Your objectives are

1. To set up a virtual server using VirtualBox on your Fedora machine.
2. To prepare for a network install of CentOS 5.3 on your other box.

Part 1: Virtual Installation

Since you did a yum update last class, it would be a good idea to reboot since you have a new kernel and VirtualBox needs to be compiled and run against that new kernel.

You also likely need to install gcc, make, and kernel-devel, although some of you may have already some of or all of these packages installed.

You can retrieve the latest version of VirtualBox (3.0.6) from VirtualBox.org.

Once you have installed VirtualBox (by default, it adds a menu item to your Applications->System Tools menu), I suggest bringing up the client and take a look around. There's an excellent manual available from the interface.

Now you need to pull down CentOS. Please pull down the CentOS 5.3 DVD installation ISO from CentOS.org. This will take a while (you might try the BitTorrent version &mdash it sometimes can be quite fast.)

Once you have pulled it in, use the VirtualBox interface to create and start a new machine. When it asks for a DVD/CD, make sure that you tell it that you want to use an image file, and then point it at the ISO file (not a physical DVD) that you pulled down.

Part 2: Real Installation

Create a subdirectory /home/exports and move the CentOS 5.3 DVD there. Configure NFS to export it the directory /home/exports (see, for instance, pp. 489-492 in LAH.) Now consider your security: what needs to be modified for another machine to have permission to access your new NFS mount point? Once you have identified the various security mechanisms that impede such access, eliminate those impediments.

Next, you should find a stack of "net install" CentOS 5.3 CDs up on the front desk. Boot your other machine up with one of those CDs, and choose the "NFS installation" option. When asked where the installation media can be found, point to your NFS server and CentOS 5.3 onto your new server.

A journal is due for this assignment. Make sure that you document in your journal all of the steps that you went through, following the guidelines on the class home page. Please share the workload so that all team members get experience with all aspects of the work. Don't forget to assign your work percentages to yourself and your other teammates in your journal.

Please turn in a printed copy of this assignment at the beginning of class on Wednesday, September 16.