use the HDMI cable, if your computer has a suitable socket/adaptor
*otherwise use the VGA cable
*otherwise use the VGA cable
**it is usually necessary to bypass the video splitter box, which appears not to pass projector/monitor parameters the the computer
**it is usually necessary to bypass the video splitter box, which appears not to pass projector/monitor parameters the the computer
*use the remote control ofhte projector to select the input source, according to cable type
=== Settings ===
*log out and relog in to the computer after connecting the projector
*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
**in some cases it may be necessary to reboot the computer, in order for the projector to be correctly recognised
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== Scanners ==
== Scanners ==


The high resolution '''Canon''' scanner in the media room is '''not''' Linux compatible
The high resolution '''Canon''' scanner is '''not''' Linux compatible
*scans produced with it using Windows can be saved to formats which are 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.
**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 ==
== Server ==


no longer accessible to members'
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 ==
== Training PC ==


Any member may use the installed Linux on any of the training room PC
no longer have Linux installed, although should be compatible with most Live CD.
*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.


--[[User:Rpeters|Rpeters]] 12:18, 21 August 2012 (EST)
--[[User:Rpeters|Rod]] ([[User talk:Rpeters|talk]]) 16:45, 15 January 2015 (AEDT)
--[[Category:Technical Info]]
[[Category: Technical Info]]

Latest revision as of 02:58, 18 January 2015

Following closure of the PCUG Centre at Holder, most of the previous info on this page is no longer relevant. A brief summary of some has been retained, in case needed with the remaining PCUG equipment at U3A.

LAN/Internet

IPv6

support by peripherals at U3A is unknown:

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

WiFi

availablity unknown

Wired

If connecting via a Cat5 cable, 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

In order to use a printers at the U3A, the firewall on your computer may need to have the Ethernet zone set to Trusted/Internal/Open

  • not that the level of protection in the firewall at U3A has not been assessed

Mirrors

TBA

Printing

TBA

Projector

Both PCUG projectors are compatible and routinely used with Linux.

Cables

  • use the HDMI cable, if your computer has a suitable socket/adaptor
  • otherwise use the VGA cable
    • it is usually necessary to bypass the video splitter box, which appears not to pass projector/monitor parameters the the computer
  • use the remote control ofhte projector to select the input source, according to cable type

Settings

  • 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 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.

Server

no longer accessible to members'

Training PC

no longer have Linux installed, although should be compatible with most Live CD.

--Rod (talk) 16:45, 15 January 2015 (AEDT)