How do I install the LINC software switch?

Question

Even following the LINC-switch instructions, I was unable to get LINC and Erlang working correctly. How can I solve this?

Answer 1

Before installing the LINC software switch, you need to install the Erlang language. However, I was able to install with only one version of the Erlang. Because of the lack of support for the Erlang+LINC installation, the following steps are necessary in order to correctly install Erlang and the LINC software switch:

1) On Ubuntu, we must accomplish some pre-requisites before installing Erlang:

# apt-get install gcc wget make autoconf openssl libssl0.9.8 libssl-dev libncurses5 libncurses5-dev

2) As I said to use LINC you need to have an Erlang runtime installed on your machine. Forget about the APT-GET erlang version for UBUNTU. It has a bug that will not permit you run LINC. You must donwload the R16B source version from the Erlang website:

http://www.erlang.org/downloads/R16B

3) When your system environment is ready download the sources from erlang.org. Unpack, compile and install:

./configure (as non-root)
make (as non-root)
make install (as root)

4) To build the LINC switch you need to install the following additional libraries and tools:

# apt-get install git-core bridge-utils libpcap0.8 libpcap-dev libcap2-bin uml-utilities

5) When your environment is set up you are ready to build and run LINC. Clone this git repository:

% git clone https://github.com/FlowForwarding/LINC-Switch

6) Extract the LINC-Switch, open the folder and create a configuration file based on an example that comes with the switch:

 cp rel/files/sys.config.orig rel/files/sys.config

7) Compile everything

 make

8) Start LINC switch in console mode:

 % rel/linc/bin/linc console