ITS Linux Support
Using Linux at UVa
ITS Support for Linux
To members of the UVa community, ITS offers limited support in using the Linux operating system. ITS support is available in the following areas:
- Software. ITS provides an install server that includes the Fedora operating system and other enhancements. The installation is pre-configured to work on the UVa network. (No version of the installation is available for at-home use.)
- Problem Resolution. Questions and requests for assistance in using Linux can be directed to the UVa Help Desk.
- Documentation. Ample documentation for most aspects of the Linux operating system can be found on a multitude of Linux-oriented websites, some of which are listed on the Related Links of this page. Additionally, ITS provides some documents specific to use of Linux at UVa, but this documentation is geared toward intermediate to advanced users; novice users should plan on augmenting their knowledge with published manuals, or other resources.
- For-fee Services. ITS offers a variety of fee-based services in support of UNIX operating systems, including Linux, on UVa machines. For a list of such services, including prices, see the UNIX System Services page.
Linux Administrators Mailing List
Administrators of computers running Linux are encouraged to join UVa's linux-admins mailing list. This is an open and unmoderated mailing list—meaning that any member of the UVa community may join the list and post information to it freely. ITS will use the linux-admins list to notify UVa linux administrators of patches, security issues, and so on as they arise. The list will also serve as a mechanism by which members of the Linux community can exchange information relating to the Linux operating system.
Instructions for Mounting Remote File Systems
A file system can be "mounted" on your Linux system interactively or automatically at startup. Then the file system is just as accessible as any other file system on your computer. ITS-licensed software, such as Matlab, MAPLE, Mathematica, and IDL are on a server that handles any license restrictions and can be mounted as described in these instructions.
Linux Applications Available from ITS
ITS makes a number of Linux applications and utilities available in the mountable /uva/bin tree, mountable /contrib/bin tree, or for installation on your own machine.
Security and Recovery
You can take steps to protect yourself from intruders who attempt to break into your Linux system; see UNIX/Linux Security Best Practices from ITS for some things to do to make intrusion more difficult.
