Each Realm Linux machine needs to be configured to be in a “department”. In reality this is just a generic grouping done so that specific administration tasks can affect only a subgroup of Realm Linux machines rather than all of them campus-wide. Specifically, the department setting is only used when interacting with some of the back end infrastructure in AFS. Examples are Yum configuration, cron jobs, boot scripts, etc. that are placed in AFS for machines to find and run. For dorm room users and home users you should stick with the default department of ncsu.

The department is set for you in most kickstarts. On a manual install you will be prompted for your department when the firstboot program runs. You can change your department by logging in as root and running realmconfig . Select the Department configuration option. You will see a text entry box that you can type in your department name. Next, select the Apply or the Ok button to make the changes take effect.

This process puts the department name into /etc/rc.conf.d/HostDept which is read by various scripts to determine the department.