Licensing Information  Quick Start Guide  LANforge Persistent USB Image Instructions  LANforge LIVE Bootable CD Instructions

Current LANforge Software Release  All LANforge Software Releases

You may download the LANforge testing suite here. The software is fully functional and comes with a demo license that allows only two machines with one data generating port each or one machine with two data generating ports. If you wish to trial the LANforge ICE WAN Emulator or utilize more LANforge FIRE ports, contact sales@candelatech.com and you will be sent a trial license. This software may be used for a trial period of 15 days, after which you must either obtain a non-trial license from Candela Technologies, or un-install and delete the software you downloaded. You may purchase a full license at any time during the trial period.

You may want to read the LANforge Server Installation Documentation page completely before attempting to install! There is also an FAQ that may answer your questions.

1. Consider the LANforge bootable CDROM, it may have all the functionality you need. Otherwise, continue.
2. There is now an automated script that can download, install, and configure almost everything for you. See the Server Installation Documentation for details.
3. For optimum performance, you should upgrade your kernel.
4. Create a directory in which to place everything.
5. Make sure the version of the GUI matches the Manager/Resource version.
6. Download and read the release notes.
7. Download at least one of the LANforge-GUI -> options.
8. Download the Manager/Resource package.
9. Optional: Download the Extras package, and unpack it in the same directory (contains kernel patches), or get a pre-built kernel (below)
10. Optional: Download a pre-compiled Linux kernel (below), patched with the Candela patch-set. This enables Armageddon, virtual routers, and other advanced features.
11. Configure your Operating System according to: LANforge Hardware Installation Guide ->
12. Install the LANforge Software according to: LANforge Software Installation Guide ->
13. Install the LANforge-GUI according to: LANforge-GUI Installation Guide ->
14. Install demo licenses if required (see above)
15. LANforge should now be installed!

For detailed instructions on how to install and use the complete LANforge software suite, please see the LANforge Documentation Page.

If you have questions not answered there, send email to: support@candelatech.com, and we will attempt to answer your questions.

For optimum LANforge performance, and to enable all of LANforge's features, you should be running a LANforge Linux kernel. You can download the pre-compiled kernels, or you can build your own kernel using the candela patch (found in the LANforge Extras package under Optional Packages). For detailed instructions on compiling and installing LANforge Linux kernels, see the LANforge Server Installation Documentation.

NOTE: The LANforge GUI version and the LANforge Manager/Resource/Server version must match for the LANforge GUI to communicate correctly with the LANforge Manager/Resource/Server. See the All Releases link to find the all LANforge versions.

• LANforge Release 5.2.8 (FIRE & ICE)
• All Releases

Link to ALL release 5.2.8 files

LANforge Release Notes (Get One)

Current Release Notes

release_notes.txt

LANforge GUI Downloads (Get at least one)
NOTE: LANforge 5.2.8 systems ship with java-webstart GUI: Try http://[ip-of-lanforge]/manager-webstart.php
NOTE: LANforge GUI version must match installed LANforge Manager/Resource/Server version.

Microsoft (32bit) Operating Systems*	LANforge-GUI-5.2.8-Installer.exe
For 32 bit Linux*	LANforgeGUI_5.2.8_Linux.tar.bz2
For 64 bit Linux*	LANforgeGUI_5.2.8_Linux64.tar.bz2
For any other Java supported system	LANforgeGUI_5.2.8_NO_JRE.zip

* LANforge GUIs come complete with Sun's 1.6 Java Runtime Environment.

LANforge Manager/Resource/Server (Get at least one)

For 32 bit Linux (Intel x86 Platform, Fedora 14 and above)	LANforgeServer-5.2.8_Linux-F14-x86.tar.gz
For 64 bit Linux (Intel/AMD x86-64 Platform, Fedora 14 and above)	LANforgeServer-5.2.8_Linux-F14-x64.tar.gz
Windows	LANforge-Server-5.2.8-Installer.exe
For Linux (Fedora 17)	32-bit Server    |    64-bit Server
For Linux (Fedora 13)	32-bit Server    |    64-bit Server
For Linux (Fedora 11)	32-bit Server    |    64-bit Server
For Linux (Fedora Core 8)	32-bit Server    |    64-bit Server
For Solaris x86	(Contact Candela)
For Solaris SPARC	(Contact Candela)
For Linux (ARM Platform)	(Contact Candela)
For Linux (Power-PC Platform)	(Contact Candela)

Optional Packages

LANforge LIVE CDROM ISO Image, see below	Ubuntu-Live-12.10-LANforge-5.2.8.iso
4GB LANforge USB Pendrive Image, see below	ubuntu-pendrive-4g-5.2.8.img.bz2
LANforge Extras (CLI scripting, kernel patches, etc)	LANforgeExtras-5.2.8_Linux.tar.gz
LANforge-ICEcap Java Webstart (optional)	http://www.candelatech.com/icecapwebpage.php
LANforge-GUI source code (optional)	lfgui-src-5.2.8.tar.gz (GPL)
LANforge-Attenuator firmware (optional)	attenuator-1.1.hex.gz
LANforge-Attenuator source code (optional)	attenuator-src.tar.gz (GPL/CC BY-SA)
GNU-server Source code, probes Ethernet devices (optional)	gnuserver.src.tar.gz (GPL)

Pre-Compiled Linux Kernels for LANforge 5.2.8
If you do not wish to compile your own kernels, you can use one of the following. To install, un-tar the file in / and then change your /etc/grub.conf or /etc/lilo.conf file appropriately. SMP kernels will work on uni-processor machines too.

• Pre-compiled 32-bit Intel/AMD/Generic LANforge 5.2.8 Linux 3.7.10+ kernel
• Pre-compiled 64-bit Intel/AMD x86-64 LANforge 5.2.8 Linux 3.7.10+ kernel

Alternative Kernels
These kernels are missing some low-level Ethernet features (send-bad-crc, rx-fcs, etc) but since they have been in testing longer, the may be more stable. If problems are found with the 3.3.4+ kernels above, it may be worth trying one of these.

• Pre-compiled 32-bit Intel/AMD/Generic LANforge 5.2.8 Linux 3.5.7+ kernel
• Pre-compiled 64-bit Intel/AMD x86-64 LANforge 5.2.8 Linux 3.5.7+ kernel

The LANforge USB Pendrive Image can be coppied to a USB drive or other persistent storage (compact-flash, etc) and used as a portable, fully-functional, LANforge system. Any and all changes such as license files and LANforge configuration will be saved as normal. The Pendrive image is based on the Live-CD, which is in turn based on Ubuntu Linux The Pendrive will not affect any existing data on the machine's hard-drive.

USB Pendrive Hardware & Configuration Suggestions:

• Must have 686 (Pentium-II compatible or higher CPU).
• Minimum of 512MB RAM, 2+GB is better.
• Most configurations are easier with at least 2 Ethernet interfaces, but LANforge can be configured to work with fewer.
• BIOS that allows booting from USB Drive

Writing the Pendrive image to a USB key using Linux:

• Your USB storage must be at least 4GB for the 4GB image. Preferably, you can use a USB storage at least twice the size so that small differences in storage sizes of various USB storage will not matter.
• Insert the USB key. Note that ALL information on the USB Key will be deleted by this procedure!
• Use 'dmesg' or 'mount' or other method to figure out where the USB key was mounted.
• Un-mount it
• Unzip the pendrive image: bunzip2 ubuntu-pendrive-4g-5.2.8.img.bz2
• NOTE: If you get the 'of' argument wrong, you can wipe your entire hard-drive. Ask support if you have any questions on how to go about doing this step. Copy the image to your USB disk: dd if=ubuntu-pendrive-4g-5.2.8.img of=/dev/[your-usb-storage] bs=4k

• Your USB storage must be at least 4GB for the 4GB image. Preferably, you can use a USB storage at least twice the size so that small differences in storage sizes of various USB storage will not matter.
• Unzip the pendrive image so that you have: ubuntu-pendrive-4g-5.2.8.img
• Insert the USB key. Note that ALL information on the USB Key will be deleted by this procedure!
• Follow the instructions on this page to use 'dd' to write the image to the USB storage device:
  http://www.chrysocome.net/dd
  For safety, rename the dd.exe to dd-removable.exe for safety.
  Example command: dd-removable if=ubuntu-pendrive-4g-5.2.8.img of=\\.\Volume{727bb0d5-9955-11e1-b5c3-001c257c787a} bs=4k

1. Ensure BIOS is configured to boot from USB Drive
2. Obtain license key from sales@candelatech.com.
3. Boot computer with LANforge Pendrive. You should see standard Ubuntu screen with several options. Choose the default option.
4. If you see warnings related to 'e2fsck', just follow the instructions and boot-up should continue properly. The Ubuntu-12 USB persistent image scripts appear to have bugs that cause the 'casper-rw' persistent storage file to not be properly un-mounted on shutdown. We believe the e2fsck code added to the LANforge-Ubuntu image will work around this problem until a proper fix is found. For safety, it is suggested that the user manually back-up the /home/lanforge/DB directory to external storage as well.
5. Log in as user: lanforge with password: lanforge
   Root password is also 'lanforge'
6. If you do not want to use 'lo' for the management interface, or wish to reconfigure LANforge for other reasons, open a console window and run these commands:

   sudo su -
   cd /home/lanforge
   ./serverctl.bash stop
   ./lfconfig --new_layout
   > # make your config changes here
   > config
   ./serverctl.bash start
   exit
   

7. If you want a management interface to use DHCP, run these commands:

   sudo su -
   cd /home/lanforge
   ./serverctl.bash stop
   dhclient <interface>
   ./serverctl.bash start
   exit
   

8. Double-click the LANforge-GUI icon and connect to the server at localhost:4002
9. You may use the limited license included with the Live CD, or you may install another temporary license obtained from sales@candelatech.com.
10. When you are done using LANforge, run this command:

    sudo /home/lanforge/serverctl.bash stop
     

11. Please contact support@candelatech.com if you run into any problems.

To download the LANforge Pendrive Image, see the "Optional Packages" sections above.

If you are only running a single LANforge machine, consider the LANforge bootable CDROM or PENDRIVE (based on a modified version of Ubuntu Linux This Live-CD ISO image, when burned to a CD, will boot into Linux with the Candela Linux kernel and LANforge programs already installed. The CD will run entirely out of RAM with no lasting affect on the machine.

Bootable CDROM Hardware & Configuration Suggestions:

• Must have 686 (Pentium-II compatible or higher CPU).
• Minimum of 1GB RAM, 2+GB is better.
• Most configurations are easier with at least 2 Ethernet interfaces, but LANforge can be configured to work with fewer.
• BIOS that allows booting from CDROM
• USB Floppy disk or USB storage for license files and configuration database is suggested, but not required.

Usage Instructions:

1. Ensure BIOS is configured to boot from CDROM
2. Obtain license key from sales@candelatech.com.
3. Boot computer with LANforge bootable CDROM inserted. You should see standard Ubuntu screen with several options. Select the English language and use the default boot option.
4. If you see warnings about Ubiquity or other Ubuntu processes, please just close the warnings and continue. They appear to be harmless as far as LANforge is concerned, though the warnings will be worked on for the next release.
5. Log in as user: lanforge with password: lanforge
   Root password is also 'lanforge'
6. With LANforge release 5.0.8 and newer, LANforge is no longer started automatically on boot. Double-click the LANforge-Server icon to start it. If you are using persistent media to store the LANforge database, insert it before you start LANforge.
7. If you do not want to use 'lo' for the management interface, or wish to reconfigure LANforge for other reasons, open a console window and run these commands:

   su -
   # Enter 'lanforge' for the root user password.
   cd /home/lanforge
   # Remove any persistent media (floppy, usb-drive, etc)
   ./serverctl.bash stop
   ./lfconfig --new_layout
   > # make your config changes here
   > config
   ./serverctl.bash start interactive
   # If you plan to use persistent storage media, insert that now.
   

8. If you want a management interface to use DHCP, run these commands:

   su -
   dhclient <interface>
   cd /home/lanforge
   ./serverctl.bash stop
   ./serverctl.bash start interactive
   

9. If you want to use persistent storage media, make sure LANforge is stopped:

   cd /home/lanforge
   ./serverctl.bash stop
   

   Then insert a floppy and/or USB drive. You must create a file called: lanforge_db.txt on the root directory of the media or LANforge will not use this media. The file can be empty, it just has to exist.

   After it is inserted, start LANforge again:

   cd /home/lanforge
   ./serverctl.bash start interactive
   

10. Double-click the LANforge-GUI icon and connect to the server at localhost:4002
11. You may use the limited license included with the Live CD, or you may install another temporary license obtained from sales@candelatech.com.
12. When you are done using LANforge and want to save your configuration, make sure the persistent storage devices are inserted into the machine and at the command prompt type:

    ./serverctl.bash stop
    

    If the media has the file lanforge_db.txt on it, LANforge will attempt to save its DB to a file called lfdb.tgz on the media. This file stores your LANforge configuration and license key, and can be used next time you run the CD on this machine.
13. The LANforge Live CDROM may have problems on some machines due to driver issues or other unforseen problems.
    Please contact support@candelatech.com if you run into any problems.

To download the LANforge bootable CD ISO image, see the "Optional Packages" sections above.