All Posts Tagged Tag: ‘Linux’

Computer Networking and Information Systems Security, Check!

As of the 22nd of March, 2011, I have graduated from Clover Park Technical College with an Associate Degree in Computer Networking and Information Systems Security.

To further educate myself, gain experience, and also make use of my spare time while searching for employment, I am continuing my internship in the Information Technology department on campus. I hope that one of the employers who have posted job openings, of which I have applied for, will contact me soon for an interview. The best positions I could hope for, would be Linux administration, Windows administration, entry-level database administration, and network administration.

As a side note, if you are reading this and work for, or manage an Information Technology company or department that is currently hiring for positions mentioned above, please contact me using the email address in my “About Me” page. I am immediately available for hire, and can work any day of the week. I would prefer morning, or evening hours, but will work graveyard hours on a temporary basis.

Here’s to hoping that this blog post pays off!

XenServer: Protecting Ubuntu with Untangle

This is a tutorial on how to install and protect Ubuntu with Untangle, while both run as virtual machines within XenServer. This setup allows you to protect one virtual machine with a second virtual machine on the same physical system. The biggest advantages to this setup include a lower cost of energy, lower cost of hardware and smaller physical footprint.

The image below shows Ubuntu and Untangle being displayed using the XenCenter Management Console. Untangle is blocking Ubuntu from accessing Facebook.

Click on the image to enarge it.

What you will need:

• XenServer-5.5.0-Update2-install-cd.iso (Here)
• XenServer-5.5.0-Update2-linux-cd.iso (Here)
• XenServer-5.5.0-Update2-XenCenter.msi (Here)
• ubuntu-9.10-desktop-amd64.iso (Here)
• untangle_720_amd64.iso (Here)
• Two CD-RW discs or 4 CD-R discs
• One dedicated server
• One workstation computer

Instructions:

1. Burn the XenServer Install CD ISO to one of your CD’s and burn the XenServer Linux CD ISO to one of the other CD’s.
2. Install XenCenter onto your Windows workstation. (Linux users can use OpenXenCenter).
3. Insert the XenServer CD into your server and boot to the disc drive.
4. Follow the prompts to install and configure your server, including setting a static IP address.
5. When asked to do so, insert the Linux Guest Support CD into the server’s disc drive and continue with the install.
6. After the install is finished, boot to the hard drive where you installed XenServer.
7. Connect to your XenServer using XenCenter on your workstation.  Enter the static IP address you set and the root password you created during the configuration of your server.
8. Check the box next to your server in the activation window.  Click on Activate, enter the information into the browser activation form and submit it.
9. After registering, you will receive an email that includes the license key as an attachment.  Save the license file to your hard drive.
10. In XenCenter, go to Server > Install License Key, navigate to the folder where license.xslic is located and click Open.
11. Create a single virtual internal network. (Click on your server, Network tab > Add Network > Internal Network)
12. Create one virtual machine for Untangle, giving it the physical external network and virtual internal network.  (VM > New | Template “Other Install Media” | Name “Untangle” | Location “Physical DVD Drive” | CPU & Memory “Initial Memory 1024MB” | Virtual Disks “Add” > 70GB | Virtual Interfaces “External Physical & Internal Virtual”)
13. Create one virtual machine for Ubuntu, giving it ONLY the virtual internal network.  (VM > New | Template “Other Install Media” | Name “Ubuntu” | Location “Physical DVD Drive” | CPU & Memory “Initial Memory 2048MB” | Virtual Disks “Add” > 100GB | Virtual Interfaces “Internal Virtual”)
14. Erase the first CD-RW, or burn Ubuntu to one of the empty CD-R discs.
15. Erase the second CD-RW, or burn Untangle to one of the empty CD-R discs.
16. Insert the Ubuntu CD into the server’s disc drive, start the Ubuntu VM and run the install using the Normal Mode.
17. Insert the Untangle CD into the server’s disc drive, start the Untangle VM and run the install using the Expert Mode. (During the install you can only use the keyboard.  After it finishes, the mouse is usable.)

After installing, Ubuntu will load to its desktop and Untangle to its initial startup screen.  Finish the Untangle setup and close the browser window.  You should now see the options menu at the bottom of the screen.  We are going to need to use the terminal to change the screen resolution.

Fixing the screen resolution:

In Untangle, open the terminal and enter the root password you created during the install.  Enter the following into the terminal:

cd /etc/X11
cp xorg.conf xorg.conf.bak
editor xorg.conf

Enter or change what is shown below:

Section “Monitor”
Identifier “Configured Monitor”
HorizSync 40.00 – 150.00
VertRefresh 60.0
VendorName “Generic”
ModelName “Generic”
EndSection

Section “Screen”
Identifier “Default Screen”
Device “Configured Video Device”
Monitor “Configured Monitor”
SubSection “Display”
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

In Ubuntu, open the terminal and enter the root password you created during the install. Enter the following into the terminal:

sudo passwd root
sudo X -configure
cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak
cd /
sudo gedit xorg.conf.new

Edit the monitor section to be:

Section “Monitor”
Identifier “Monitor0″
HorizSync 40.00 – 150.00
VertRefresh 60.0
VendorName “Generic”
ModelName “Generic”
EndSection

Click on: File > Save As > Folder (/etc/X11) | xorg.conf

Log off and sign in

The resolution should now be 1152×864 in Ubuntu and 1024×768 in Untangle.

You have accomplished:

• Installing the bare metal hypervisor XenServer onto a dedicated server.
• Configuring two virtual machines to communicate over a virtual network connection.
• Modifying xorg.conf to be able to use a larger resolution.
• Protecting one operating system, with a second operating system.

I Honestly Do Not Know…

I have no idea what I want to do with my life.  I have a few ideas of careers to pursue, but I do not yet have a solid choice for what I want to do.

My plans for a career path started out in Information Technology.  At the start of college, I began focusing on becoming a Systems Analyst to work my way up to managing Information Technology.  But lately, I have lost the drive.  I have hit a roadblock.  It is possible that photography might be the career path I choose, I don’t know.  One thing I do know for sure, is that I bounce around way too much between career choices.

I have a decent knowledge of electronics and a more in-depth knowledge of computers.  Programming, not really.  Not as far as application coding goes.  But I can work my way around html, css and php, it just takes a bit of work.  I know quite a bit about home networking and building/setting up computer systems.  One thing that is limiting my progress in IT is certifications.  I have not bothered to study and certify myself in CompTIA A+, Linux+ and Network+.  As far as what I have seen with the tests, the A+ should be a breeze for me, Linux+ would be a slight stretch, but not by much, and with how in-depth the terminology and understanding of enterprise networking systems is, the Network+ certification would probably be the hardest.  Also, the tests are not free.  It is kind of useless to certify myself and not have a reason to use the certifications.  Not to mention, to find a job that would take me in with just the certifications and not much of an IT background, would be close to impossible.

Right now I am having fun with photography.  Although I lack the required funds for multiple lenses and a full frame body, plus accessories, I am trying to make the most with what I have.  I enjoy going out and taking photographs, and I just may continue to do so.  When I have a few more dollars to spend on a couple zoom lenses, I will be able to start putting myself out into the community for a chance at starting my own business.  Even if photography does not end up being my main career, it will definitely be a hobby if not a secondary form of income later on.

If you have any thoughts on what I should do or any experiences of your own, please let me know.