Installing ClarkConnect

Why I chose ClarkConnect

I'd previously looked at Ubuntu and Fedora Core as possible operating systems but I liked the simplicity of ClarkConnect, especially their web administration tool (better than Webmin for the limited things I wanted to do with it).

There also seems to be a growing community of SqueezeCenter users that have adopted ClarkConnect which I found reassuring as I'm a Linux novice.

Installation

Download the free Community Edition ISO file and burn a bootable CD from here: http://www.clarkconnect.com/downloads/

(Remember you are burning a "ISO disk image", rather than just copying to disk)

Plug in monitor, key board, CD Drive (on a spare IDE socket) and network connection to computer.

Note - at this stage I'm only installing the operating system onto the small operating system drive, the large 3.5" drive that I'll be using for shared file storage will be installed later, see "Adding Extra Hard Drive".

Adjust boot sequence in BIOS to allow booting from the CD
While in the BIOS check the hardware has been detected correctly, check the time and date are correct, turn on the auto power-on timer if you plan to have your unit switch itself on in the morning and ensure 'ACPI' is enabled if you want the unit to shut down with the power button (see "Tweaking ClarkConnect" for more details)

Now restart the computer and follow the instructions as ClarkConnect installs

Select "Standalone" option - as it is to be used as a file server rather than an internet gateway
Select keyboard type and language
Select your network settings

I kept the default "Use DHCP server" for network settings and added my routers IP address for the Domain Name Server (DNS) - If you want a fixed IP enter all your settings instead. (I have my router set to allocate specific IP addresses to attached devices, which seems easier than setting each unit up for fixed IP's.)

When prompted add a server name (I used black-box) and a domain name (I used home.lan)
Select default disk partitioning (I only have the small system hard drive connected at this stage - see 'Adding Extra Hard Drive')
When prompted to select the software modules you require, de-select all of the software packages (you can easily add these later from the Clark Connect web interface if you think you may want them) with the exception of:
- Windows networks and file sharing (SAMBA)
- MySQL database server module
Enter a password (you will use this to logon as the 'root' user)

Then give it a few minutes to install.

That's it..... remove the CD when prompted and reboot to be welcomed by the Clark Connect terminal window.

Check you can login and access the server remotely from your PC (see below), then shutdown the server, disconnect the keyboard, CD ROM drive and monitor, and relocate the server to your preferred location as you will now be able to administer the unit remotely over the web interface.

Login remotely from Windows PC

https:/xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:81/admin/

Note: you can either use your server name (e.g. black-box) or IP address (replace xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx with the IP address of your computer, check the router to find the IP it has allocated through DHCP or use the one you entered when you setup the fixed IP address during installation).

You should then be presented with the ClarkConnect Dashboard in your browser, from here you can monitor and administer your server remotely...

Register ClarkConnect

In the web interface navigate to the 'Services-Register-Register System' tab and click to register your installation.

This will then give you access to the free critical and recommended software updates.

Updating/upgrading ClarkConnect

Recommended and critical updates will be automatically installed (normally in the early hours), but can also be downloaded and installed from the web interface or the command line, log in as root with PuTTY and enter the following:

apt-get clean

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade