Troubleshooting

Linux on the Desktop

Don Vosburg
Linux Technology Specialist
Novell, Inc
dvosburg@novell.com

March 24, 2006

 Session Road Map

• Rethink your desktop troubleshooting

• Installation/Deployment
• Graphical interface problems
• Common Application issues
• Network integration
• Upgrading and patching
• Printing
• Where to find help
• Questions and answers

2 © Novell, Inc.
 Basic Assumptions

• Model for this session: Novell Linux Desktop

®

– SUSE principles carry over – YaST, SuSEConfig, etc

®

– May have application to other distro's – but that kind of

adaptation is up to you
– Will take into consideration NLD9 and SUSE Linux Enterprise
®

Desktop 10
• Comfort with Linux command line
– GUI is great for users – but CLI is essential for resolving
issues
• Establish your own best practices
– Baseline to know when something is REALLY wrong
– Preclude issues before handing the desktop off to end users
3 © Novell, Inc.
 From Community to Enterprise
openSUSE feeds the enterprise Linux offerings

Various open Linux for Hardened,

source projects enthusiasts and Secure,
individual end Supported
Rapidly growing users
in number of Certified for
projects and Technical leading
their capabilities previews and hardware and
leading edge software
Isolated, applications platforms
uncoordinated
efforts 7-year code
maintenance
guarantee

4 © Novell, Inc.
 Novell Linux Desktop 9
®

•Designed specifically to empower businesses to

leverage Linux and open source with confidence

Reliable, secure and manageable desktop for cost-

•

effective deployments
•Can be tailored for use in information kiosks, call-center
terminals, or stations

Usable as a general purpose desktop for infrequent PC

•

users

Exercise patience!
•

5 © Novell, Inc.
 Rethink Desktop Troubleshooting
• Rebooting does NOT cure all ills
– Only likely to restart the problem
– Sometimes makes it worse!
• Know the symptoms
– Break things
– Experience it for yourself
• Get the right tools
– From Windows: putty, vncviewer, WinSCP
– From Linux: ssh, vncviewer, konqueror
– YaST is your best friend
– Make friends with an expert
•
6 © Novell, Inc.
 Installation and Deployment
• Installation – complicated and sometimes troublesome
– 4-5 CD's, including service packs
– What packages do I really need?
– Partitioning the disk
• Create a network installation point
– Can be scripted to include service-packs as a single install
• Use AutoYaST to “script” installations
– XML file to answer the installation questions for you
– Start with an installed system as a template

7 © Novell, Inc.
 Deployment Issues
• Imaging programs
– Practice using the imaging programs available to you
> ZEN imaging – need ZLM7
> Ghost – v8 or above
– Open Source options
> g4l, g4u – thorough but slow
> partimage – fast but requires intervention, manual partitioning
> Clonezilla – nice server-based wrapper for partimage
– Filesystem choices affect your success
> reiserfs (the NLD default) needs to be supported
> avoid over-complication (EVMS, LVM, over-partitioning)

8 © Novell, Inc.
 What If It Won't Boot?
• Stuck at the GRUB prompt
– Usually means problems in grub or /etc/fstab
– NLD 9 does not have the YaST repair tools
> But – shares code with SLES9/OES
> Use OES Linux CD1 to run the YaST repair tool
– Beware the device assignment
> SATA controllers – supported with NLD9 SP2+
> SATA drives are hda, hdb, hdc, hdd
> IDE controllers are enumerated AFTER SATA if SATA is present –
» hde, hdf, hdg, hdh

– Know where grub files are stored

> /boot/grub and /etc/grub.conf

9 © Novell, Inc.
 Rethinking – Root is “superuser”
• “Normal” linux users do not have all power
• Keep root password secure
• root user can inadvertently cause problems
– file permissions
– accidental deletions, relocations
• Avoid logging into the GUI as root
• root's home directory kept separate
• Know how to use su
– kdesu, gnomesu
– sudo

10 © Novell, Inc.
 Recovering Lost Root Password
• Requires access to local console
• Interrupt the boot process
• Select Failsafe, and delete all listed options
• Type init=/bin/bash on the Boot line
• Remount the root partition to be read/write
– # mount -n -o rw,remount /
• Change the root password
– # passwd root
• Restart the system
– 3-fingered salute - CTL-ALT-DEL

11 © Novell, Inc.
 GUI issues

• Remember – the GUI is not the operating system

– This is one reason knowing the CLI is critical
– Simple text configuration files can be edited, replaced to solve
problems
• Know the elements of the GUI
– Display manager – gdm, kdm
– X Configuration – sax2
• Hidden files - .gnome, .gnome2, .gconf, .kde
• Display manager
– Which one and what starts it?
• Panels and menus
12 © Novell, Inc.
 If the GUI fails to load....

• All is not lost – use the command line

• CTL-ALT-F1, F2, etc
• Try loading the alternate GUI session
• Try a different user account
• Example: A common gnome issue:
– esd – sound server can prevent gnome from starting
– Kill process and disable server in control center until issues
are resolved
• Know how to switch runlevels – init 3, init 5
• Learn sax2 switches – sax2 -r -m 0=vesa

13 © Novell, Inc.
 Common Application issues
• Install applications from appropriate rpm files!
– Distribution files first
– rpm files known to be built from your distro
– Use Red Carpet/ZLM client
• I know I installed it – where did it go?
• Use /etc/skel
– Settings passed on to new users
• OpenOffice: file formats, font choices
• Firefox: plugins/extensions, themes
• Hidden files
– .ooo-org1-1, .ooo-org2, .mozilla, etc
•
14 © Novell, Inc.
 Network integration

• How do network interfaces work?

– /etc/sysconfig/network
– yast lan
– NetworkManager in Code 10 desktop
• Linux in a Windows World - samba
• Connecting to a Novell-server (NCP) network
– Use the Novell Client for Windows
• “mapped” connections
• Beware security risk of storing clear-text authentication

15 © Novell, Inc.
 Upgrading and patching

• Use Red Carpet/ZENworks Linux Management client

®

– Discipline results in clean RPM database

• Always test first
– Not all RPM's are created equal
• Lock the applications you customize
– Prevents inadvertent updating/breaking
• Manage the process
– Use your own ZLM server – SO COOL!

16 © Novell, Inc.
 Printing and Linux desktop

• Local print “server”

– CUPS – rights to CUPS can break
– filtering – printer definitions
• Centralize when you can
– iPrint – beware the “high security” default
– LPR/LPD
– Samba/Windows server print shares
• Set default printer
• Use supported printers, or get access to PPD files

17 © Novell, Inc.
 Where to find help

• Novell CoolSolutions
®

– http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/nld/
• Package search site:
– http://rpm.pbone.net
• Forums at Novell
– http://support.novell.com/forums/2nld.html
• NLD deployment guide
– http://www.novell.com/documentation/nld/pdfdoc/nld_deploym
ent/nld_deployment.pdf

18 © Novell, Inc.
Questions & Answers
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