** Using WeBWorK **

Installing WeBWorK on Debian using Floppies. (brief, quicker version)

by Samuel Hathaway (sh002i@math.rochester.edu) and Christopher Harrington(ch003i@math.rochester.edu)
Special thanks to Lars Jensen and Arnold Pizer for their helpful Debian and RedHat Installation tips.

TABLES OF CONTENTS

I. Creating Installation Disks

II. Installing Debian

III. Installing WeBWorK on Debian

IV. Installing the demoCourse

Part ONE: Creating Debian Installation Disk Images on your Floppies

YOU NEED: Three formatted 1.44 meg floppies.

1. We are assuming that you are using the 'idepci' installation set. See section 5.2 "Choosing the Right installation set" for more details.
Save the following disk images (to same directory on hard-drive):
http://http.us.debian.org/debian/dists/potato/main/disks-i386/current/images-1.44/idepci/driver-1.bin

http://http.us.debian.org/debian/dists/potato/main/disks-i386/current/images-1.44/idepci/root.bin

http://http.us.debian.org/debian/dists/potato/main/disks-i386/current/images-1.44/idepci/rescue.bin

Also, download following utility: http://http.us.debian.org/debian/dists/potato/main/disksi386/current/dosutils/rawrite2.exe

2. You'll need to run rawrite2.exe three times. Each time, insert new floppy, type in appropriate filename "driver-1.bin", "root.bin" or "rescue.bin", specify correct drive (most likely A) and create the images. Be sure to label your disks: DRIVER, ROOT, RESCUE.

Part TWO: Installing Debian
(We're sorry this part is a bit wordy. We didn't want user to get lost)

1. Before you reboot and try to install the new GNU, you should make sure you copy your DNS and Network information.
[This is most likely accessible through "Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Network -> TCP/IP (click on properties). ]

2. Place RESCUE floppy in disk-drive and reboot.

3. A message Welcome to Debian GNU/Linux 2.2! should appear with a prompt at the bottom of the screen. Press <ENTER> to boot.

4. You should eventualy see VFS: Insert root floppy disk to be loaded into RAM disk and press ENTER. Insert the ROOT floppy and press <ENTER>.

5. The Release Notes appear so press <ENTER> to continue.

6. Select "CONFIGURE THE KEYBOARD" (top-choice) and press ENTER.

7. Select approprirate keyboard (most likely the first one -- QWERTY/US)

8. Select "Partition a Hard Disk" (top-choice) and press ENTER.

9. Select which Hard-Drive to format. Default is "/dev/hda".

10. A LILO Limitations screen will appear. You should read this especially if you are using an old computer with a large hard-drive. Press <ENTER> when done.

11. The "cfdisk" utility screen should appear. Use Up/Down Arrow to Highlight different partitions and Left/Right arrows to choose the correct command. Assuming you don't want to save any data, "Delete" any and all partitions.

12. After you delete everything you should have a large chunk of "Free Space".
Choose "New" -> "Primary" and type in size you want. You may want to create more than one partition so choose correct disk sizes according to your needs.
While the Default is ALL you cannot use it all. You're going to need to make a swap partition also!
We recommend you make the Linux partition at least "1 gig" but save at least 100-200 megs for the Swap Parition (which is created in the next step).
Recall, You are writing sizes in Megabytes so, for instance, 10000 would be 10 gigs.

13. Choose [Beginning]. It should default to noting FS (file-system) "Linux".

14. Select [Bootable] and under Flags the word "BOOT" will now appear.

15. Press down to select "Free Space". Then Select [New]. Choose [Primary]. A filesize of 128 Megs would be good idea. Choose [Beginning].

16. With this second partition of LINUX (non-bootable), highlight it and go over to [TYPE]. Press ENTER and a menu of options will appear. Note that 82 is 'Linux Swap'. Press ENTER.

17. Another few options will appear and on the bottom of the screen it will say: "Enter filesystem type: ". Default is 82, which is what you want.

18. Now under FS it should say "Linux Swap" for your second partition. Choose [Write] to save your changes.

19. It will ask: Are you sure you want write the partition the partition table to disk? (yes or no):. Type the whole word "yes".

20. Writing partition table to disk... will appear and then when it finishes choose option [Quit]

21. Installation Main Menu: choose (top choice) "Next: Initalize and Activate a Swap Partition".

22. It should find the "Swap Partition" that you created before. Default may be "/dev/hda2: Linux swap". Press ENTER when you are set.

23. It will ask whether you want to Skip the Scan for Bad Blocks? We chose <Yes> to skip test.

24. Computer asks, Are You Sure? Choose <Yes>

25. Now, the main menu will appear. Choose "Next: Initalize a Linux Partition" (top-choice).

26. Select Partition will appear. Default is "/dev/hda1: Linux native". Choose the linux partition you created first and made bootable. Press ENTER when set.

27. Pre-2.2 Linux Kernel Compatibility? screen will appear. It asks, Do you want to retain Linux kernel 2.0 compatibilty? We chose <No>

28. It will again ask about skipping the test for Bad Blocks. We chose <YES> which means we skipped it.

29. Computer asks, Are You Sure? Choose <Yes>

30. A screen will appear where it is Creating filesystem and the computer will be writing inode tables and other goodies. Wait patiently.

31. Mount as the Root Filesystem? screen will appear. Choose <YES>

32. Main Menu will appear AGAIN. Choose (top-choice) "Next: Install Operating System Kernel and Modules".

33. The Select Installation Medium will appear. Select "/dev/fd0: first floppy drive" and press ENTER.

34. The computer will prompt you to insert the RESCUE FLOPPY. Do so and choose <CONTINUE>. Wait patiently.

35. The computer will prompt you to insert the DRIVER FLOPPY. (The compute refers to it as Disk 1). Do so and choose <CONTINUE>. Wait patiently.

36. Main Menu appears AGAIN. Choose Next: Configurate Device Driver Modules (top-choice).

37. A Question will appear. You want to SKIP this step so chose <YES>.

38. You now need to configure any modules you need in order to access the network. Most of the time, the kernel is able to handle the ethernet drivers and load themselves. However, you can find your own if you need to. We didn't do anything in this step.

39. Choose EXIT and press <ENTER>.

40. You're at the Main MENU. Choose "Configure the Network" (top-choice)

41. Choose the host Name screen should appear. Enter your machine's hostname.

42. Automatic Network Configuration, if you are configured through DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol) then say "Yes". Otherwise choose "No". If you have a specific IP address, choose "No".

43. If you chose "No" then Choose the IP Address screen will come up. Type in the IP address (most likely written down when you began.)
Choose the Network Mask screen will come up. Usually accept the default (255.255.255.0) unless you know differently.
What is your IP gateway address? screen will come up. This is a network property and should be written down. Type in number.

44. If Choose the Domain name appears, you should put a domain name in -- get from network admin. Press ENTER when done.

45. Choose the DNS Server Addresses screen should appear. You should have this information written this down. Type in that number.

46. Main Menu appears again. Choose "Next: Install the Base System" (top-choice).

47. Select Installation Medium screen should appear. Scroll down and choose "network: retrieve from network" choice. Press <ENTER>

48. Fecthing installation files over the network screen appears. Be sure to press <ENTER> to continue and begin HTTP retrieval of files.

49. You can change where you are downloading from if you want to, but normally just accept and press <OK>.

50. Wait patiently as the status bar indicates all the downloading going on. After downloading completes the system will extract the needed files. Finally the Main Menu wil appear again.

51. Choose "Next: Configure the Base System" (top-choice) from the Main Menu.

52. Select Timezone screen appears. We chose "US" then "Eastern" then pressed "OK".

53. Timezone Configuration. We chose "YES".

54. Main Menu: choose "Next: Make Linux Bootable Directly From Hard Disk" (top-choice).

55. Where should the Lilo boot loader be installed? Choose "/dev/hda: Install in the MBR (use if unsure)." That's the top-choice.

56. Main Menu: Choose "Alternate: Reboot the System". In essence, we skipped this step because we have a rescue disk already.

57. Reboot the system? Be sure Remove the floppy disks from the computer before you choose <YES>.

58. After the computer reboots, question: Shall I enable md5 passwords? You can make your own choice but we chose <YES>.

59. Shall I install shadow passwords? Most likely answer <YES>

60. Enter a password for root: Type in the password.

61. Shall I create a normal user account now? Choose <YES>. This user is important in the WeBWorK installation in Part III.

62. Shall I remove the pcmcia packages?. Choose <YES>.

63. Do you want to use a PPP connection to install the system? Most likely you do not. Choose <NO>.

64. Apt Configuration screen will appear. Choose for method "http".

65. Use non-US software? choose <YES>.

66. Use non-free software? choose <YES>.

67. Use contrib software? choose <YES>.

68. Select a country: choose "United States", press <OK>, and pick a mirror. "http.us.debian.org" worked fine last time. <OK>

69. Enter http proxy information, or leave black for none:". If you have a proxy server, fill in information. Else leave blank.

70. The program will test apt sources and hopefully downloading should begin. [If the download appears to be stalling you press Control-C and repeat steps 64-69.]

71 Add another apt source?" Choose <NO>.

72. Choose "simple" installation. <OK>

73. You will be presented with a list of task packages to install. You don't need to choose any. Click "FINISH".

74. anXious screen. Choose <YES> for video card autoconfiguratoin.

75. Do you want to continue? [Y/n] <Y>. This starts the download.

76. Do you have sound hardware installed. Answer is self-explanatory.

77. Do you want /usr/bin/ssh to be installed SUID root? Take their suggestion and choose <NO>. Do you want to run the sshd server? <YES>

78. After you wait for it to finish, it will say [---Press return---]. Press <ENTER>. If you want to configure your own mail, go ahead. Otherwise just choose 5.

80. "Have fun!" WE are done! <press OK>

Part Three: Installing WeBWorK

We'll be referring to two users throughout this installation. The first is "root". The other is [normaluser], which is the user that you created back during Part II.
It is important that when you unpack the WeBWorK files that you be in [normaluser] instead of root.
Therefore, throughout this installation we will explictly say which user you should be in. These symbols will help differentiate.
# = root
>= normaluser

NEED: You really should have a DNS hostname set up for the box that you are installing. Also, know the IP address and information.

1. Login as root

2. Get the following packages: (use apt-get install <packagename>)

libgd-perl (GD.pm)
libhtml-parser-perl (HTML::Entities)
libmime-base64-perl (MIME-Base64)
libnet-perl (NET::SMTP)
latex2html
libcgi-pm-perl (CGI.pm)
apache
nano
libc-dev
gcc
tetex-bin
[the files in () are just details. don't include them in the argument!)

# apt-get install libgd-perl libhtml-parser-perl libmime-base64-perl libnet-perl latex2html lynx gcc libc-dev libcgi-pm-perl nano tetex-bin apache<font size="3">

3. When it asks, 'letter' is the correct response.
4. Edit /etc/latex2html.config (you can use something like nano, pico, ae, emacs to edit)
> nano /etc/latex2html.config

Make sure the following variables are set: [All three changes are consecutive]
$PK_GENERATION=1
$DVIPS_MODE='toshiba'
$METAFONT_DPI=180

5. Login to [normaluser] and start downloading WeBWorK. Now we are ready to obtain and start installing WeBWorK.
Use a web browser (like lynx) connect and login to http://webhost.math.rochester.edu/downloadwebwork
Click on "Download Files".

> lynx http://webhost.math.rochester.edu/downloadwebwork
When you find the correct links press D to download the files. Then "Save them to Disk".
You are getting these files:
webwork_1.6_XXX.tar.gz
templates_1.5_22-August-00.tar.gz

also, optionally you can also get these files. But note they are included in the archives above.
readme.first
readme.install
readme.upgrade
overview.html
setup.html
linuxredhat.html
(Of course, XXX isn't the real file name. It'll be a number according to whatever the latest version is.)

6. Extract the files from the archives. Recall that you are doing this as [normaluser].
> tar -xzf webwork_1.6_XXX.tar.gz

7. Now, login in to root. execute this command:
# chmod 777 /usr/local

8. Return to [normaluser] account window. Execute these commands:
> mv webwork.tar /usr/local
> cd /usr/local
> tar -xf webwork.tar
> rm webwork.tar

9. Return to root account window. Execute this command:
# chmod 755 /usr/local

10. Now, you want to create a group for administration of general WeBWoRK files.
In the root account window type:
# addgroup wwadmin
# adduser [normaluser] wwadmin

(To create users type: adduser [you'll be prompted for name, password, etc.] )
(To add any other users the wwadmin group: adduser <username> wwadmin )

11. Now, we need connect WeBWorK's cgi directory to the webserver. (We are still in the root account).
# mkdir /usr/lib/cgi-bin/webwork
# ln -s /usr/local/webwork/system/cgi /usr/lib/cgi-bin/webwork/system
# ln -s /usr/local/webwork/system/system_html /var/www/webwork_system_html

12. Switch back to [normaluser]. You need to logout and then login. This activates group membership.
> logout

login: [normaluser]
password: bluecowflysatmidnight

> chgrp -R wwadmin /usr/local/webwork/
> chmod -R 755 /usr/local/webwork/

13. As [normaluser], we must run the webwork setup script:
> cd /usr/local/webwork/system
> ./system_webwork_setup.pl
press [enter]
type 'y'
choose 'w' for working.
choose 'n' for no.
What is the full path to perl? press [enter] to accept default ( /usr/bin/perl )
What is the cgi-URL? press [enter] to accept default ( /cgi-bin/webwork/system/ )
What is html-URL? press [enter] to accept default ( /webwork_system_html )
Enter the group name: type 'wwadmin'
Q: "Set courses permissions?" type 'y' for yes.
Q: "Do you want to set the group for all directionaries and files?" type 'y' for yes.
Q: "Set permissions?" type: 'y' for yes.

14. You need to fix "displayMacros.pl". Use an editor (pico, ae, nano) to change "/usr/local/bin" to "/usr/bin" in two places.

> nano /usr/local/webwork/system/courseScripts/displayMarcros.pl
At the end of the file, change "system("/usr/local/bin/latex2html ......") to "system("/usr/bin/latex2html .....")

15. WeBWorK can use the typeset font. Visit http://hutchinson.belmont.ma.us/tth/ (use lynx) to download the C binary file.
> lynx http://hutchinson.belmont.ma.us/tth/
Find the correct link for the C binary file. Press 'D' to download the file and "Save It to Disk".

Once you have tth_C.tgz, go to its directory. Use these commands:
> tar -xzf tth_C.tgz
> cd tth_C
> gcc -o tth tth.c
> mv tth /usr/local/webwork/system/scripts/
(this compiles the file and moves it to the correct directory)

16. We need to fix PDF generation. We need to edit /usr/local/webwork/system/scripts/makePDF.pl (use nano, ae, pico)
> nano /usr/local/webwork/system/scripts/makePDF.pl
you need to replace "/usr/bin/ps2pdf $2.ps $2.pdf > /dev/null 2>&1" to "/usr/bin/pdflatex $2.tex $2.pdf > /dev/null 2>&1"
We are now changing from the program "ps2pdf" to "pdflatex" and we're changing ".ps" to ".tex"
Note: Now, you don't need to generate a .ps file in welcomeAction.pl everytime you just want a .pdf file. This avoids ps2pdf 'invalid font' errors.

17. You need to use an editor (like nano, ae, pico) to update Global.pl with information relevant to your system.
> nano /usr/local/webwork/system/Global.pm

Change $feedbackAddress to correct email for your site. Likewise for $legaladdress and $webmaster. Change $smtpserver to the correct server for your mail.

Part IV: Installing the demoCourse

1. As root, you need to create a group for demoCourse. Then add appropriate group members.
The appropriate group members are professors, TAs, and other people who should be able to edit and view coures data.

# addgroup --force-badname DEMOCOURSE
# adduser www-data DEMOCOURSE
# adduser [normaluser] DEMOCOURSE

2. We need to restart the web server with all new.
# /etc/init.d/apache restart

3. As root, we need to add a symbolic link to demoCourse from webserver.
# mkdir /var/www/webwork
# ln -s /usr/local/webwork/courses/demoCourse/html /var/www/webwork/demoCourse

4. Have [normaluser] logout. Then login in order for the changes to group membership take place. (It is important the script is not ran by root, but instead [normaluser])

> logout
login: [normaluser]
password: igrokspock

> cd /usr/local/webwork/courses/demoCourse
> ./course_webwork_setup.pl
press [enter]
type 'y' for yes
type 'w' for working
type 'y' for yes (to create any missing directories)
default for course URL should be "/webwork/demoCourse". press [enter] to accept default.
default for cgi URL should be "/cgi-bin/webwork/system/". press [enter] to accept default.
default for course link should be "demoCourse". press [enter] to accept default.
type in 'DEMOCOURSE' for group name.
type 'y' to create new webwork.ph file
type 'y' to create new index.html file
type 'y' to set group for all directories and files
type 'y' to set permissions

5. Add webwork scripts directory to your search path. (This is in your [normaluser] account)
NOTE: Anyone who is going be issuing script commands should follow the follow command to add scripts to their search path! (professors, TAs, etc.)
We're going to edit the .bash_profile to add to the search path.

> cd
> nano .bash_profile
add the following line at the end of the file:
PATH = "/usr/local/webwork/system/scripts:${PATH}"

6. Logout of [normaluser] and login again. This activates the new search path settings.
> logout

login: [normaluser]
password: smurfsgotcancelled

> cd /usr/local/webwork/courses/demoCourse/templates
> import_classlist-database.pl demoCourse demoCourse.lst [NOTE: that is a lower-case L, not a 1]
type 'y' to continue with the command line script.
> setProfPermissions.pl demoCourse apizer

Now, you have finished installing the demoCourse. You can login to the web server at access webwork at: http://math.rochester.edu/webwork/demoCourse where "math.rochester.edu" is instead the hostname of your computer.

You can go to the loginpage (on WeBWorK) and use
login --> "apizer"
password --> "111-11-1111"
Here you can now generate problems and other goodies. Be sure to change this password immediately.

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