This is a guide to getting the ZoneCD configured. During
the boot a series of dialog boxes will be presented to gather the required
information needed to get the ZoneCD running. You only need to do this
one time. After you complete the configuration it will be saved to floppy
for the next boot.
Bash dialogs
- Tab will change the selected option, field,
or button.
- Space Bar is used to make a selection from a group
of choices
- Enter is used to accept the selection and move to the next screen.
This guide is broken down into sections. The relevancy of each section
depends on your selections during the boot. E.g., if you select
Closed mode during configuration, the Open mode section will not be
very helpful.
ZoneCD version 0.6-0 is displayed. Your display may vary.
- The Boot
- Open Mode
- Closed Mode
- Static IP Config
- Finishing the Boot
|
The Boot |
OK,
here we go. This is the boot splash you will see when the CD starts to
boot.
|
During the boot you will see a bunch of messages going by on the
screen. If you see a lot or error messages that look like ":I/O
error, dev f0:f1 (cloop), sector ..." you probably had
a bad download. Sometimes a file will sustain damage during the
download. If you see messages like this, you should delete the iso from
your computer and get it again.
Otherwise, if you see none of these messages,
just be patient and let the CD continue to boot...
|
If
you are using a USB thumb drive to save your configuration then you may see
this screen if the drive is not properly formatted or there is an error in
the partition table on the disk. Select <Yes> to have the zonecd automatically
partition and format the drive. NOTE: You will lose all
existing data on the drive. |
This
is a sample of normal output from the programs used to format the USB drive. |
This is the Preamble to the GNU
General Public License. This will only appear when an unconfigured
system is booting. Say yes to continue with the configuration.
|
If
you see this message, then you have not put the floppy or USB thumb drive
in. Stick the floppy in the drive or plug your USB drive in, and hit "Enter" to
continue. The ZoneCD will not boot without configuration media.
|
This
screen shows up every boot. It gives you an opportunity to change your
configuration. A bit of advise, pop the floppy out if you want to reconfigure.
I always miss it and need to reboot. This dialog will only wait 5 seconds
for you to respond. If you select nothing here on the first boot, the
ZoneCD will boot in Closed mode with dhcp for your network configuration.
|
Select
the mode you want your ZoneCD to run in. Closed mode requires that you
have already created a login in Zone Control. NOTE: Master logins (email
addresses) can not be used to boot the ZoneCD.
|
Select how you want the ZoneCD to run. This has nothing to do with WiFi,
NoCat, or anything else. This is an option for the Operating System.
Non - Linux geeks will probably be the most comfortable with GUI (Graphical
User Interface).
GUI will give you a basic desktop with a web browser. LessX only
starts the X server and a single rxvt session, no window manager. This
is done because the ZoneCD boots to runlevel 5, without the rxvt session,
you get a broken shell(no job control). NoX should be
used on headless systems. |
Select
the way you want to configure the network for the wired side of the ZoneCD
box (the wireless side is hard coded 10.10.10.1)
|
Open Mode |
Enter
a URL to redirect your users to after they click the button on the splash
page. If you do not want your users to be redirected then select "No
Redirect" to have them go to their normal homepage after the splash.
|
In
Open mode you need to tell the ZoneCD to enable or disable the content
filter.
|
Once
you finish the Open mode configuration, a screen will display the configuration.
Just hit Enter.
|
Closed Mode |
Closed
mode requires that you have already created a login in Zone Control.
This is required to download your configuration and to send/receive updates
from the Control server. Enter the login you created for this zone.
NOTE: Master logins (email addresses) can not be used to boot the
ZoneCD.
|
Enter your password. This is a special dialog that will not display
what is typed. This will keep the password from being seen.
|
OOPS!
This dialog could be bad. If you don't get a successful authentication
the second, or third time (if you have really fat fingers), then there
is no Internet access available. Auto configuration probably failed to
obtain an IP address for the wired network connection (eth0), or DNS is
failing. But before you panic, switch the network cables and reboot. If
this continues, hit the forum.
|
Once
you finish the Closed mode configuration, a screen will display the configuration.
Just hit Enter.
|
Static IP Config |
Enter an IP address to use for the wired side network connection
(AKA eth0).
|
Enter
the subnet mask to use. Unless you have some special network setup, 255.255.255.0
is safe to use.
|
Enter the IP address of the gateway. In the example, this is the
IP address of a router. This is the suggested setup. The ZoneCD box should
be connected to a router, not directly to the Internet.
|
Enter
the IP address of the primary nameserver In the example, this is the
IP address of a router. You can also use the IP of your ISP's nameserver.
|
Enter
the IP address of the secondary nameserver. This is optional, if you
don't have a secondary nameserver, just leave it blank and hit Enter.
|
Finishing the Boot |
Since
the zonecd does not install to your hard drive the files system is mounted
on a RAM disk. This requires additional RAM (minimum 128MB )to keep the zonecd
running smoothly. You can use the next few dialogs to automatically reboot
the zonecd to help keep memory resources optimized. |
The
ZoneCD uses UTC, aka GMT, to synchronize it's activities with the Control
Server. To reboot the zonecd at the correct local time to must select your
geographic location. |
Select
your city, or time zone. |
Select
the time you want the reboot. |
After
you complete the dialogs, you will see several messages that update you
during the configuration and initialization of your setup.
|
LessX
(shown) only starts the X server and a single rxvt session, no window
manager. This is done because the ZoneCD boots to runlevel 5, without
the rxvt session (NoX) you get a broken shell(no job control).

|
|
GUI will start a desktop session that gives you access to a web browser
and a few other goodies. |
| Your Done! HAVE FUN!! |
| Everything that needs
to be running is configured and ready to go... You don't need to do anything.
All that's left is setting up your AP. If you haven't already reviewed the
setup guide, you can check it out here... |