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Newer page: version 3 Last edited on Sunday, November 28, 2004 1:01:26 am by AristotlePagaltzis
Older page: version 2 Last edited on Friday, June 7, 2002 1:07:19 am by perry Revert
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-GNU/Linux Post-Installation Checklist  
-!!!GNU/Linux Post-Installation Checklist  
-!!Defying Murphy's Laws  
-! Algologic Research 8 Solutions  
-  
-  
- algolog (at) hd1.vsnl.net.in  
-  
-  
-  
-__Revision History__Revision 1.02001-06-12Revised by: Initial release using docbook sgml.  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-  
- This document provides a checklist for steps you should take  
-immediately after installing GNU/Linux. These steps will save you  
-a lot of bother if you encounter any problems later on. This  
-document also includes a shell script for automating the post  
-installation process.  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-----; __Table of Contents__; 1. Introduction: ; 1.1. Copyright Information; 1.2. Disclaimer; 1.3. Feedback; 2. Post-Installation Steps; 3. Shell script: ; 3.1. The script...  
-!!!1. Introduction  
-  
- You have just completed installing your own Linux system. You  
-have just made an upgrade to your existing Linux system. You are  
-happy with the first few checkouts and usage experience. You  
-want to make sure you will enjoy this system in spite of any  
-damage which may occur later because of any unexpected "faux  
-pas".  
-  
-  
-  
-  
- It is a good idea to keep a snapshot of the new system, so that  
-you can be assured that in the event of any misfortune with your  
-Linux installation, you can always recover without any permanent  
-damage. This checklist will help you with precautionary steps  
-you must take, as soon as you complete installation of Linux. It  
-is a sequel to the GNU/Linux  
-pre-installation checklist, and a companion to the official  
-Linux Installation HOWTO.  
-This checklist also contains a Section 3 which will  
-automate the process of making a snapshot of your system.  
-  
-  
-----  
-!!1.1. Copyright Information  
-  
- This document is copyrighted (c) 2001  
-Algologic Research 8 Solutions  
-and is distributed under the terms of the Linux Documentation Project  
-(LDP) license, stated below.  
-  
-  
-  
-  
- Unless otherwise stated, Linux HOWTO documents are  
-copyrighted by their respective authors. Linux HOWTO documents may  
-be reproduced and distributed in whole or in part, in any medium  
-physical or electronic, as long as this copyright notice is  
-retained on all copies. Commercial redistribution is allowed and  
-encouraged; however, the author would like to be notified of any  
-such distributions.  
-  
-  
-  
-  
- All translations, derivative works, or aggregate works  
-incorporating any Linux HOWTO documents must be covered under this  
-copyright notice. That is, you may not produce a derivative work  
-from a HOWTO and impose additional restrictions on its  
-distribution. Exceptions to these rules may be granted under  
-certain conditions; please contact the Linux HOWTO coordinator at  
-the address given below.  
-  
-  
-  
-  
- In short, we wish to promote dissemination of this  
-information through as many channels as possible. However, we do  
-wish to retain copyright on the HOWTO documents, and would like to  
-be notified of any plans to redistribute the HOWTOs.  
-  
-  
-  
-  
- If you have any questions, please contact  
-`linux-howto@metalab.unc.edub  
-  
-  
-----  
-!!1.2. Disclaimer  
-  
- No liability for the contents of this documents can be accepted.  
-Use the concepts, examples and other content at your own risk.  
-As this is a new edition of this document, there may be errors  
-and inaccuracies, that may of course be damaging to your system.  
-Proceed with caution, and although this is highly unlikely,  
-the author(s) do not take any responsibility for that.  
-  
-  
-  
-  
- All copyrights are held by their respective owners, unless  
-specifically noted otherwise. Use of a term in this document  
-should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark  
-or service mark.  
-  
-  
-  
-  
- Naming of particular products or brands should not be seen  
-as endorsements.  
-  
-  
-  
-  
- You are strongly recommended to make a backup of your system  
-before major installation and continue to do so at regular intervals.  
-  
-  
-----  
-!!1.3. Feedback  
-  
- This document and the Section 3 are  
-continuously updated. Make sure you are referring to the  
-latest version of this document, by visiting the  
-Linux  
-post-install site frequently.  
-Email `algolog@hd1.vsnl.net.inb with your  
-feedback and suggestions.  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-__Note: __ We do NOT answer general queries on Linux. If you want  
-professional (PAID) help with Linux -- ask Algologic. You may  
-also visit our home page : Algologic Research 8 Solutions.  
-  
-  
-----  
-!!!2. Post-Installation Steps  
-  
-To enjoy your new Linux installation forever without any worries, it is  
-important to take a few simple precautions. You must do these as soon  
-as you complete installing Linux on your machine for the first time.  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-#  
-  
-Create a  
-boot  
-diskette and a ''rescue diskette''.  
-Utilities for creating these diskettes are available along with  
-your Linux distribution.  
-  
-  
-#  
-#  
-  
-If you are the paranoid type (like me), you  
-can make two copies of each of these diskettes. Diskettes are  
-notorious for failing when they are most needed.  
-  
-  
-#  
-#  
-  
-''Test out your boot diskette''.  
-Make sure you can boot into Linux using the boot diskette. Remember  
-Murphy's Laws may strike at you just when you least expect.  
-  
-  
-#  
-#  
-  
-Checkout thoroughly your new system. Try all major packages.  
-  
-  
-#  
-#  
-  
-Try out the X windows system, and the desktop, and  
-the windows manager, if you have installed these.  
-  
-  
-#  
-#  
-  
-Try out the connection to your LAN, and to the Internet.  
-  
-  
-#  
-#  
-  
-Create at least one "non-root" account, for  
-testing and debugging your installation. Perform ALL the above  
-checkouts once again, using the non-root account you created.  
-  
-  
-#  
-#  
-  
-Join a local Linux Users Group (LUG). You must  
-find out if there is a LUG close by. If there is none, start an  
-informal LUG yourself, in your neighbourhood, your campus, your city,  
-or your town.  
-  
-  
-#  
-#  
-  
-Join one or more  
-mailing  
-lists for Linux updates and news. There are literally hundreds of  
-them.  
-  
-  
-#  
-#  
-  
- Register yourself and your machine in the worldwide  
-Linux Users Counter.  
-  
-  
-#  
-#  
-  
-''And finally...''Download the  
-Section 3 and run it. Make a safe copy (on a removable  
-medium) of the directory: /root/postinfo which  
-the script will create. You may also like to make a printout of the  
-summary report /root/postinfo/summary created by  
-the shell script.  
-  
-  
-#  
-#  
-  
-You must run this shell script: as soon as you have  
-installed Linux for the first time, and after every major revision or  
-upgrade to your Linux system. You can also set up the script as a  
-cron job, so that it runs itself periodically and automatically. This  
-will avoid you a lost of hassles later, in case something gets messed  
-up later.  
-  
-  
-#----  
-!!!3. Shell script  
-  
-The shell script (shivalik Ver. 1.) is a convenient way to make  
-backups of essential files and information. After downloading the  
-script:  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-*  
-  
-Make sure that you have logged in as "root"  
-  
-  
-*  
-*  
-  
-Save the script in a directory with "root" permissions,  
-say /root/myscript  
-  
-  
-*  
-*  
-  
-Change to that directory i.e. __cd /root/myscript__  
-use gunzip to unzip the script i.e __gunzip ./shivalik.gz__  
-  
-  
-*  
-*  
-  
-  
-  
-__IMPORTANT: __You must read the warning given at the end of the  
-script. Proceed with the next steps, only if you agree to the  
-conditions specified in the warning...  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-*  
-*  
-  
-To execute the script: You must make the script executable (by root  
-only) __chmod 700 ./shivalik__  
-  
-  
-*  
-*  
-  
-Verify that the paths of the various files which are to be saved, are  
-correct and conform to your installation.  
-  
-  
-*  
-*  
-  
-You can execute the script correctly only if you are "root" (many  
-of the files being saved need root permissions).  
-  
-  
-*  
-  
- Now you can execute (run) the above script (remember you must be  
-"root", to do this) -- type __./shivalik__  
-  
-  
-  
- The script is profusely documented. It does not modify (or  
-delete) any of your files or directories. It creates a  
-well-protected backup of some essential files and information.  
-The entire script is available for you to browse and understand  
-its working. Feel free to go through the script and add any  
-additional features, or files which you wish to be backed up.  
-You may also send your feedback to the author of this  
-script (`algolog@hd1.vsnl.net.inb).  
-  
-  
-  
- Remember, the __shivalik__ script is not a tool  
-for complete backup and recovery. Ideally, the best thing to do  
-would be to make a verbatim copy of your entire Linux  
-installation along with all files and directories. This is not  
-always possible, necessary, or advisable. The next best thing  
-would be to take a backup of the most essential information and  
-files. The __shivalik__ script achieves this for  
-you. The script creates a directory called  
-/root/postinfo/, and stores all essential  
-information (and files) there. To be absolutely prepared for any  
-eventuality, you must copy the entire  
-/root/postinfo/ on a removable medium, as  
-soon as the script is executed.  
-  
-  
-  
-''Recovery and Repair:'' In the  
-event of any problems later, you can reconstruct the  
-damaged files by copying the files you have backed up in the  
-/root/postinfo/ directory. It is as simple  
-as that.  
-  
-  
-  
- The structure of the /root/postinfo/ directory,  
-and files found within, will be as follows:  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-  
-; /root/postinfo/summary:  
-  
-Contains a summary report of the status of your system (memory,  
-partitions, mount points, disk usage). This file also has the list of  
-files which have been saved. It also contains admin info like date  
-and time of backup, shivalik version number etc.  
-  
-; /root/postinfo/postinfo.tar.gz:  
-  
-Contains a copy of the earlier postinfo (if any). This is a fall  
-back to a fall back!  
-  
-; /root/postinfo/snapshot.gz:  
-  
-Contains a gzipped structured listing of ''ALL''  
-files and directories of your Linux system (the directories "tree").  
-You can unzip this file and use any plain text editor to know the  
-location of any file. Of course, you cannot retrieve the contents of  
-that file unless you had saved it explicitly elsewhere.  
-  
-; /root/postinfo/shivalik:  
-  
-This is a copy of the shivalik script which was used for making the  
-post install backup. At the time of recovery after an incident, you  
-can always examine this script to know how the backup was done  
-earlier. You will always have a consistent copy of the script and the  
-files created by the script.  
-  
-; /root/postinfo/etcfiles/:  
-  
-This ''subdirectory'' contains a copy of many  
-essential files from the /etc/ directory of your  
-Linux installation. It also contains copies of the various  
-configuration files stored in the /etc/  
-directory.  
-  
-; /root/postinfo/otherfiles/:  
-  
-This ''subdirectory'' contains a copy of some  
-essential files (those which are not in the  
-/etc/ directory) of your Linux installation. If  
-you want, you can add any other files here, and get it saved  
-automatically with others.  
-  
-----  
-!!3.1. The script...  
-  
-  
-#-----------------------------------------------  
-# shivalik \(Ver. 1.\)  
-#Please read the WARNING section of this script first  
-#This script collects post installation information  
-#this can also be run occasionally to collect all useful  
-#information about your Linux installation, in one place  
-#The output will be written to /root/postinfo/  
-#a summary report will be written in /root/postinfo/summary  
-#For usage and related information, please consult:  
-#http://algolog.tripod.com/postlnx.htm  
-# ----------------------------------------------  
-clear  
-echo  
-echo "-----------------------------------------------------------"  
-echo This is the output of Partha\'s shivalik script \(Ver.1.\)  
-echo You must be \"root\", for this script to work correctly  
-echo You must also read and accept the terms and warnings given  
-echo in the WARNINGS section of this script  
-echo "-----------------------------------------------------------"  
-echo  
-echo "### STEP 0 ### Preparation work"  
-echo First we create the /root/postinfo/ directory if does not exist already  
-test ! -d /root/postinfo 88 mkdir /root/postinfo  
-echo Saving current version of all postinfo files  
-echo But first we delete the earlier version i.e. current-1 version  
-test -e /root/postinfo/oldpostinfo* 88 rm /root/postinfo/oldpostinfo.tar.gz  
-#the oldpostinfo file is made temporarily in /root  
-#it will be moved to /root/postinfo  
-tar -zcvf /root/oldpostinfo.tar.gz /root/postinfo/*  
-#check if above tar succeeded  
-if  
-test -s /root/oldpostinfo.tar.gz  
-then  
-echo old postinfo saved in /root/oldpostinfo.tar.gz  
-ls -l /root/oldpostinfo*  
-else  
-echo Could not save oldpostinfo  
-echo Abandoning shivalik script  
-exit  
-fi  
-#now delete all the current postinfofiles  
-rm -rf /root/postinfo/*  
-#and start a new summary file  
-echo shivalik \(Ver. 1.\) b /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo -n "Report created on: " bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-date -R bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo And now, move the oldpostinfo file to /root/postinfo/ directory  
-mv /root/oldpostinfo.tar.gz /root/postinfo  
-#  
-#copy the shivalik script  
-echo charity begins at home  
-echo We make a copy of the shivalik script  
-echo We make a copy of the shivalik script bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo in /root/postinfo/ bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-cp ./shivalik /root/postinfo/shivalik  
-#taking stock  
-echo  
-echo Contents of /root/postinfo at the end of STEP-  
-ls -AlR /root/postinfo  
-echo End of "### STEP 0 ###  
-echo  
-#  
-#  
-echo  
-echo "### STEP 1 ### Make a snapshot of the system"  
-echo bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo "### STEP 1 ### A snapshot of all the files and directories" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo The first step is to take stock of your computer contents  
-echo This is going to take several minutes  
-echo So, go and fetch your coffee mug !  
-ls -AlRH / bb /root/postinfo/snapshot  
-rm -f /root/postinfo/snapshot.gz  
-gzip /root/postinfo/snapshot  
-echo snapshot created  
-echo An exhaustive listing of all files has been made and bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo stored in /root/postinfo/snapshot.gz bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-ls -l /root/postinfo/snapshot.gz bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-# taking stock at the end of this step  
-echo  
-echo Contents of /root/postinfo at the end of this STEP  
-ls -l /root/postinfo  
-echo End of "### STEP 1 ###  
-echo  
-#  
-#  
-echo  
-echo "### STEP 2 ### Vital statistics"  
-echo bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo "### STEP 2 ### Vital statistics" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo Collecting vital statistics  
-echo .....about memory  
-echo "---- cat /proc/meminfo ---------" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-cat /proc/meminfo bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo .....about partitions and mountpoints  
-echo "---- cat /proc/partitions---------" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-cat /proc/partitions bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo .....about diskspace used  
-echo "---- df ---------" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-df bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo .....about modules  
-echo "---- cat /proc/modules ---------" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-cat /proc/modules bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-# taking stock at the end of this step  
-echo  
-echo Contents of /root/postinfo at the end of STEP-2  
-ls -AlR /root/postinfo  
-echo End of "### STEP 2 ###  
-echo  
-#  
-#  
-echo  
-echo "### STEP 3 ### Now we save some important files from /etc "  
-echo This section may need some customising, depending on the  
-echo installation you have done, and the distribution you have used,  
-echo and the options you have chosen during installation.  
-echo bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo "### STEP 3 ### Now we save some important files from /etc" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-test ! -d /root/postinfo/etcfiles 88 mkdir /root/postinfo/etcfiles  
-echo ..... saving XF86Config -- your XWindows config file  
-cp /etc/XF86Config /root/postinfo/etcfiles  
-echo "cp /etc/XF86Config /root/postinfo/" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo ..... saving /etc/fstab file  
-cp /etc/fstab /root/postinfo/etcfiles  
-echo "cp /etc/fstab /root/postinfo/" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo ..... saving /etc/profile file  
-cp /etc/profile /root/postinfo/etcfiles  
-echo "cp /etc/profile /root/postinfo/" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo ..... saving /etc/profile.local file  
-cp /etc/profile.local /root/postinfo/etcfiles  
-echo "cp /etc/profile.local /root/postinfo/" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo ".... saving /etc/*conf files"  
-cp /etc/*conf /root/postinfo/etcfiles  
-echo ".... saving /etc/*config files"  
-cp /etc/*config /root/postinfo/etcfiles  
-echo the following files from /etc have been copied to /root/postinfo/etcfiles bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo "/etc/*conf" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo "/etc/*config" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-# taking stock at the end of this step  
-echo  
-echo Contents of /root/postinfo at the end of this STEP-3  
-ls -AlR /root/postinfo  
-echo End of "### STEP 3 ###  
-echo  
-#  
-#  
-echo  
-echo "### STEP 4 ### Now we save some other important files"  
-echo This section may need some customising, depending on the  
-echo installation you have done, and the distribution you have used,  
-echo and the options you have chosen for the installation  
-echo The following stuff is designed for !SuSe 7.1  
-echo "### STEP 4 ### Now we save some other important files" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo in /root/postinfo/otherfiles bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo You can add any other files to backed up, here  
-test ! -d /root/postinfo/otherfiles 88 mkdir /root/postinfo/otherfiles  
-ls -l /root/postinfo/  
-echo ..... saving /etc/init.d/boot.local --  
-cp /etc/init.d/boot.local /root/postinfo/otherfiles  
-echo "cp /etc/init.d/boot.local /root/postinfo/otherfiles" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo ..... saving /etc/init.d/halt.local --  
-cp /etc/init.d/halt.local /root/postinfo/otherfiles  
-echo "cp /etc/init.d/halt.local /root/postinfo/otherfiles" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-# taking stock at the end of this step  
-echo  
-echo Contents of /root/postinfo at the end of this STEP-4  
-ls -AlR /root/postinfo  
-echo End of "### STEP 4 ###  
-echo  
-echo  
-echo "### STEP 999 ### Wrap up, clean up"  
-echo bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo "### STEP 999 ### Wrap up, clean up, sum up" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo summing up, cleaning up  
-# for security reasons we make /root/postinfo inaccessible to  
-# and invisible to non-root  
-chmod 700 /root/postinfo  
-chmod 700 /root/postinfo/etcfiles  
-chmod 700 /root/postinfo/otherfiles  
-chmod 700 /root/postinfo/*  
-chmod 700 /root/postinfo/etcfiles/*  
-chmod 700 /root/postinfo/otherfiles/*  
-echo This is the contents of /root/postinfo bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-ls -AlR /root/postinfo bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo "###### THE END #####" bb /root/postinfo/summary  
-# taking stock at the end of this step  
-echo  
-echo Contents of /root/postinfo at the end of this STEP-999  
-ls -AlR /root/postinfo  
-echo End of "### STEP 999 ###"  
-echo  
-echo "###### THE END #####"  
-echo IMPORTANT: You must now copy all the files in /root/postinfo  
-echo to a safe location, preferably on a different drive or on  
-echo a removable backup medium.  
-echo " "  
-echo You will find a summary report of this procedure, in  
-echo /root/postinfo/summary  
-echo You will find the earlier version of summary \(if any\)  
-echo inside /root/postinfo/oldpostinfo.tar.gz  
-echo " "  
-#  
-echo "  
-#---------------------------------------------------------  
-# WARNING WARNING WARNING  
-# shivalik (ver. 1.)  
-# This script is being made accessible to you without any  
-# warranties or assurances about its performance or  
-# usability for any purpose. Be informed that you are using  
-# this script out of your own initiative and willingness,  
-# and at your own risk and peril.  
-# You will find the latest version of this script, and related  
-# information at: http://algolog.tripod.com/postlnx.htm  
-# Copyrights and all rights reserved by:  
-# Dr. S. Parthasarathy (algolog@hd1.vsnl.net .in)  
-#--------------------------------------------------------  
-"  
+Describe [HowToPostInstallationChecklist] here.