Hank HOWTO - Using Linux

This document details the necessary components for logging into the Linux box that we use for monitoring the ThrustMaster steering wheel.

It is important that you read this document fully! If certain procedures are not followed correctly, we may lose important data, or then entire Linux software system.

Booting Linux

The PC in the lab is capable of booting two different operating systems. One of those is Linux while the other is Windows NT. Currently the steering wheel software runs only under Linux.

To boot up the Linux system, you currently have to use the Linux Boot disk that I have placed next to the PC. The disk is labeled and reads "LINUX BOOT, KERNEL 2.0.27, 1/13/96". To boot up Linux, place this disk in the 3.5" floppy drive on the PC, and restart the system.

If you are running Windows NT, click on the Start menu and select Shut Down. From the shutdown menu, you will select the Restart the computer? option. This will shut Windows NT down, and then restart the machine. The PC will boot off the floppy disk and Linux will begin the bootstrapping process. Consequently, you will see many lines of text scrolling over the screen. The boot up process takes approximately a minute and a half. After boot up you will be able to login to the machine.

If you are running Linux, please don't reboot the system. :-)

Logging In And Using Linux

Logging into Linux is the same as any other UNIX system you've used, so I won't explain that here. However, you may want to start the X Windows Server after you've logged in. To do this type the following command at the prompt:

startx

This should start the X Server running with a pixel depth of 8. If you'd like to start the X Server running at a different pixel depth, you will use the command:

startx -- -bpp NUM

where NUM represents a valid pixel depth (8, 16, 24, 32).

By default, without a .xinitrc file, you will run the TWM window manager. You may want to run FVWM since it has a much nicer feel to it. In order to do this add the following lines to your .xinitrc file in your top level directory on soybean.

xterm &
fvwm

To quit the X Server, you may either use the pull-down mouse menus and select the Exit Fvwm selection, or you can simultaneously hold down the Alt-Cntl-Backspace keys. Either operation will kill the X Server and take you back to the terminal screen.

Shutting Linux Down

This is the most important of all sections in this document! Remember, Linux is a real operating system and thus it has control over the devices connected to the machine, and therefore must be shutdown in a safe manner.

Before you shutdown Linux, please make sure that no other people are using the computer, as the shutdown process will kill their processes and log them out.

To perform the shutdown routine, you will use one of two commands. The first command shuts Linux down and does a reboot of the sytem. This will be useful if you want to use Windows NT after using Linux.

sudo shutdown +1 -r "System Shutdown - Please Log Out"

This command will request that you type your own user password, and then will perform the shutdown procedure after 1 minute. It will then procede to reboot the machine. If you want Windows NT to come back, make sure the Linux Boot disk is out of the floppy drive.

The alternative command will shut Linux down, but halt the system. This will be useful if you need to turn the computer off and move it. The command to use here follows:

sudo shutdown +1 -h "System Shutdown - Please Log Out"

Again, you will be prompted for you password for confirmation of your identity. The system will then be halted. When the screen says that the system is halted, you may shut the power off.

Alternatively, you can press the key combination, ALT-CNTRL-DEL to get Linux to perform a safe shutdown and reboot of the system.