CS 660 Operating Systems Concepts & Theory


Labs 1 & 2
Dr. Tong Yu, March 2004

In the first few labs, you have to install the InterMezzo File System, which maintains replicas of folder collections residing on multiple computers. The file system keeps these replicas in sync by building a log of modifications and propagating that log to other nodes. InterMezzo has a disconnected opeation, which maintains a log to remember all updates that need to be forwarded when a fialed communication channel comes back. For related information and the installation processes, see

www.inter-mezzo.org
Coda File System
Cluster File Systems
The InterMezzo File System File Replication with InterMezzo File System
Using the InterMezzo Distributed Filesystem To install InterMezzo, you need to first build the Linux system. So your lab1 is to install the Linux system. You may refer to Dr. Turner's page at to learn the basics of a Centos Server.

  • Install the basics of Centos:
    1. Obtain a Centos boot disk from the instructor.
    2. Insert the Centos boot disk into CD-ROM drive.
    3. Type linux text <Enter> from boot prompt.
    4. Select skip from medium check.
    5. Select <English><OK>.
    6. Select <us><OK>.
    7. Select <Remove all partitions on selected drives ...><OK>. ( besides the swap partition, create two more partitions. )
    8. Select <Yes>.
    9. Select <Yes>.
    10. Select <OK><OK><OK>.
    11. Set Boot Loader Password then <OK><OK>.
    12. Select MBR then <OK>.
    13. Select <Yes> on Network setup menu.
    14. Select the following then <OK>:
        [*] Active on boot
        [*]Enable IPv4 support
    15. Select Manual network configurations.
    16. Enter network parameters including IP, netmask ( NM ), Gateway, DNS, and hostname which are labeled on the computer.
    17. Set time zone to "Los Angeles".
    18. Set root password.
    19. Set package selection:
      • Unselect everything from the menu.
      • Select Custom software Selection
    20. Select <OK> to start installation.
    21. Take CD out and reboot.
    22. Login as root.
    23. Add users ( member of your group ) according to Dr. Turner's web page.
    24. Ping www.yahoo.com to see if there is any response. If yes, you have successfully installed a Centos Linux.

    You may use 'yum' to install other required components:

  • # yum -y groupinstall 'X Window System'
  • # yum -y groupinstall 'KDE (K Desktop Environment)' ( Alternatively, you could use 'GNOME Desktop Environment' )
  • Then execute system-config-display. Wait and after some time a gui configuration will pop up. Select the resolution of "1024X768" and hit <OK>.
  • You may execute startx to start the X-Window system.
  • You may install firefox and development tools by:
    • # yum install firefox
    • # yum groupinstall "Development Tools"

    • Actually, to install Intermezzo, you need Linux kernel 2.6.5 that supports it. To simplify your work, its better for you to substitute Intermezzo with Lustre. See Cluster File Systems for the detailed information of Lustre.

    Information of lustre can also be found at http://wiki.lustre.org/index.php?title=Main_Page

    Your lab 2 is to install and configure the InterMezzo File System ( or lustre ). Write a report on the step-by-step procedures of installing and configuring such a system. Comment if you were succesful in doing that. If you were successful, attach your report with some scripts of evidence that shows your system works well. You may be requested to make a demo to the instructor to show that your system works as you claim.