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Centos is an open-source version of a Redhat linux enterprise server operating system. The page describes creating a new virtual machine with Centos 6. The advantage of Centos 6 over earlier versions is some level of support for parallel processing, which FSL or FreeSurfer may take advantage of. The disadvantage is the lack of GUI server administration tools, due to a philosophical decision by the Centos developers that users should use the command line.

Note: VM = virtual machine,

First Steps

  • Install VMware Workstation (not player); this usually requires a restart.
  • Enable Intel Virtualization in the BIOS; this is required to run a 64-bit VM.
  • Download the standard Centos 6 DVD image (*.iso file); do not use the minimal *.iso image. Save this so it's visible to the computer where you will be running the installation.
  • Decided on a name for the VM (usually LinuxVM), a user long name, a user name for use in Linux ("user" as of 2013), and a password. These should be pretty generic as many people will use the VM.
  • Start Workstation and create a new VM. Follow the instructions, usually choosing the default options. The virtual disk size should be increased to a few 100 GB (e.g., 300; this will not take up physical space until required).
  • Edit the VM settings in Workstation to set the max memory so something like 8GB minimum, and enable shared folders, with a "LinuxShare."

Customizing

  • Click yellow "updates" icon on right top bar, and install all updates; turn update check to off (since it will later not be connected to the network).
  • Remove Email and Notes icons from top bar.
  • Add a terminal icon to to Desktop and top bar; drag from Applications => System Tools menu

  • Remove any software not needed (System => Administration => Add/Remove Software).
  • Note this menu includes an "Update Software" entry, to manually update software when the VM is temporarily connected to the network.
  • Add gedit and File Browser icons to Desktop (Under System submenus).
  • Open the File Browser, navigate to /mnt/hgfs/LinuxShare, and add as a bookmark (Bookmark => Add Bookmark); you will now be able to nativage there direction from the File Browser, and from under the "Places" top bar menu.
    • If LinuxShare does not appear, reinstall VMtools by selecting this option from the Workstation menu, and running through the steps within Linux (copy DVD files to temp folder, unpack (tar xvzf ...), and run script within folder created).
  • Turn off the screensaver and screensaver lock: System => Preferences => Background

 

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