Linux Tutorial

How to set up a VPN server (PPTP) with CentOS

Have the resources on the local network even when you are physically out of the office is a goal within reach of any system administrator. Just a machine with CentOS, just and open source software are some tips to configure all the best.

We have already spoken several times of Technology Virtual Private Networking (VPN) and of the many advantages obtained by providing the appropriate technical infrastructure

For those who are completely empty stomach of the subject, suffice it to say that, having a VPN, the computers become able to exchange files, share printers and, more generally, access to resources as if they were part of the same local area network (LAN) even if the workstations in question are physically located miles away from each other.

This means, for example, that can be aggregated to the office LAN also the location of the house (or vice versa), or create a network “local” permanent friends, even when the computers are located in different homes.

All data is encrypted in transit, and participation in the network is limited by imposing a password: confidentiality, in short, is guaranteed.

That’s exactly what you want?

This guide is dedicated to an audience of administrators or geeks who are willing to take on a number of technical complications at the cost of achieving the goal.

There are much simpler solutions that are more suitable for the average user: the use of Hamachi, Comfortable EasyVPN, Wippien or other alternatives are generally recommended.

Create a VPN server with Windows

Throughout this article, we will see how to set up a VPN server with CentOS.

A similar result can also be reached by using a simple Windows PC: we talked at greater length in “Accept VPN (PPTP) with Windows 7 in a few clicks.”

Requirements

The only real requirement is the presence of a “super router” CentOS driving your network. Before continuing, Make sure you have prepared as detailed in “Creating a” super router “with an old PC and CentOS.”

Since the VPN server must be always reachable by clients requiring the connection, the computer must remain on (or be prepared so as to obtain a Wake-on-Internet) and connected to the worldwide network.

As usual when it comes to accepting connections from the outside, the server can not use connectivity provided by Fastweb or via UMTS / HSDPA: the masked IP system adopted by these operators in fact inhibit such a scenario.

It is necessary to perform most tasks with root privileges: for convenience, I suggest you direct access to the system with that account. If you prefer to use your user deprivilegiato, however, could be enough to launch all the controls proposed by prefixing the string sudo.
Installation

To create our VPN, we use the package pptpd / PopTop: in addition to the benefits of open source license, I chose this tool for the many competitors for the excellent compatibility with the Windows client and the linearity of the installation.

To achieve this, open a terminal window (Application -> Accessories -> Terminal) and add the key used to sign packages (for more information about this step, see “How to add and remove repositories on CentOS”

rpm - import http://poptop.sourceforge.net/yum/RPM-GPG-KEY-PPTP

Continue with adding a reference to its repository:

rpm-Uvh http://poptop.sourceforge.net/yum/stable/rhel5/pptp-release-current.noarch.rpm

Clear the cache of yum with yum clean all and finish with the installation of component:

yum install ppp pptpd-y.

Next Page

CentOS: How to set up a VPN server (PPTP) Part.2

CentOS: How to set up a VPN server (PPTP) Part.3

Among the many innovations that we find on Fedora 15 there is also leaving to go to LibreOffice OpenOffice office suite as the default (as was the case for Ubuntu Natty 11.04).

If we installed Fedora 15 from the DVD is already installed and for those like me who has installed Fedora 15 from the live cd is not there. In this simple guide will teach us how to install it, remember that the installation requires you to download 148mb of packages.
For the uninitiated LibreOffice is a new office suite, released from the OpenOffice.org community, which essentially differs little from OpenOffice.org maintaining the same functions and applications.

With LibreOffice we have:

• LibreOffice Base : Program for creating and managing databases.
• LibreOffice Calc : Spreadsheet for the calculation.
• LibreOffice Draw : vector graphics program. It also allows partial modification of files in pdf format.
• LibreOffice Impress : A program for creating multimedia presentations.
• LibreOffice Math : Program for the development of mathematical formulas.
• LibreOffice Writer : A program for word processing.

To install on Fedora 15 LibreOffice just play the terminal and type

on

yum groupinstall "Office / Productivity"

to confirm. At the end we installed LibreOffice on Fedora 15

For more information on Fedora 15 I recommend you see the How to Installing Fedora Lovelock from this page.

After the success of the guide published for the previous version of Ubuntu I decided to revive and publish a new guide for Ubuntu 11.04

Introducing the new guide: How to install Ubuntu 11.04 to complete!

Step 1: Activate the Canonical Partner repositories, Independent and natty-proposed

First we run the Ubuntu Software Center, click on Edit and select Software Sources.

We go to the Other tab Software

checked and Canonical Partner and Independent. In doing so we are going to enable the repository containing some programs such as java as well as third-party programs.

Now, let’s Updates

and tick the “Proposed Updates (natty-proposed)”. This item will allow us to have faster updates for some programs and install the latest version of emesene 2.

Then click Close and wait for the Ubuntu Software Center update the package cache

Now we can proceed with the installation of all software needed to complete Ubuntu Natty 11.04.

Step 2: Removing unused software (or at least what I do not use)

Ubuntu has introduced since the previous release a software for video editing. Personally I do not have nClient Twitter, Codec, Download Manager, emesene, Gmail, Guides, Information Technology, Java, Linux World, audio / video player, Themes Ubuntu, Ubuntu, Ubunecessità of such a program and then proceed with the removal. From the terminal do

sudo apt-get remove pitivi

At the messaging client installed by default I prefer to use emesene considering that I only have msn contacts. Then remove empathy

sudo apt-get remove empathy

Same goes for evolution, the mail client which I prefer thunderbird

sudo apt-get remove evolution evolution-indicator

Gwibber and the twitter client (which I always hated: D)

sudo apt-get remove Gwibber

It also removes ubuntu-docs to free up space so that I will never use

sudo apt-get remove ubuntu-docs

Step 3: The audio / video codecs, VLC, Firefox plugins (java, flash and moonlight) and Microsoft fonts

Now install the audio / video codecs common with the following command

sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly

Let us now turn to VLC, a multi-media player of all time favorite that certainly needs no introduction.

sudo apt-get install vlc mozilla-plugin-vlc

We will definitely java while surfing the web as well as run some programs like jdowloader (which we will install later)

sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin sun-java6-fonts

Now it is the most common Microsoft fonts, including those relevant to the proper display of some web pages and office documents for

sudo apt-get install ttf-installer-mscorefonts

Last, but not least, install the plugins for Flash and Moonlight.

sudo apt-get install mozilla-plugin-moonlight adobe-flashplugin

Step 4: Storage Management

To open virtually all compressed archives with Ubuntu install p7zip

sudo apt-get install p7zip-full p7zip-rar

Step 5: Applications for the web (RSS feeds, gmail, email, twitter, messaging)

As a reader rss feed recommend the evergreen Liferea

sudo apt-get install liferea

As regards the management of email I use Thunderbird for the paired boxes in general and personal gm-notiy to read the email from gmail

Then install Thunderbird

sudo apt-get install thunderbird

and gm-notify

sudo apt-get install ms-notify

Earlier this guide I told you I preferred an alternative Gwibber twitter client. My choice is now time to hotot.

To install hotot we must first add the repository

sudo apt-add-repository ppa hotot-team

update

sudo apt-get update

and install hotot

sudo apt-get install hotot

How to use emesene messenger client (remember all that natty is by default the new version 2 of the client that includes support to other services like facebook chat for example). I remember that the package is updated in the repo so remember to enable them to proposed as shown in the first step.

sudo apt-get install emesene

I personally use Skype very rarely. If you instead make them widely used (and you are not ultra extremists) can be installed with a simple

sudo apt-get install skype

Step 5: Editing images

The choice here is almost a must. Then install the Gimp since it is no longer included by default in Ubuntu.

sudo apt-get install gimp

Step 6: p2p

If the torrent clients are already very well covered by Transmission (installed by default) remain uncovered for the network emule filesharing regarding the fund directly.

To emulate the repository already contains the necessary programs.

If we have a traditional ADSL install amule

sudo apt-get install amule

Instead, if we install a line fastweb meeting

sudo apt-get install amule-gathering

Regarding Jdwonloader must respect two requirements: to have java installed (which we made up) and add external repositories of the program

Since then we end

sudo apt-add-repository ppa jd-team/jdownloader

update

sudo apt-get update

and finally install jdownloader

sudo apt-get install jdownloader

Step 7: Weather

Well I personally I have fixed the weather (I have a mind English?) And for that I install a program that has suffered weather-indicator, a little program for Ubuntu and powerful light that will enable us to always have an eye on the forecasts of time.

sudo apt-get install-weather indicator

Step 8: Improvements to the system (Ubuntu Tweak, I-menubar, plugin for Nautilus, gdebi, ppa-purge and Unity 2D)

The ultimate tool for managing Ubuntu is Ubuntu Tweak

I prefer to install the trial version so you always have the latest updates.

Add the repository testing Ubuntu Tweak

sudo apt-add-repository ppa ubuntu-tweak-testing/ppa

update

sudo apt-get update

and finally install Ubuntu Tweak

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

Let us now turn to the finish. New to Ubuntu 11.04 is the integration of application menus directly on the top bar-style mac (if they could save money imho)

Almost all the applications installed by default have this integration. One of the programs that do not benefit from the very beginning of this integration is LibreOffice, the office suite. To remedy the problem (I prefer not to install the integration) give a terminal

sudo apt-get install the-menubar

Piglet hours nautilus (file manager) strengthening it. We can do it through Ubuntu Tweak follow my previous guide to Ubuntu Tweak Powered by Nautilus

Gdebi install that will install the deb packages for Ubuntu bypassing the Software Center where there were problems (see the previous post on Ubuntu 11.04 DraftSight solve installation problem “The package is of poor quality”)

sudo apt-get install gdebi

Council also install ppa-purge which is nothing more than a little program-launched from a terminal that allows us to remove a PPP and added automatic downgrade of packages prior to the addition of the same.

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge

You may have problems with Unity. The alternatives in this case are 2, or use the session or install Ubuntu Classic Unity 2D. If you want to install Unity 2D refer to this guide on Ubuntu Install Unity 2D (if you want a constantly updated version) or given only

sudo apt-get install unity-2d

Step 9: Nautilus Elementary

The Nautilus file manager is a bit old-fashioned in graphics and features. On every installation that I make so I prefer to install the popular Nautilus Elementary, which is nothing but a collection of improvements to Nautilus Elementary born within the project.

To install, first install the repository

sudo apt-add-repository ppa elementaryart / elementarydesktop

and then we always end

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Step 10: Themes and Icons

Well as for me not to report what is the best icon set ever made or the set of icons Faenza. The set of icons Faenza can be installed together with the issues Equinox.

From the terminal we add the ppa

sudo apt-add-repository ppa tiheum / equinox

update

sudo apt-get update

and install icons and themes

sudo apt-get install faience-icon-theme gtk2-engines-equinox equinox-theme

To complete the install because it’s beautiful, but I say beautiful, the beautiful, but I say beautiful, short well my themes and Eriteide Eriteide Equinox. To install them go in and download links.

CentOS is a distribution of the most widely used web server on the Internet today.

The reason is obvious: an operating system is extremely robust and reliable, because it addressed the demanding public company. Install it on a test machine is still very simple as its DVD, any computer (or virtual) and some clicked on “Next” in the simple graphical wizard.

You will be asked to specify the time zone: select Europe / Rome from the drop-down list (in alphabetical order are) and go without worry.

Give root password, then the essential: considering that you could soon be interested in checking this location, even remotely, I recommend you choose an alphanumeric string fairly robust

At the next screen, you can choose which components to install additional or less. In the first instance, check Customize now and proceed

At this point, you have to decide what to install and what to leave out. Make sure that under Desktop is enabled at least Environments GNOME Desktop Environment, otherwise the GUI will not be available.

Most of the other components are configured by default as appropriate. But I advise you to bring in the Servers and disable all that by so doing, you are free to install and enable only when the actual need for the various services related to network technologies

Copying files

Forward a couple of times between the summary screen to confirm your choices and begin the actual installation

When the operation is completed (about ten minutes, more or less), remove the DVD and reboot the system as required.

A reboot is completed, you will play a brief configuration of the most important aspects of the system.

Firewalls, SELinux, Kdump

Make sure your firewall is Enabled and advanced, confirming any security warnings.

SELinux, on the contrary, should be set to Permissive to minimize the problems of incompatibility. Advanced

To not waste RAM if there are problems, the check box Enable kdump? should be left disabled.

Clock and create an account

At the next screen, set the time and date, then advanced rapidly.

You will be prompted to create an account with limited privileges, to be used for all regular activities and disconnected from the maintenance of the system

If you are planning to use as the machine but not the server, I suggest you leave it blank and proceed immediately confirm with Continue notice of proposed security. On this occasion, in fact, every machine will have interactive access to probably the only purpose of modifying the system settings, restart, remove or update any of the components and the like: thus, by logging in as root, you’ll avoid a lot of hassle.

But if you plan to use CentOS as a workstation, create and use a user privileged is undoubtedly one important caution.
Finalize

Subsequent screens will allow you to test your sound card (if present), load software from other media (not necessary if you used the DVD shown at the opening) and complete the installation.

Click a few confirmation later, you will be in front of the log-in screen: Enter the user name and password after first access to your desktop

At this point, your system is running CentOS and operational and you can then start to perform various manufacturing operations here with some basic ideas such as “warm up”.

Basic Operation

I urge you, if not already mastered the basic commands of Linux, to become familiar with the main ones, as discussed in “First meeting with Shell Text”. The terminal is launched from Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal

Note also that in the various sub-menus to be offered for Applications contains links to other programs already installed: it is the equivalent of the Windows Start menu.

Following Applications -> Accessories -> Text Editor, for example, would be the equal of the “notepad”.

The default background is quite pleasant, but if you want to change it just click the right mouse button on an empty desktop and choose Change Desktop Background. The collection of alternatives provided with the equipment is not too wide, but you can click Add to add a custom wallpaper.

By accessing computer, you will find yourself in front of the shortcuts to the DVD player, and the network file system: the latter, in particular, is one of the most difficult to understand for users accustomed to Windows. For a discussion of this subject see “Guide to the organization of the file system on Linux.”

I do not speak English

We highly recommend that you get used right away to use CentOS in English will be extremely easier to see the technical documentation and seek solutions to problems.

But if you really want Italian in all costs, just follow System -> Administration -> Language, select the language, confirm and press the keyboard combination Ctrl + Alt + Backspace to make a new log-in environment Working with the interface entirely translated.

Install, remove and upgrade packages

Despite CentOS integrates a package manager GUI (Applications -> Add / Remove Software), the use of the utility Yellowdog Updater, Modified (YUM) from the command line is certainly more practical.

To try it right away, given y yum update firefox: Firefox updates will be downloaded and installed it automatically.

Similarly, with yum-y install gnome-games you are going to install a package of games “desktop”, then-launched from the Applications menu -> Games.

To remove them, then simply issue the gnome-games corresponding erase yum-y.

For installation on virtual machine

If you prepared CentOS in a virtual machine, install the additional components of their platform of choice at the earliest opportunity! In this way, you can access a screen resolution greater than that currently in use and all other benefits.

With regard to the program published by Oracle, we presented the procedure in “Install VirtualBox Guest Additions on CentOS in a few steps.” For other platforms, I refer you to the help of the software chosen.

Remote control

The platform CentOS just configured is already ready to be used via SSH, without installing any add-on. For all the information and guidance to the connection, I refer to “How to set up an SSH server on Windows”: the process is absolutely identical here, with the only advantage that the server is operational and awaiting connections.

If you prefer to use graphical interface also remotely, you will have access to change any setting and with a VNC client: I mentioned in “How to enable remote access to CentOS without any open sessions”

How do I turn this thing?

If you no longer need the system, there are several ways to turn it off. System -> Shut Down -> Shut Down is the most direct route, but giving halt the terminal you get a similar result

Other guides to CentOS

Numango.com propose in the coming months, other guides to the provision of services of any type using CentOS : The material available will be raised gradually under the same name tag.

CentOS distributions is one of the most widely used web server on the Internet today. The reason is obvious: an operating system is extremely robust and reliable, because it addressed the demanding public company. Install it on a test machine is still very simple as its DVD, any computer (or virtual) and some clicked on “Next” in the simple graphical wizard.

If you are planning to set up a workstation or, even more, for a Linux server to a workplace, the CentOS distribution may be one of the most interesting choices in circulation

Throughout this article, we will see what are its distinctive features and how to install it.

What is CentOS

“CentOS” stands for Community Enterprise Operating System. As the name suggests, this is a distribution-oriented business to the public and professional orientation that takes the form of an operating system that makes the stability and reliability of its main strengths.

This has allowed the distribution to CentOS to become the most used web server on board: its market share is 30% of all those governed by Linux used for this purpose. From 2008 also numango.com is supported by this solution.

To better understand CentOS, you need to talk briefly about the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (often abbreviated to RHEL improperly). RHEL is a commercial Linux distribution built from Red Hat Inc., one of the most important global industry giants.

Despite being based on the Linux kernel, RHEL includes numerous customizations protected by copyright (such as logo and trademark, “Red Hat”): this means that the redistribution of copies of that operating system is prohibited and is basically an act of piracy not dissimilar from the duplication of Windows.

At the same time, however, Red Hat is forced by the dictates of the GNU / GPL to release publicly the majority of the source code used. These listings can then be freely integrated into projects that employ the same contract terms.

The developers of CentOS fit right here: once using the sources of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, they are deprived of all material non-free and rebranded with their own logos and graphics community

The result is a free software operating system, but still 100% compatible with the original distribution and able to preserve intact many strengths.

Even the naming scheme of the various release follows the one adopted by Red Hat, CentOS 4.4 is here therefore that to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.4, CentOS 5.5 comes with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.5 and so on.

The construction and use of CentOS fall within the boundaries of the law in every respect, and Red Hat has never really expressed intentions hostile to the project.

When you choose and when to avoid CentOS

Building a robust platform that makes its main strength means preferring software packages from development branches of mature and tested, avoiding the latest release and all I found the ending a “beta”.

CentOS is therefore to achieve an optimal distribution of corporate servers and home of all kinds, from databases to dynamic sites, the FTP to share files and printers via DHCP, DNS, VPN, LDAP, backup, and all other similar services.

It is also fair as a platform for office productivity: drafting documents, use spreadsheets, web access and email are examples of CentOS you need to meet in a more than good.

It is not given a choice if you want to use the computer in a purely domestic context, or try all the latest software. Sure, there are audio and video player in quantity but, to date, applications “home” rather popular (like Google Chrome) are not yet used (or, however, requires a level of expertise in the Linux world high enough to reach the goal ).

Another aspect not to be underestimated is the one related to technical support. Although the broad community of experts and fans is available via forums, chat rooms and mailing lists in case of need, there is no guarantee as to the availability of the users or the correctness of their response. In other words, there is no “official telephone number” to which we turn: if something stops working, have to be prepared to diagnose and solve the problem in partial autonomy, without which there is no one with a contractual obligation to follow.

Get CentOS

CentOS can be downloaded from the official site centos.org form of ISO images.

The download page offers a multitude of choices that might not be too obvious for the user not accustomed to Linux. Simplest terms, the latest version currently available on a single DVD can be sampled according CentOS (32 bits) or CentOS (64 bit) (requires a BitTorrent client).

Once the download is complete, burn the finished DVD and you’re done.

Begin installation

Enter now the optical media drive of the computer on which you prepare CentOS (can also be a virtual machine, if you want to do a few test), reboot, enable booting from optical media, and you should find yourself in front of a screen like this

Stick to press Enter to start loading the necessary files.

At the next step, the setup will ask if you want to check to make sure that the DVD was burned correctly. Since the test takes a few minutes but avoid running into problems due to much more difficult to diagnose, simply press Enter and confirm

If all goes according to plan, will receive a confirmation message reassuring

Confirmed and, using the arrow keys, move to OK before you press Enter to continue

Language and keyboard

Once you see the Welcome screen, press Next to scroll to the language. I strongly recommend to choose Italiano, for the moment (the choice will still be changed at any moment, even setup is complete)

As for the keyboard layout, select Italian hand to ensure that different keys are properly managed

Disk management

If you are installing on a partitioned hard ever before, it might be shown a warning screen like this

Complies Yes and continue.

Assuming you are installing CentOS on a virtual machine, or at least on a hard drive that set aside specific to it (I will not, here, the realization of a dual-boot system), choose Remove all partitions on selected drives and create default layout from the drop-down menu, check only the drive to be used in the list below (if you can only have two or more units) and continue with Next, and then confirming the choice

Configure the network

At the next step you can specify the desired settings for network interfaces. By default, everything is prepared to configure itself automatically via DHCP. If your server is connected to a home router, the choice is already optimal. Otherwise, choose the interface you want to edit and click Edit

In any case, remember to manually specify the name you want assigned to this workstation before continuing.
See more in Numango.com : Quick start installation of CentOS part II.