SME Server on Scientific Linux
The SME Server distribution is based on CentOS. Since CentOS is a derivative of RHEL, it is possible to install the SME Server functionalities on top of other (virtually 100% binary compatible) RHEL derivatives, including CentOS itself.
This possibility may be interesting for organisations that have a software policy in place that prevents the deployment of a server OS not listed as an allowed OS within such a policy. Typically large enterprises, governmental and university related organisations have and enforce such a policy.
Scientific Linux has the following introduction:
SL is a Linux release put together by Fermilab, CERN, and various other labs and universities around the world. Its primary purpose is to reduce duplicated effort of the labs, and to have a common install base for the various experimenters. The base SL distribution is basically Enterprise Linux, recompiled from source. Our main goal for the base distribution is to have everything compatible with Enterprise, with only a few minor additions or changes. Examples of items that were added are Alpine, and OpenAFS. Our secondary goal is to allow easy customization for a site, without disturbing the Scientific Linux base. The various labs are able to add their own modifications to their own site areas. By the magic of scripts, and the anaconda installer, each site is to be able to create their own distributions with minimal effort. Or, if a user wishes, they can simply install the base SL release.
SME Server 9.0 on top of Scientific Linux
The installation instructions of SME Server functionality are based on minimal installation of Scientific Linux 6.3 64-bit and SME Server 9.0alpha1 repository. Please use a virtual environment to test your results. Virtual environments may include e.g. VirtualBox (free), VMWare, KVM or Xen.
Install SL minimal
SME Server functionality is only tested with a minimal install of Scientific Linux. To be able to install 'SL minimal' one must use the DVD install ISO. Other available downloads like the LiveCD etc. do not have the option to install 'SL minimal'.
You can download the SL DVD install CD from either here, here or here. Install SL minimal in your virtual environment which should have at least:
- 1Gb RAM memory
- 20Gb harddisk
- 1 Network interface bridged to your host network interface
- Internet access
When using the SL install DVD you have the option to select what to install. Please select 'minimal' and leave all other options as per their defaults.
Once the installation has finished, please reboot and continue with enabling networking and SSH.
Enable networking and SSH
Login as root with the password what was provided at installation time. To enable networking please issue:
ifup eth0
This will bring up eth0 based on your local available DHCP server. Please check you IP with 'ipconfig' and 'ip link show'. During the configuration of SME Server functionality, final and fixed IP addresses will be configured.
To enable SSH please issue:
service sshd start
SSH will now be enabled. Please log in remotely via SSH and further instructions are based on the fact that you are remotely logged. Specifically for Cut and Paste operations.
Disable SELinux
SELinux is enabled by default. We want to disable it for there are a few services (httpd) that get blocked by SELinux. To check this you can enter the command:
getenforce
and to disable SELinux enter the command:
setenforce 0