hartman-server/docs

Administrators

Helper Scripts

Type sudo script- and use tab completion to access the following helper programs.

• sudo script-user-add <username> <password>
• sudo script-user-remove <username>
  • Optionally backup the user home directory to the array before removal.
• sudo script-user-reset-password <username> <password>
  • Reset a user's password if forgotten.
• sudo script-user-reset-x2go <username>
  • Completely reset the X2Go state for the user (destroys active/paused sessions).
• sudo script-user-unban <ip_address>
  • Temporarily unban an IP blocked by fail2ban.
• sudo script-files-permissions-set <username> <password> [PATH ...]
  • Set sane permissions on one or more paths, or the current directory if none provided.
• sudo script-files-permissions-reset [PATH ...]
  • Reset permissions on /mnt/data if no path is provided.
  • Use as a last resort to reset original permissions for shared data.
• sudo script-system-scheduled-restart <OnCalendar>
  • If not provided, defaults to *-*-* 01:30:00 (1:30 AM).
  • See Calendar Events for formatting.
  • Alerts users via notify-send (X2Go), wall (SSH), and adds a reminder to the MOTD.
• sudo script-user-reset-desktop <username>
  • Reset a user’s desktop (MATE configuration) to default.
  • Can also be run in user mode (without sudo) for personal accounts.

Cockpit Server Administration

Graphical system settings tool for monitoring and performing common tasks.

In an X2Go session, via a web browser at http://localhost:9090

Deploying stow server configuration packages

Server scripts and configs are organized using GNU Stow packages and can be deployed directly from this directory.

• Deploy system-wide MATE layout and themes: sudo stow --adopt -R -t / theme
• Deploy system-wide scripts: sudo stow --adopt -R -t / scripts
• Deploy system config files: sudo stow --adopt -R -t / config

Service management

Login via ssh or cat /etc/motd to view current service statuses.

• Start service: sudo systemctl start <service>
• Stop service: sudo systemctl stop <service>
• Enable service at boot: sudo systemctl enable <service>
• Disable service at boot: sudo systemctl disable <service>
• Restart service: sudo systemctl restart <service>
• Reload systemd daemon: sudo systemctl daemon-reload
• Read service file: sudo systemctl cat <service>

Virtual Machine Management

Windows VMs

• Use virt-manager to create a new VM, you will be asked for your credentials in the GUI.

  • Optionally copy an existing Windows .qcow2 image to avoid reinstalling Windows and virtio drivers.
  • If creating a new VM, Windows virtio virtualization drivers available are at /usr/share/virtio-win.

• Activate Windows using the UAB license in elevated PowerShell:

  slmgr -skms itis-msls.ad.uab.edu
  slmgr -ato
  

• Add the UAB DNS servers (138.26.5.2, 138.26.5.66) to the Windows network config to access UAB resources.

Allow Access to Samba Share (Windows Bug Workaround)

1. Open C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts and copy its contents.
2. Paste into a new text document and add the appropriate blazerid and server IP lines.
3. Save as hosts (no extension).
4. Copy the new hosts file to C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\ (overwrite existing).
5. The user can now map/access their samba shares at \\blazerid\data and \\blazerid\blazerid.

Make an Existing Windows Account User an Administrator

1. Log in as the Azure AD user you want to make a local admin.
2. Log out and log in as a local admin.
3. In elevated PowerShell: net localgroup administrators AzureAD\blazerid@uab.edu /add

Enlarge VM Disk Space

• Add 20 GB to the Windows VM: sudo qemu-img resize /var/lib/libvirt/images/win11-5900.qcow2 +20G
• Add GParted ISO as boot device and expand the working partition.