OPS235 Lab 3 - Fedora17

OPS235 Lab 3: Logical Volume Management and Software Package Management

Introduction

• In this lab, you are going to learn how to properly adjust your various Linux file systems by using and managing LVM both graphically (fedora1, fedora2) as well as command line (fedora3).

• Also in this lab, you will learn how to add and remove software packages on your different Linux systems.

Objectives

1. Learn about LVM concepts including Physical / Logical Volumes and Volume Groups.
2. Learn how to properly resize file-systems using LVM, and understand the consequences to the filesystem due to mistakes.
3. Learn how to add and remove software packages using RPM.

Required Materials (Bring to All Labs)

• Fedora 16 LIVE CD - You can burn this onto a CD-R in the Open Lab
• Fedora 16 x_64 Installation DVD - You can burn this onto a DVD-R in the Open Lab (or burn image onto a DVD+R if you are using the Freedom Toaster).
• SATA Hard Disk (in removable disk tray)
• USB Memory Stick (minimum 64M)
• Lab Logbook (Lab3 Reference Sheet) (to make notes and observations).

Prerequisites

• Completion and Instructor "Sign-off" of Lab 2: OPS235 Lab 2

Linux Command Online Reference

Each Link below displays online manpages for each command (via http://linuxmanpages.com):

LVM Information Utilities:	LVM Management Utilities:	Additional Utilities:
vgs lvs pvs vgdisplay lvdisplay pvdisplay	system-config-lvm (Tutorial) lvextend resize2fs lvcreate lvreduce pvcreate vgextend	mount umount yum rpm

Resources on the web

Additional links to tutorials and HOWTOs: Please read this page to get an overview of LVM:

• Logical Volume Management (Note: It is recommended to return to this guide as a reference when performing the next several investigations)
• Using the RPM Utility
• Using the YUM Utility

Logical Volume Management

Definition of LVM / Check Current LVM Information Prior to Performing Investigations

Check LVM Information for all Fedora 16 Installs

LVM (Logical Volume Management) is used to manage hard disk drives / partitions for Unix/Linux systems. LVM provides more flexibility than just working with hard disks / hard disk partitions. Volume Groups are areas used to define Physical Volumes (i.e. hard disks, disk partitions, or other forms of storage devices). Logical Volumes are then used to relate directories (mount points) to a specific physical volume or for a "range" or "span" of physical volumes.

Therefore, LVM allows more flexibility and growth potential for Linux systems (for example, having Logical volumes span multiple hard disks). Fedora uses LVM by default upon installation. Other Linux distributions may provide the capacity to install LVM, or later install and then use Logical Volume Management.

Although the concept of LVM is simple, it takes practice and preparation (or "thinking ahead") in order to correctly use this valuable tool. It is important for students to gain an understanding of LVM, and how to manage their file-systems using LVM. It is recommended for students to read the following resource prior to this lab and/or return to the following resource while performing this lab: Logical Volume Management

At this point, having completed Lab 2 you should have roughly the following disk storage setup:
(Note: These results are output from the vgs, lvs, and pvs commands that provide volume group, physical volume and logical volume information for each of the virtual machines that you created in lab2. Before proceeding, check these values with your own system to see if you are generally "on the right track".

NOTE: Information based on a 250 GB Removable Hard Disk:

• fedora1

 VG         #PV #LV #SN Attr   VSize VFree
 vg_fedora1   1   2   0 wz--n- 9.50g    0

 PV         VG         Fmt  Attr PSize PFree
 /dev/vda3  vg_fedora1 lvm2 a--  9.50g    0

 LV      VG         Attr   LSize Origin Snap%  Move Log Copy%  Convert
 lv_root vg_fedora1 -wi-ao 8.03g                                     
 lv_swap vg_fedora1 -wi-ao 1.47g 

• fedora2

 VG         #PV #LV #SN Attr   VSize  VFree
 vg_fedora2   1   3   0 wz--n- 14.50g 3.25g

 PV         VG         Fmt  Attr PSize  PFree
 /dev/vda3  vg_fedora2 lvm2 a--  14.50g 3.25g

 LV      VG         Attr   LSize Origin Snap%  Move Log Copy%  Convert
 lv_home vg_fedora2 -wi-ao 1.97g                                     
 lv_root vg_fedora2 -wi-ao 7.81g                                     
 lv_swap vg_fedora2 -wi-ao 1.47g 

• fedora3 (Note: This VM has no GUI installed)

 VG         #PV #LV #SN Attr   VSize VFree
 vg_fedora3   1   3   0 wz--n- 9.51g    0

 PV         VG         Fmt  Attr PSize PFree
 /dev/vda3  vg_fedora3 lvm2 a--  9.51g    0

 LV      VG         Attr   LSize   Origin Snap%  Move Log Copy%  Convert
 lv_home vg_fedora3 -wi-ao   1.00g                                     
 lv_root vg_fedora3 -wi-ao   8.00g                                     
 lv_swap vg_fedora3 -wi-ao 520.00m                                     

 PV         VG         Fmt  Attr PSize PFree
 /dev/vda2  vg_fedora3 lvm2 a-   9.80G 3.83G

• f16host (i.e. "removable hard disk" or "disk pack")

 VG         #PV #LV #SN Attr   VSize   VFree
 vg_f16host   1   3   0 wz--n- 232.38g    0

 PV         VG         Fmt  Attr PSize   PFree
 /dev/sda3  vg_f16host lvm2 a--  232.38g    0

 LV      VG         Attr   LSize   Origin Snap%  Move Log Copy%  Convert
 lv_home vg_f16host -wi-ao 176.62g                                     
 lv_root vg_f16host -wi-ao  50.00g                                     
 lv_swap vg_f16host -wi-ao   5.75g

VM Backups and Recovery
Most of these investigations will take place in your virtual machines. If you make a significant mistake, your virtual machine may not boot. Remember that you created backups of your virtual machines in Lab 2, and you can restore them if something goes wrong.

Remember: if you did not create backups for all of your VMs, then you don't have any restoration points to fall-back to!

Investigation 1: Adjusting Sizes of lv_root and lv_home

Why Readjust sizes of lv_root and lv_home?

If you refer to the LV sizes of your f16host, you may notice that the size of lv_root (your root system) is quite small compared to the size of lv_home. The Virtual Machines that you have created are stored in the directory pathname /var/lib/libvirt/images/, and since you are required to make backups and create future VMs (assignments), you will run out of space!

On the other hand, you may notice that lv_home is extremely large. Therefore, we are going to use LVM management tools to redistribute those logical volume sizes.

LV resize is Required!
You MUST perform the following steps in order to re size lv_home and lv_root logical volumes. Failure to perform this operation will likely cause the user to run out of space in /var/lib/libvirt/images/ directory used to hold future Virtual Machine installations (e.g. assignments).

Perform the following operations to redistribute the sizes of lv_root and lv_home in f16host:

Steps:

1. Make certain you are in your f16host system.

Resizing Logical Volumes While Still in Use
There is a problem when trying to resize lv_home while users are currently logged in. Please note and record the following procedure to resize these volumes. You should research these commands and gain an appreciation of why you are performing these sequence of commands.

2. Log-off all users on the GUI. You won't be able to complete this procedure if any users other than "root" are logged in.
3. Press the keyboard combination Ctrl-Alt-F3 to a switch to a text-based Virtual Terminal
4. Log into your root account (eg. username: root password: admin password)
5. Enter the following Linux commands:

umount /home

lvreduce -L 20G -r vg_f16host/lv_home

lvextend -l 100%FREE -r vg_f16host/lv_root

mount -a

logout

System error messages
You may experience "random" system error messages while you are performing this procedure. You can ignore these messages, but name certain that above commands have been completed (i.e. "dont' panic and press ctrl-c"). You can issue the lvs command to confirm that lv_root now has more space...

6. Press the keyboard combination Ctrl-Alt-F2 to return to GUI
7. Log into your account.
8. Open a terminal.
9. Issue the vgs, pvs, and lvs commands to verify new volume information for your f16host.
10. Proceed to Investigation #1.

Answer the Investigation 1 observations / questions in your lab log book.

Investigation 2: How are LVMs managed using system-config-lvm?

Perform this investigation on the VM named fedora2.

Screenshot of system-config-lvm in Fedora. Click to enlarge.

1. Let's learn to administer (manage) our LVM graphically for our Fedora2 Virtual Machine.
   Fedora provides a tool called system-config-lvm to graphically administer LVM. It will appear on the menu as Application>Other>Logical Volume Management. The package may not be installed by default, so you will need to install it by issuing: (yum install system-config-lvm).

2. Use this tool to determine the current LVM configuration by clicking on the appropriate element and reading the properties in the right-hand panel -- write down the answers:
   1. What are the names and sizes of the PVs?
   2. What is the name and size of the VG?
   3. What are the names and sizes of the LVs?
   4. Is there any space in the VG which is not allocated to a LV?
3. Increase the size of the home file-system to 2 GB:
   1. Click on the LV containing the home filesystem.
   2. Click on Edit Properties.
   3. Change the size to 2 GB and click Ok.
4. Create a new 2G LV (LV Properties: linear) containing an ext4 filesystem named lv_archive and mount it at /archive
   1. Click on Logical View.
   2. Click the Create New Logical Volume.
   3. Set the name, size, filesystem, and mount point.
   4. Click Ok.
5. Backup /etc into /archive

• Copy the files in /etc into the filesystem mounted at /archive
  (use the graphical tools or the command line. If using cp, remember to use the -R option).

6. Shrink the size of lv_archive to 1 GB.
7. Try shrinking the home file-system. What happens? What would you think would happen if you further reduced the size of your home file-system?

Answer the Investigation 2 observations / questions in your lab log book.

Investigation 3: How are LVMs managed using Command-Line Tools?

Perform this investigation on the VM named fedora3.

Only Take Notes - Do not Execute Commands
You are going to repeat the same LVM management operations (as your did with the fedora2 VM), but you will using command-line tools in the fedora 3 VM. You are required to record the Linux commands to acheive the same results as in Investigation #1. You are not required to issue those commands on your fedora3 VM.

1. Take time to view the following reference for LVM management via command line: Logical Volume Management

2. Write down the exact commands used at each step as well as command output in your Lab3 log-book:

Answer the Investigation 3 observations / questions in your lab log book.

Software Package Management

Investigation 4: How do you query the RPM database?

RPM maintains a database of installed software. This information is very useful to system administrators. In Lab 3, you queried that database using RPM with the -q argument. When you query the RPM database, you can separately specify:

• Which packages you want information about, using a select-option
• What information you want about those packages, using a query-option

Perform the following steps:

1. Using information from the man page for rpm, fill in this information:

Option	Meaning	Is this a select-option or a query-option?
-a	Select all packages	select-option
-l
-p filename'	Select this uninstalled package
-i	Show the package license, packager, URL, description, and other general information.
-f filename
packagename	Select just this package	select-option

Answer the Investigation 4 observations / table contents in your lab log book.

Investigation 5: How do you install and remove software with RPM?

1. Change to the directory on your Installation DVD containing the file: lynx-2.8.7-2.fc16.x86_64.rpm
2. Execute this command: rpm -i lynx-2.8.7-2.fc16.x86_64.rpm
3. Issue an RPM query to check that lynx is installed.
4. Issue this command: rpm -e lynx
5. Issue an RPM query to verify that lynx is no longer installed.
6. Issue this command: rpm -i BackupPC-3.1.0-16.fc16.noarch.rpm and note the result

Answer the Investigation 5 observations / questions in your lab log book.

Investigation 6: How do you install and remove software with yum?

Internet Connection
In order for yum to work you require a connection to the Internet. Establish this connection by using the browser to log into SeneNET

1. Change to your home directory.

2. Issue the command: yum install BackupPC and answer y to the question about installation.
   1. Where did yum get the BackupPC software?
   2. Why could yum install BackupPC when rpm couldn't?
3. Issue an RPM query to verify that BackupPC is installed.
4. Issue the command: yum remove BackupPC
5. Issue an RPM query to verify that BackupPC is no longer installed.
6. Install nled using yum.
7. Issue this command: yum info cups

• Based on the result, do you think that cups is a useful package for your system? If not, try removing it.

8. Unused and unneeded software can present a security risk and ties up disk space needlessly. Find at least 4 other packages that you're not using on your system, and remove them. Be careful to ensure that removing those packages does not also remove other software that you do need.

Answer the Investigation 6 observations / questions in your lab log book.

Completing the lab

Time for a new backup!
If you have successfully completed this lab, make a new backup of your virtual machines. Remember to also make a backup of the new second virtual disk drive on fedora1 -- you now have two virtual disks on fedora1, and therefore two image files, and therefore will need two backup files.

Arrange evidence for each of these items on your screen, then ask your instructor to review them and sign off on the lab's completion:

1. Larger /home on fedora2 and fedora3.
2. Unnecessary/unused packages have been deleted (list at least 4, and show that they are no longer installed).
3. Account created on fedora3 matching your Matrix account.
4. nled installed on the host (disk pack - main system f16host).
5. Answer to this question:
   • What is the license of the nautilus package?
6. Fresh backup of the virtual machines.

Preparing for the Quizzes

1. What is a VG? PV? LV?
2. What does yum do that rpm does not?
3. What is the total size of the "main" VG on your system?
4. How do you create a LV?
5. How do you delete an LV?
6. How would you increase the size of the root filesystem by 50 MB?