Rocky 8.x New laptop OS configuration

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OS installation

  1. Prepare bootable Rocky Linux 8 USB using: 
    dd if=Rocky-8.7-x86_64-dvd1.iso of=/dev/sdd
    

    sync
    Assumes umount /dev/sdd* is done and that /dev/sdd does not has any critical data before itself.
    This can ideally be done via Rocky 9.x Ventoy to have multiple installers on a single USB
  2. Ideally boot using UEFI (F12) key so that Windows partition and boot manager are left untouched
  3. During installation select
    1. In Installation destination
      1. Select both 500 GB disks and custom partioning
      2. For partitioning dont format /boot/efi (100MB) and mount it on /boot/efi.
      3. Reformat (or Create new ) root (/) and swap and mount them as / (50GB) and swap (16 GB) respectively
      4. If there is existing /mnt/data1 then mount it on same path without reformat. Or create a lvm /mnt/data1 with all other remaining available space.
      5. Dont mount /mnt/cdrive yet. We may need to install ntfs-3g before we mount that. It is possible only when C-drive is not encrypted using bitlocker.
    2. In Software Selection go with "Server with GUI". Select as many as make sense to utilize most of 11GB DVD installer image
    3. Select Asia/Kolkata timezone and optional am/pm format, even if time is reported wrong. After installation correct time is automatically shown.
    4. Disable kdump and security profile
    5. On "Network & Host Name" set hostname as barjatiyarklp
    6. Set root and user accounts. Allow root ssh login with password. Make the user administrator.
    7. Begin installation
  4. Boot and login and skip tour
  5. Ensure that "Location services" are turned off
  6. Allow user to run sudo with password: 
    visudo
  7. After installation prepare prequisites for nvidia official driver. However, these are not required as nouveau drivers seem to be working properly. 
    dnf -y install epel-release
    

    dnf -y install kernel kernel-devel kernel-headers
    

    dnf -y install tar bzip2 make automake gcc gcc-c++ pciutils elfutils-libelf-devel libglvnd-opengl libglvnd-glx libglvnd-devel acpid pkgconfig dkms
  8. Reboot the machine and see if graphics display is coming properly
  9. Setup broadcom wireless using additional repositories: 
    dnf -y install https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/el/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-8.noarch.rpm
    

    dnf -y install broadcom-wl
  10. In "Screen Lock" Disable automatic screen lock and in "Power" set Blank Screen Delay to never.
  11. In Date time settings enable "Automatic Date and Time" and "Automatic Time Zone"
  12. Log out and login as "X11 Standard display" instead of Wayland to make screen sharing work more smoothly.
    Not that "X11 Classic display" is more classic (older), standard is better


Initial configuration

In terminal

  1. sudo su -
  2. visudo (Enable sudo access without password for wheel group)
  3. Disable SELinux (setenforce 0, /etc/sysconfig/selinux SELINUX=disabled)
  4. Edit /etc/hosts and add appropriate entries:
    • 192.168.29.2 rekallcm1
    • Other relevant /etc/hosts entries from other machines
  5. Configure history retention Storing date / time along with commands in history
  6. Configure alias for checking battery status CentOS 7.x check laptop battery information
  7. (Optionally) Edit /etc/yum.conf and configure keepcache=1
  8. Full update system using 'dnf -y update --skip-broken --nobest'
  9. dnf -y install epel-release
  10. dnf -y install byobu
  11. Optionally Start a byobu session for rest of the tasks
  12. CentOS 8.x gnome prevent grouping of similar windows with alt-tab
  13. Optionally go to settings -> Online accounts and add google account with 5TB storage


/mnt/data1 files

If it is a new laptop with empty /mnt/data1 then copy folloring from old machine to new:

  • /mnt/data1/large_files/operating_systems
  • /mnt/data1/plain_folders
  • /mnt/data1/setup
  • /mnt/data1/windows_setup
  • /mnt/data1/workspace/ excluding owncloud folder

If existing laptop is formatted while keeping /mnt/data1 intact then perhaps we only need to empty the owncloud folder under /mnt/data1/workspace


Install and configure required packages

dnf based packages

    dnf -y remove bind-chroot
    dnf -y install htop atop   #Colorful command-line top
    dnf -y install gimp        #Advanced image editor useful for editing pdf as images
    dnf -y install fdupes      #Duplicate file detection
    dnf -y install p7zip       #Support for 7zip
    dnf -y install expect      #For shell automation.  Includes mkpasswd utility
    dnf -y install bind bind-utils   #For DNS related tasks
    dnf -y install git         #Version control
    dnf -y install wireshark   #Packet capturing
    dnf -y install libreoffice-writer libreoffice-calc libreoffice-impress  #Libreoffice
    dnf -y install telnet nc   #For TCP connection checking
    dnf -y install freerdp     #For xfreerdp to Windows machines
    dnf -y install texlive     #For latex
    dnf -y install brasero     #For burning CD/DVD
    dnf -y install livecd-tools #For creating live USB
    dnf -y install minicom     #For working with serial ports
    dnf -y install iw          #For wireless iw command
    dnf -y install libguestfs-tools  #For virt-sysprep
    dnf -y install ImageMagick  #For image editing
    dnf -y install dia         #For diagrams
    dnf -y install xsane       #For scanning
    dnf -y install texlive-wrapfig texlive-capt-of texlive-ulem texlive-translator #For org-latex exports
    dnf -y install texlive-translator  #For compiling beamer presentations using latex
    dnf -y install gparted     #For partition management
    dnf -y install s-nail      #Replacement for mailx
    dnf -y install python3-distro hplip       #For HP printers, without python3-distro hp-setup, hp-plugin dont work properly
    dnf -y install erlang              #Programming
    dnf -y install aria2               #For parallel download
    dnf -y install iotop       #For iops monitoring 
    dnf -y install lm_sensors  #To get motherboard sensors reading
    dnf -y install bridge-utils  #For brctl command
    dnf -y install kile okular okular-libs texlive-dvipng   #Latex editor
    dnf -y install kolourpaint #Basic image editor    
    dnf -y install kdiff3  #For versioning and comparing files
    dnf -y install simplescreenrecorder  #For screen recording

Install a few games: 

dnf -y install nethack xrick zork
dnf -y install blinken bomber bovo kanagram kapman katomic kblackbox kblocks kbounce kdiamond kfourinline kgoldrunner khangman kigo killbots kiriki kjumpingcube klines kmahjongg kmines knetwalk kolf kollision konquest kreversi kshisen ksirk ksnakeduel kspaceduel ktuberling kubrick lskat picmi trader


Install brave browser

sudo rpm --import https://brave-browser-rpm-release.s3.brave.com/brave-core.asc
sudo dnf -y install dnf-utils
sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo https://brave-browser-rpm-release.s3.brave.com/x86_64/
sudo dnf install brave-browser -y


Install Owncloud Desktop client

  1. Install as per CentOS 8.x Owncloud linux desktop client
  2. Configure owncloud based sync to appropriate folder. We can keep local data, if there is high confidence that sync will happen properly.


Install and configure emacs

  1. dnf -y install emacs
  2. Ensure /home/saurabh/.emacs and /home/saurabh/.emacs.d are symlink to appropriate folders of application-data
  3. Validate things are working by opening to-do.org file
  4. Configure nautilus to open .org file via emacs by default


Configure nautlius

  1. Open nautilus
  2. Create bookmarks for (Open folder and press Ctrl+D)
    • /mnt/data1/workspace/gbb/owncloud/saurabh
    • /mnt/data1
    • /mnt/data1/plain_folders/documents/Desktop/rekall
  3. Configure nautilus to open .org file via emacs by default, if not done already
  4. vim ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs #As saurabh user
    Comment all except Desktop and Downloads
  5. vim /etc/xdg/user-dirs.defaults #As root user
    Comment all except Desktop and Downloads
  6. Logoff and login again
  7. Open nautilus and remove bookmarks for Documents, Music, Videos and Pictures

Refer:


Install vlc

  1. dnf -y install vlc

Refer:


Install skype

  1. Download skype rpm from https://www.skype.com/en/get-skype/download-skype-for-desktop/
  2. Install the rpm using: 
    dnf -y localinstall <rpm-name>


Configure firefox

  1. Ensure that /home/saurabh/.mozilla is symlink to application-data folder
  2. Starting firefox and see that various profiles are appearing properly.
  3. Validate history and stored passwords are working as expected


Install and configure thunderbird

  1. dnf -y install thunderbird
  2. Create symbolic link 
    ln -s /mnt/data1/workspace/application-data/thunderbird/ .thunderbird
    

    chown -h saurabh:saurabh .thunderbird
  3. Run thunderbird and validate email accounts are accessible
  4. Set date-format display using OpenSuse Leap 15 Change date-format displayed in Thunderbird
  5. Optionally set correct calendar response email ID using CentOS 8.x Thunderbird calendar invitation response email address


Configure SSH

  1. Symbolic link ssh from /mnt/data1 
    cd /home/saurabh
    

    ln -s /mnt/data1/workspace/application-data/ssh .ssh
    

    chown -h saurabh:saurabh .ssh
  2. ssh root@rekallcm1
    Enter passphrase (4cs..) and enable automatic unlock during login


Install Google chrome

  1. Refer CentOS 7.x Installing Google chrome
  2. Start chrome
  3. Do not make chrome default browser and Disable submitting of usage information
  4. Test by opening www.google.com
  5. Follow CentOS 8.x chrome enable screen-sharing with wayland


Postfix and logwatch

  1. Configure postfix gmail relay using CentOS 8.x postfix send email through relay or smarthost with smtp authentication
  2. Edit /etc/aliases and add barjatiya.saurabh [at] gmail.com as alias for root.
  3. newaliases
  4. Install and configure logwatch
  5. systemctl restart postfix
  6. systemctl enable postfix


Install ntfs-3g and mount drives

  1. yum -y install ntfs-3g
  2. blkid | grep -i ntfs
  3. mkdir -p /mntcdrive
  4. Add /etc/fstab entries similar to 
    UUID="E0722C3A722C17B4"			  /mnt/cdrive		  ntfs    defaults        0 0
  5. mount -a
  6. df -h


Optionally Add Windows boot option

  1. CentOS 7.x Add Windows 7 boot option to grub2
  2. Reboot into Windows and check it is working
    We can also boot into Windows using UEFI boot option from BIOS


Install Teamviewer

  1. Get latest teamviewer setup from https://www.teamviewer.com/en-us/download/linux/
  2. Install using 'dnf -y localinstall ./<file-name>'


Install and configure Anydesk

  1. Refer CentOS 8.x Install anydesk
  2. Restore backup of anydesk configuration: 
    cd ~/.anydesk
    

    mv user.conf user-old.conf
    

    ln -s /mnt/data1/workspace/application-data/anydesk/anydesk-saurabh-user.conf user.conf


Install VMWare Remote Console (VMRC)

  1. Download latest VMWare Remote console from VMWare website
  2. chmod +x *.bundle
  3. ./<name>.bundle #as root user


Re-add various older VMs

Refer CentOS_8.x_Configure_rekallcm1_(high-end_desktop)_with_software_raid,_lxc,_kvm_and_other_utilities#Re-add_various_older_VMs

  1. dnf -y install libvirt virt-manager
  2. Add VMs with "Import existing disk image" option


Install nomachine

Note that Noamchine works only in wayland. It is not working with X11 display.


Configure git

  1. Configure various git parameters: 
            git config --global user.name "Saurabh Barjatiya"
        git config --global user.email "saurabh [at] sbarjatiya.com"  #Correct email address
        git config --global color.ui true
        git config --global color.status auto
        git config --global color.branch auto
        git config --global core.editor vim
  2. Configure to use simple push by default 
    git config --global push.default simple
    Refer https://stackoverflow.com/questions/21839651/git-what-is-the-difference-between-push-default-matching-and-simple


Sync files from rekallcm1

cp /mnt/data1/plain_folders/documents/room-documents/documents/programs/shell_scripts/sync_files_from_rekallcm1.sh /root
cd
ssh-copy-id root@rekallcm1
./sync_files_from_rekallcm1.sh


Install openvpn

Install and configure openvpn for older Sophos firewall using 

dnf -y install openvpn
cp /mnt/data1/plain_folders/documents/room-documents/documents/programs/shell_scripts/gbb{-,_}* /root/


#In another terminal test vpn
openvpn --config <config-file>


Install and configure fail2ban


Configure lxc

Steps are not working, need to fix. Installation works but container creation gave error.

Setting up the GPG keyring ERROR: Unable to fetch GPG key from keyserver lxc-create: lxc1: lxccontainer.c: create_run_template: 1625 Failed to create container from template lxc-create: lxc1: tools/lxc_create.c: main: 331 Failed to create container lxc1


Install zoom

  1. Download latest installer for CentOS 7.0+ of Zoom from https://zoom.us/support/download
  2. Install using =dnf localinstall=


Install microsoft team

  1. Download latest teams app from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app
  2. Install using =dnf localinstall=
  3. Disable autostart in ~/.config/autostart/teams.desktop by doing 
    X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true
  4. sudo chattr +ia ~/.config/autostart/teams.desktop


Pending

Package based installations

  • Unable to find below on Rocky 8
    dnf -y install pandoc      #For documentation generation
    dnf -y install encfs       #For fuse encrypted filesystem
    yum -y install yaws        #Erlang web server
    yum -y install unetbootin liveusb-creator livecd-tools #For creating live bootable USB from iso files


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