Linux Servers
Introduction
Computer Engineering is hosting a number of x86 based Linux servers eg. for embedded and cross platform development purposes. Relevant to this class are the following (with their respective fully qualified domain names):
The STM32MP1 Discovery Boards a connected to server eda1. Access to the above servers is gained via network connection either with ssh in text mode (traditional ssh connection) or using a graphical desktop session using X2Go (which uses ssh, also).
Home Directories
User home directories are shared among all CE servers via NFS.
Assignments
- Pay a visit to all of the above CE servers via ssh in text mode. Create a text file on one server and check on a different machine if it's there, also. Take and upload a screenshot as proof.
- Install X2Go on your laptop and create MATE Desktop sessions for eda1 and zaphod servers. Test your setup an upload screenshots of the sessions as proof.
Playing with BusyBox
Introduction
BusyBox is the swiss army knife of embedded linux tools. Before going embedded and cross platform you will configure and play with it a little.
Assignments
- log onto one of the CE linux servers
- check out a copy of busybox at Github https://github.com/mirror/busybox
- read the INSTALL file
- busybox uses menuconfig for the configuration process
- take a peek by running make menuconfig
- learn how to select all options prior to the config process at https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/kbuild/kconfig.txt
- start menu config again an select
- an archiving tool of your choice (eg. tar)
- make sure you select an editor
- select a simple shell (eg. ash)
- select two process control and monitoring tool (eg. ps and top)
- build busybox
- install busybox in a local directory (read INSTALL for instructions)
- test your busybox installation
- upload a screenshot of your test as proof
Playing with minicom
Assignments
- Read the material on STM32MP1 boards in the Misc section
- log onto the eda1.lf1.htw-berlin.de server
- check out the contents of the /dev/serial/by-id directory. What device entries are do you find?
- What are the group and user permissions of the device files?
- try to connect to one of the boards using minicom
- take a screenshot of your boards session as proof