Need instructions on how to set up a cluster of computers so they collaborate.

[Caroline]

Please create teacher friendly instructions on how to set up a cluster of computers, without internet access, to use Sugar on a Stick and collaborate locally with each other.

[Caroline (cmeeks)]

I tried this with the 5 port version of this:
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Switches/DesktopSwitches/FS605.aspx

It did not work, the computers did not see each other.

[bogstad (bogstad)]

After further testing, the problem is that ipv4 link-local address allocation doesn't work
with the Strawberry SoaS.

A workaround for now is to use a cheap cable modem router instead of a simple switch. Cheap consumer routers bundle a DHCP server with the switch/router which works fine.

[bogstad (bogstad)]

I've done some more investigation and it looks like the avahi-daemon is being
started to register address allocations, but no attempt to run avahi-autoipd every
happens. I think what is going on is that NetworkManager tries to use dhclient to
get an IP address. When this fails, it gives up. It should instead try to run avahi-autoipd
to configure the interface.

I base this on looking at /var/log/messages and manually running the /etc/init.d scripts for avahi and networking manager. If I manually run avahi-autoipd it happily configures the appropriate interface.

I tried a Fedora 11 Live ISO in the same environment and it also fails with the same types of log messages. It appears that Fedora 11 doesn't automatically assign
link-local addresses in the default configuration. I guess this makes this a Fedora 11
bug (or at least lack of feature). If I get the chance I'll try to test the Fedora 12 Alpha ISO to see the problem is still there.

[bogstad (bogstad)]

I finally got around to trying out the Fedora 12 Alpha ISO, it also seems to not automatically start avahi-autoipd.
For the near future, unless SoaS wants to make some changes to it's Fedora base, it would appear that we will
have to recommend that a DHCP server always be available on the network. Most cheap wireless routers
already do this. Most ethernet switches do not and as a result should not be recommended for for use with SoaS
in wired configurations. It is possible to daisy chain a single wireless router to multiple ethernet switches
if more then (the typically 4) machines need to be connected via wires.

[Sebastian Dziallas (sdziallas)]

Is there an easy way to start avahi-autoipd automatically and would this make sense? If yes, we might want to do so, I guess.

[Sebastian Dziallas (sdziallas)]

Ping?

[Caroline (cmeeks)]

I think we now understand how to do this. We still need someone to write it up in a way that is easy to do for people doing demos at conferences or setting up computer stations in a classroom.

Anurag should be able to help with this.