Part 3 - How to configure Linux CentOS 5.3 for HYLAFax

Use PuTTY:

From here use PuTTY to connect on the new server. This way we will be able to copy/paste commands directly.

Connect as "root".

putty servername (or IP)

Add a user:

(In the next lines, change the user name for an appropriate one)

useradd -c "Firstname Lastname" -s /bin/bash username; passwd username

Disable SSH connections for root:

vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config

At line 38, find:
#PermitRootLogin yes

Change it for:
PermitRootLogin no

Restart SSH service:
/etc/init.d/sshd restart

Reconnect as "newuser". Then type:

su - root

Install and configure NTP (Network Time Protocol):

yum -y install ntp

Edit the NTP config file:
vi /etc/ntp.conf

At line 18, find "server 2.centos.pool.ntp.org" and under, add:
server time.nrc.ca server time.chu.nrc.ca server tock.utoronto.ca server tick.utoronto.ca

Ajust the other NTP config file by editing:
vi /etc/sysconfig/ntpd

At that file's second line:
OPTIONS="-u ntp:ntp -p /var/run/ntpd.pid"

Modify this line to add the option -x that will force a NTP synch at boot time:
OPTIONS="-x -u ntp:ntp -p /var/run/ntpd.pid"

Restart NTPD service:
service ntpd start

Ajust system to automaticaly start the service at boot:
chkconfig ntpd on

Disable unessentials services:

chkconfig bluetooth off; service bluetooth stop chkconfig hidd off; service hidd stop chkconfig pcscd off; service pcscd stop chkconfig autofs off; service autofs stop chkconfig gpm off; service gpm stop chkconfig isdn off; service isdn stop chkconfig messagebus off; service messagebus stop chkconfig haldaemon off; service haldaemon stop chkconfig rpcgssd off; service rpcgssd stop chkconfig rpcidmapd off; service rpcidmapd stop chkconfig portmap off; service portmap stop chkconfig cups off; service cups stop chkconfig nfslock off; service nfslock stop chkconfig atd off; service atd stop chkconfig netfs off chkconfig kudzu off chkconfig nfs off

Ajust available number of console sessions:

vi /etc/inittab

At line 43, place a # before numbers 2 to 6:
# Run gettys in standard runlevels 1:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty1 # 2:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty2 # 3:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty3 # 4:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty4 # 5:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty5 # 6:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty6

To apply changes to available sessions:
kill -HUP 1

To update the server: (the command "update" may take a while)

yum clean all yum -y update