running programs under nfs

steve-ss

23 May 2004 23 May '04

17:18

Hi Can I use nfs to run programs I have installed on my server using nfs or must I install the same program on every client? The case I have in mind is to run the DTP suite Scribus on each of our clients. Is there an easy method? Thanks, Steve.

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Jerry Feldman

23 May 23 May

18:15

New subject: [SLE] running programs under nfs

...

Hi Can I use nfs to run programs I have installed on my server using nfs or must I install the same program on every client? The case I have in mind is to run the DTP suite Scribus on each of our clients. Is there an easy method? No, for the most part you can export them via NFS. You must understand

On Sun, 23 May 2004 18:18:31 +0100 steve-ss wrote: that they will load slower. This is also very normal in some large installations. -- Jerry Feldman Boston Linux and Unix user group http://www.blu.org PGP key id:C5061EA9 PGP Key fingerprint:053C 73EC 3AC1 5C44 3E14 9245 FB00 3ED5 C506 1EA9

steve-ss

19:48

New subject: [SLE] running programs under nfs

On Sunday 23 May 2004 19:15, Jerry Feldman wrote:

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On Sun, 23 May 2004 18:18:31 +0100

steve-ss wrote:

...
Hi Can I use nfs to run programs I have installed on my server using nfs or must I install the same program on every client? The case I have in mind is to run the DTP suite Scribus on each of our clients. Is there an easy method?

No, for the most part you can export them via NFS. You must understand that they will load slower. This is also very normal in some large installations.

So what do I have to export to be able to run applications? Do I have to export /usr? I don't care how slow it is, I just want to know if it's possible and how to go about it. Cheers, Steve.

Jerry Feldman

18:43

New subject: [SLE] running programs under nfs

On Sun, 23 May 2004 20:48:31 +0100 steve-ss wrote:

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On Sunday 23 May 2004 19:15, Jerry Feldman wrote:

...
On Sun, 23 May 2004 18:18:31 +0100

steve-ss wrote:

...
Hi Can I use nfs to run programs I have installed on my server using nfs or must I install the same program on every client? The case I have in mind is to run the DTP suite Scribus on each of our clients. Is there an easy method?

No, for the most part you can export them via NFS. You must understand that they will load slower. This is also very normal in some large installations.

So what do I have to export to be able to run applications? Do I have to export /usr? I don't care how slow it is, I just want to know if it's possible and how to go about it.

Export the directory where the executables are. You can then mount them anywhere, and set your paths accordingly. On your client systems, you mount onto a directory, /usr/installation, and add that to the paths of your users. On your NFS server, just export the directory where you installed the products you want to export, let's say, /usr/local/DTP and /usr/local/Scribus. You could export /usr/local if you wish to have everything in /usr/local on the server exported. You could easily export /usr and /opt and have those mounted on the clients. Working at DEC a few years ago, they exported several directories of contributed programs that were not on the standard Unix distribution. The only thing that you need to worry about is that the mount spec in /etc/fstab allows exec, which is the default. -- Jerry Feldman Boston Linux and Unix user group http://www.blu.org PGP key id:C5061EA9 PGP Key fingerprint:053C 73EC 3AC1 5C44 3E14 9245 FB00 3ED5 C506 1EA9

Mike McMullin

24 May 24 May

01:22

New subject: [SLE] running programs under nfs

On Sun, 2004-05-23 at 14:43, Jerry Feldman wrote:

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On Sun, 23 May 2004 20:48:31 +0100 steve-ss wrote:

...
On Sunday 23 May 2004 19:15, Jerry Feldman wrote:

...
On Sun, 23 May 2004 18:18:31 +0100

steve-ss wrote:

...
Hi Can I use nfs to run programs I have installed on my server using nfs or must I install the same program on every client? The case I have in mind is to run the DTP suite Scribus on each of our clients. Is there an easy method?

No, for the most part you can export them via NFS. You must understand that they will load slower. This is also very normal in some large installations.

So what do I have to export to be able to run applications? Do I have to export /usr? I don't care how slow it is, I just want to know if it's possible and how to go about it.

Export the directory where the executables are. You can then mount them anywhere, and set your paths accordingly.

On your client systems, you mount onto a directory, /usr/installation, and add that to the paths of your users.

On your NFS server, just export the directory where you installed the products you want to export, let's say, /usr/local/DTP and /usr/local/Scribus. You could export /usr/local if you wish to have everything in /usr/local on the server exported.

You could easily export /usr and /opt and have those mounted on the clients.

Working at DEC a few years ago, they exported several directories of contributed programs that were not on the standard Unix distribution.

The only thing that you need to worry about is that the mount spec in /etc/fstab allows exec, which is the default.

I'm curious about linked directories being exported. Say I've got a few programs I want to have available under nfs. Is it possible to create a directory filled with links to directories that I want to export, and be able to have client machines run those programs through a linked directory structure? Mike

Dylan

23 May 23 May

19:12

New subject: [SLE] running programs under nfs

On Sunday 23 May 2004 20:48 pm, steve-ss wrote: <SNIP>

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So what do I have to export to be able to run applications? Do I have to export /usr? I don't care how slow it is, I just want to know if it's possible and how to go about it.

If you export /usr then ALL the contents (including quite a bit of your desktop etc) will be running over the network which may end up being unbearably slow. Is it only Scribus you want to share like this or are there other apps? This is what I would do: - create a directory on the server (say /srv/nfs/scribus ) and export it - mount the directory on a client under a suitable directory (say /usr/remote_apps/scribus ) mount -t nfs server:/srv/nfs/scribus /usr/remote_apps/scribus - install scribus onto that client - move the relevant files and directories into the mounted directory (look at the rpm in Konq and you can get a full file list) - make symlinks to the moved files or directories from the original locations - test it to see if it works. - duplicate the links on each client and set up the nfs import Good luck Dylan

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Cheers, Steve.

-- "I see your Schwartz is as big as mine" -Dark Helmet

Dylan

19:33

New subject: [SLE] running programs under nfs

On Sunday 23 May 2004 20:12 pm, Dylan wrote: <SNIP>

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This is what I would do:

- create a directory on the server (say /srv/nfs/scribus ) and export it - mount the directory on a client under a suitable directory (say /usr/remote_apps/scribus ) mount -t nfs server:/srv/nfs/scribus /usr/remote_apps/scribus - install scribus onto that client - move the relevant files and directories into the mounted directory (look at the rpm in Konq and you can get a full file list) - make symlinks to the moved files or directories from the original locations - test it to see if it works. - duplicate the links on each client and set up the nfs import

I just tried this and it works here - YMMV Good luck Dylan -- "I see your Schwartz is as big as mine" -Dark Helmet

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Dylan
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Mike McMullin
steve-ss