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laptop_install

Last edited by Josep Virgili Llop

SRL Laptop install Linux, Matlab, and basic utilities.

Before starting, assign the computer a name, registered it in SRL Laptop Fleet, and add a sticker.

In general the steps required to get a computer up and running are:

  • Install Windows (optional)
  • Install Ubuntu
  • Install basic utilities
  • Install MATLAB

To help in the installation we have a few scripts in this public repo.

Install Windows (optional)

The first step is to install Windows. Ask ITACS to do a fresh Windows install, or alternatively install it yourself (a copy of Windows can be obtained via the NPS Software Library). Once Windows is installed shrink the Windows partition (e.g., using this guide) leaving space for the Ubuntu installation, 100 GB will do.

Install Ubuntu 16.04

Install Ubuntu 16.04. If Windows is installed, install Ubuntu alongside, and create a dual-boot machine.

During the installation try to connect to the internet with a wired connection, download updates from the internet, and select the option to install third-party software.

During the Ubuntu installation it will ask you to introduce your name, the computer's name, and a username. For all these fields use the lowercase version of the name that is written on the machine's sticker. For example, if the in the sticker reads SRL-ROTEX use rotex. Use any password at this time as we will be changing it later. Ubuntu basic configuration

Once you have Ubuntu up and running, let's first change the password to our default one core:

sudo passwd username

Change username to your username.

To connect to the internet with your wireless card follow the instructions on NPS ERN on Linux (Ubuntu) and to use a wired connection whitelist your MAC use using the TAC Forms.

If you didn't have internet while installing Ubuntu, update your system:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

Install basic utilities

First install git

sudo apt-get install git

Then clone this repo into the Documents folder:

cd Documents
git clone https://gitlab.nps.edu/srl/SRL_Laptop_Install.git

Use the Basic_install.sh from this public repo to get your system upgraded and to install Smartgit (our git client of choice) and Sublime Text (our text editor of choice).

Create SSH keys to use with gitlab

Use this guide to add the ssh keys to your Gitlab profile.

To help you with this process you can use generate_ssh_keys.sh.

Install MATLAB

Install MATLAB, available via the NPS Software Library. We currently use MATLAB 2018b. This can take a long time.

After the installation is complete install the following package:

 sudo apt-get install matlab-support

Update time

Given that the NPS firewall blocks the default's Ubuntu time server the machine's time may slip. To update the time use update_time.sh.

No permanent fix has been found for this issue #1