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blocks:server:first_start [2019-07-29 07:58]
mattias [First Access] 		blocks:server:first_start [2024-10-22 12:29] (current)
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-====== First Start ======+====== First Start ======   
  
-This article assumes you have just prepared a brand new Linux-based server, as described in [[creating_a_server|]].+This article assumes you have just prepared a brand-new Linux-based server, as [[blocks:server:creating_a_server|described here]].  
  
-Connect keyboard and mouse to the server, then turn on the power. After some brief initial messages, the screen shown below should appear.+Connect keyboard and mouse to the server, then turn on the power. After some brief initial messages, the screen shown below should appear. 
  
-{{ :blocks:first-run:nolicenskeypresent3.png?1000;nolink |}}+{{:blocks:first-run:20_04lts:missingkey.png?1000|}}
  
-This message indicates that there's no PIXILAB License key connected. Find your license key and plug it into a USB connector on the server. The server should now start.+This message indicates that the license key isn't connected. Find your license key and plug it into a USB connector on the server. The server should now start.
  
-{{ :blocks:first-run:serverstarted2.png?1000;nolink |}}+{{:blocks:first-run:20_04lts:blockssplash.png?1000|}}  
 +===== Setting Passwords ===== 
  
-===== Setting Passwords =====+Before you do anything else, you //**must**// set the server's passwords.
  
-Before you do anything else, you //**must**// set the server's passwords. +:!: It is **very important** that you perform these steps, choosing good, strong passwords, before proceeding. If you don't do this, you leave your server open to anyone that may know the default passwords. 
  
-:!: It is **very important** that you perform these steps, choosing good, strong passwords, before proceeding. If you don't do this, you leave your server open to anyone that may know the default passwords.+There are two users at the operating system level: 
  
-There are two users at the operating system level:+  * The account named //pixi-server// is a limited account, used to run the server. 
  
-  * The account named //pixi-server// is a limited account, used to run the server. +  * The account named //pixi-admin// is an administrator account, used to make changes to the server's operating system.   
-  * The account named //pixi-admin// is an administrator account, used to make changes to the server's operating system.+
  
-Note that both these accounts are only related to the server's operating system. Neither of these passwords are needed for the day-to-day operation of the system. In addition to these two OS-level users, there's also an //admin// user inside the BLOCKS Server program, which is configured later in this article.+Note that both these accounts are related only to the server's operating system. Neither of these passwords are needed for the day-to-day operation of Blocks. In addition to these two OS-level users, there's also an //admin// user inside the BLOCKS Server program, which is configured later in this article.
  
-To change the Linux user's passwords, start by clicking the cogwheel button in the area of icons along the left hand side of the screen. This opens the "System Settings" window. Click the small search icon on the top left and type "Users" to get to the Users settings. Never mind the Network Manager message in the settings window we will show how to make the network settings later.+To change the Linux user's passwords, start by clicking the cogwheel button in the area of icons along the left-hand side of the screen. This opens the "System Settings" window. Select "Users" in the list on the left hand side.
  
-{{ :blocks:first-run:user_system_settings2.png?1000;nolink |}}+{{:blocks:first-run:20_04lts:unlock.png?1000|}} 
  
-Click the "User Accounts" button in the bottom row.+Click the "Unlock…" button in the top right-hand corner of this window to allow for changes. This prompts you for the admin user's password. If this is the first time you configure the server, type //pixi// into the password field. If you have already configured the server, type the appropriate administrator password instead. Then select the //pixi-server// user and click the "Password ••••" field to change the password. 
  
-{{ :blocks:first-run:unlock_users.png?1000;nolink |}}+{{:blocks:first-run:20_04lts:passwordpixiserver.png?500|}} 
  
-Click the padlock symbol in the top right hand corner of this window to allow for changes. This will prompt you for the admin user's password. If this is the first time you configure the server, type //pixi// into the password field. If you have already configured the server, type the appropriate administrator password instead. Then select the //pixi-server// user and click the "Password ••••" field to change the password.+First type the old password for the //pixi-server// user. If this is the first time you configure the server, type //PixiServer!// into the Current Password field. If you have already configured the server, type the appropriate password instead. Type the new password into the two following fields, then click Change. 
  
-{{ :blocks:first-run:pixiserveruserpasswdialog.png?500;nolink |}}+Repeat the procedure for the //pixi-admin// user, here selecing the "Set a password now" option. Choose a strong password and make a secure note of this in a safe place, as this will be required to make any further changes to the server's configuration. 
  
-First type the old password for the //pixi-server// user. If this is the first time you configure the server, type //PixiServer!// into the Current Password field. If you have already configured the server, type the appropriate password instead. Type the new password into the two following fields, then click Change.+{{:blocks:first-run:20_04lts:passwordpixiadmin.png?500|}} 
  
-Repeat the procedure for the //pixi-admin// user. Make sure you choose a strong password, and make a secure note of this in a safe place, as this will be required to make any further changes to the server's configuration.+Click Change to apply the new password, then close the User Accounts window. 
  
-{{ :blocks:first-run:pixiserveradminpasswdialog.png?500;nolink |}}+===== Basic Network Configuration ===== 
  
-Click Change to apply the new password, then close the User Accounts window.+Connect a network cable to the server. Connect the other end of the cable to a network switch. If connecting to an existing network, you need to obtain a suitable network address from your systems administrator. The remainder of this article assumes a new network is being established, where you're free to choose the addresses and other network parameters shown.  
  
-===== Basic Network Configuration =====+The process of basic network settings is moving back to the GUI based Network Manager from being handled from Webmin in Pixilab blocks Linux images based on Ubuntu 18.04. It is still possible to use that method if one enables Netplan to handle network settings.  
  
-Connect a network cable to the server. Connect the other end of the cable to a network switch. If connecting to an existing network, you need to obtain a suitable network address from your systems administrator. The remainder of this article assumes a new network is being established, where you're free to chose the addresses and other network parameters shown. +Open the settings drop down menu from the right-hand side of the top bar.  Select Wired Settings. 
  
-Access [[blocks:server:advanced_server_configuration?s[]=webmin#introducing_webmin | Webmin]] by open the browser and type https://localhost:10000 in the adress bar.  There  may be a warning about certificate, choose to accept and continue to the web page.  Log in webmin to the admin account (pixi-admin by default). +{{:blocks:first-run:20_04lts:topbarsettings.png?1000|}} 
  
-Select Networking/Network configuration from the left hand side menu. +Click the cog wheel to edit the wired connection settings. 
  
-{{ :blocks:first-run:webmin_network_configuration.png?1000;nolink |}}+{{:blocks:first-run:20_04lts:networkwiredcogwheel.png?1000|}} 
  
-Click the Network Interfaces icon to open the settings page. +Select the IPv4 tab, edit the settings and confirm with apply.   
-Reset any settings that may be inherited from a different hardware used during the build of the server image by selecting the "Activated at boot" tab click select all and hit the red Delete and Apply Selected Interfaces button.+
  
-{{ :blocks:server:delete_activated_boot_ni.png?1000;nolink |}}+{{:blocks:first-run:20_04lts:ipv4settings.png?600|}}
  
-Next step is to add the new interfaces. Change to the Active now tab to check the names of available Network Interfaces. Copy the Name of the preferred interface and return to the Activated at Boot tab.  +**IMPORTANT**: Always toggle the purple enable button under "Wired" off then back on again to apply the new settings.  
-(Please note, there is a bug in Webmin not yet fixed in version 1.920 that affects this section, reade more about that [[https://github.com/webmin/webmin/issues/930 |here]]). +
- +
- {{ :blocks:first-run:webmin_network_copy_nic_name.png?1000;nolink |}} +
- +
-At the Activated at Boot tab, select the Add a new interface option.  +
- +
-{{ :blocks:server:webmin_network_addinterface.png?1000:nolink  |}} +
- +
-Paste your Network Interface name copied from the Active tab and setup you IP settings. In this case I selected the default Pixi Server ip settings. Click the Crate and Apply to confirm. +
- +
-{{:blocks:first-run:bootup_interface.png?1000;nolink |}} +
- +
-:!: If the server has several network connectors, now is a good time to label the physical ports on the server.  +
-Assuming only one Ethernet Interface has been configured and made active you can do the following to find out which physical port we just added: plug in the network cable that is connected to a ethernet switch to one of the ports. If the status LEDs remain black move the cable to the next until you find the one that is active confirmed by the status LED become active.  +
- +
-=== Gateway === +
- +
-:!: Do not set the //gateway// parameters unless you have an actual gateway available and need outside network access via this gateway. Specifying a gateway when none exists may result network delays or timeouts while looking for the non-existing gateway. +
- +
-Click the Networking and select Network Configuration to open the open the configuration panel. +
- +
-{{ :blocks:server:webmin_routing_gateways.png?1000;nolink |}} +
- +
-Click the Routing and Gateways button. +
- +
-{{:blocks:first-run:routing_and_gateways.png?1000;nolink |}} +
- +
-Select the Gateway radio button and enter your gateway ip adress and select the ethernet interface connected to the network with the gateway.  +
-  * Click the green "Save" button.  +
-  * Click the blue "Return to network configuration" button. +
-  * Click the blue "Click to apply Configuration" to apply the saved settings without reboot the computer. +
- +
-=== Configure DNS === +
- +
-:!: Only specify an upstream DNS if you need this to access external services from your Blocks system. This is not required for a stand alone system without internet access. +
- +
-From the Network configuration panel, click the "Hostname and DNS client button". +
- +
- +
-{{ :blocks:server:webmin_hostname_dns.png?1000;nolink |}} +
- +
-{{ :blocks:server:webmin_dns_client_options.png?1000;nolink |}} +
- +
-Enter the IP-adress of your favorite DNS server(s) in the text boxes. +
- +
-  * Click the green "Save" button. +
-  * Click the blue "Return to network configuration" button. +
-  * Click the blue "Apply configuration" to apply the settings without reboot the computer.+
  
 +{{:blocks:first-run:20_04lts:toggleenabled.png?600|}} 
  
 +=== Configure DNS === 
  
 +:!: Only specify an upstream DNS if you need this to access external services from your Blocks system. This is not required for a stand-alone system without internet access. 
  
 +Use the same method as above and add your favorite DNS servers to the settings. 
  
 +{{:blocks:first-run:20_04lts:ipv4withdns.png?600|}} 
 ===== First Access ===== ===== First Access =====
  
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   * Netmask: 255.255.0.0   * Netmask: 255.255.0.0
  
-Make sure the settings are applied. The address chosen here is arbitrary, and the last group of digits can be anything between 2 and 254, except 10 (which is the server already connected to the same network). Open a web browser on this other computer, and type //10.2.0.10/edit// into the address bar at the top. If the connection succeeds, you will be prompted to enter a user name and password:+Make sure the settings are applied. The address chosen here is arbitrary, and the last group of digits can be anything between 2 and 254, except 10 (which is the server). Open a web browser on this other computer, and type //10.2.0.10/edit// into the address bar at the top. If the connection succeeds, you will be prompted to enter a user name and password:
  
   * Name: //admin//   * Name: //admin//
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 :!: Make a note of this password in a safe place. :!: Make a note of this password in a safe place.
  
-After completing this basic set-up, you may want to continue with more [[Advanced Server Configuration]].+After completing this basic set-up, you may want to continue with more [[advanced_server_configuration| Advanced Server Configurtion]]. Before you start using your shiny, new Blocks server you should also consider what [[blocks:server:backup|Backup Strategy]] suits your needs best. Regardless of the method chosen, //any// backup is far better than no backup. So make sure you take this important aspect of a Blocks installation into consideration from the start.