Class Server Setup

Setup instructions for Debian server for high school classroom.

Loading Debian

• my setup has 2 drives:

  • 1 for OS
  • 1 for /home directories

• setup hard drives and partions as follows:

  • ensure you have a "LARGE" swap file
  • DO NOT load any software (web server, SSH, ...), only a GUI (if you want)

After OS Loading Setup

• after the server is up and running install the following, logged in as "root"!
  • update server packages

    • apt update && upgrade -y
      apt install git -y

  • change ttyd font size

    • dpkg-reconfigure console-setup

  • if you want teacher accout to be sudo

    • usermod -aG sudo <login-id>

• run the following setup script

  • cd /tmp
    git clone https://github.com/Mr-Coxall/Class-Server-Setup
    cd Class-Server-Setup
    chmod +x ./setup.sh
    sh ./setup.sh

  • allow root to login to GUI (if you installed one!):

    • nano /etc/pam.d/gdm-password
      auth required pam_succeed_if.so user != root quiet

  • now test apache2 & PHP installation

    • goto: http://your-server-ip/info.php

  • set a static IP address for the server
    • /etc/network/interfaces

      • allow-hotplug enp1s0
        iface enp1s0 inet static
          address 10.100.204.80
          netmask 255.255.255.0
          gateway 10.100.204.1
          dns-nameservers 10.100.204.1

• install cron to reboot daily
  • sudo crontab -e

  • 0 4   *   *   *    /sbin/shutdown -r +5

How to add a user

• sudo adduser --ingroup ICD2O --shell /bin/fish --allow-bad-names -comment "First Last" first2.last2

• sudo adduser --ingroup ICS4U --shell /bin/bash --allow-bad-names -comment "First Last" first.last

• run this after adding a user, so that their home page works

  • sudo chmod 711 ~/first.last

How to delete a user

• to delete a user

  • sudo deluser --remove-all-files first.last