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User Guide

The system administration laboratories allow operating systems to run natively from local hard drives.

To install operating system images, a simple boot menu is loaded when the computer starts.

The operating system image is installed onto the first hard drive as seen by the storage controller.

If a second drive is present, it is used as a cache to speed up reinstallation.

Caution:

Never write data to the second drive, even if it appears to be empty.

It functions as a cache.

Writing to it unnecessarily slows down future reinstalls because the entire image will need to be downloaded from the network again.

It may also slow down operating system installations during subsequent classes.

Boot Menu

The boot menu may contain many entries, but only a few are intended for regular users.

The most commonly used actions are usually listed first.

Install the course operating system image onto the hard drive and shut down (default option)
Install the course operating system image onto the hard drive

Select “Install image” or “Install image + shutdown”.

Whether the instructor scheduled the image before the class or does so during the class, installation will automatically start on all powered-on computers waiting for installation.

If you do not want the computer to shut down automatically after installation, select “Install image” (without shutdown).

Boot the operating system
Select “Boot from local disk” from the boot menu.
Boot an operating system from the network
Select “Progtest” or “Moodle” from the boot menu.
Select an image

Select “Image selection” from the boot menu.

After the selection is completed, the computer enters image installation mode and writes the selected image to the local hard drive.

Once the selection process is finished, the application waits for user confirmation.

Images selected in this manner can only be installed on the current workstation.

Anyone may configure an image for their current workstation. This enables, for example, individual preparation for students from other classes or independent work when the laboratory is operating in self-service mode.

(Configuring an image for the entire classroom with a single action is available only to authorized instructors.)

For local installation, it is sufficient to set the task validity period to one minute (the default value is five minutes).

During the validity period, restarting the computer is enough to trigger reinstallation without selecting the image again.

Longer validity periods are usually used only by instructors to define the default image during their teaching sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

I installed an image, rebooted, the computer started the default boot menu option, and now it displays something like Waiting for server response and nothing happens.
The image currently installed on the local disk must be started explicitly from the boot menu.
  • To start the installed operating system:
    • After turning on the computer, select “Boot from local disk” from the boot menu. This transfers control to the bootloader on the hard drive, which attempts to start the installed operating system.
  • Automatic image reinstallation after reboot is typically enabled by default. This simplifies cleanup when leaving the classroom, since it is sufficient to restart the computer and allow the default boot menu option to execute (after completion, the workstation should shut down automatically).
No image is installed, booting from the disk is not possible, I rebooted the computer, and it displays something like Waiting for server response and nothing happens.
No installation task is currently scheduled for this computer.
  • If you are waiting for a class, the instructor will schedule the task; no further action is required.
  • In self-service mode, you must install an image yourself using the appropriate menu option.
I installed an image, but I cannot log in regardless of whether I use the system password, the main password, or something else.

The administration laboratories do not support integration with authentication servers. Usernames and passwords for a specific image are provided by the course instructors.

Do not contact the helpdesk regarding this issue, as we cannot assist you.

I created useful solutions during class. How can I keep them for future use?
Due to the purpose of these classrooms, personal network storage cannot be connected directly. However, there are several alternatives:
  • Use scp to transfer files to the fray servers.
  • If supported by the image, external storage devices can be used to save files.