Base Linux Environment

1. Install Fedora 18 Linux
2. Customize /etc/bashrc
3. Customize $HOME/.vimrc
4. Configure Basic Networking

Proxies (Corporate environment)

5. Configure Firefox Proxy
6. Configure GNOME Proxy
7. Configure Yum Proxy in /etc/yum.conf

RPMFusion Repositories and Update Packages

8. Install yum-plugin-fastestmirror
9. Install rpmfusion repo
10. Update base OS install with current packages

Additional Packages

11. Install required packages using 'fedora-desktop-packages' script

Third Party Applications

12. Install Oracle VirtualBox
13. Install Adobe i386 repo and Acrobat Reader
14. Install Adobe x86_64 repo and Flash Player
15. Install Google Applications

System Environmental Settings

16. Set SELinux to Permissive
17. Configure Firewall
18. Make a guest user

Fonts

19. Install custom fonts
20. Install Microsoft fonts
21. Set default fonts in Firefox

Special installs

22. Install Oracle Java 7 Runtime
23. Install HP Virtual Rooms (corporate)

Configure Applications

24. Configure Firefox Plugins
25. Configure conserver client (corporate)
26. Configure pidgin chat client (corporate)
27. Configure OpenVPN client (corporate)
28. Configure Samba
29. Configure VirtualBox

GNOME Environmental Settings

30. Set User Photo
31. Set desktop background
32. Configure Google as an online account
33. Set screen lock preferences
34. Set display resolution
35. Set keyboard shortcuts
36. Configure wireless access
37. Set date/time properties
38. Set options in GNOME Tweak Tool
39. Change "files" alias to use Nemo File manager

GNOME Shell Extensions

40. Install "Workspace Indicator"
41. Install "Remove Bluetooth Icon"
42. Install "Remove Accessability Icon"
43. Install "All-in-one Places"
44. Install "CPU Temperature Indicator"
45. Install "CPU Frequency" (laptops)
46. Install "Dash and Overview Click Fix"
47. Install "Music Integration"
48. Install "Monitor Status Indicator"
49. Install "Recent Items"
50. Install "Removable Drive Menu"
51. Install "Trash"

Restore Data

52. Restore User Files
53. Restore Evolution Email Configuration and Data

At this point, reboot the system and verify that everything comes up clean and works correctly.

Share and Enjoy!

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Base Linux Environment

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Install Fedora 18 LinuxTop

Some basic notes on how I perform my installs:

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Configure system-wide /etc/bashrcTop

The following additions to /etc/bashrc configure a more comfortable command line environment for all users.

# Bash: use vi editing
set -o vi

# aliases from my Unix days
alias l="ls -l"
alias lf="ls -CF"

# uncomment this after vim-enhanced is installed
#alias vi="vim"

Maxwell's .bashrc

Append these lines when in a corporate environment requiring a proxy server. Some command line applications will observe these environment variables and use their proxy.

# proxy variables for command line programs.
export http_proxy=proxy-server-id.company.com:8080
export https_proxy=$http_proxy
export no_proxy=localhost,.subnet1,.subnet2,10.0.0.0/8
unset ftp_proxy

Of course, make sure you modify them to the proxy server and subnets of your own environment!

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Install $HOME/.vimrc config file for VIM editorTop

These settings configure the vim editor to be more comfortable for my tastes.

# set tab space at 4 characters
set tabstop=4

# enable line numbering
set number

Maxwell's .vimrc

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Configure Basic NetworkingTop

For wired: Verify via Network Manager that a DHCP connection is established.

For wireless: Use Network Manager to select a wireless access point and provide WPA keys.

Both: Verify you can use Firefox to access any well known website.

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Proxies

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Several steps are required to enable internet access when Fedora is used in an environment requiring proxy servers.

Configure Proxy for FirefoxTop Proxy environments only!

Within Firefox, set http and https proxies to the local proxy that serves your traffic. Specify any local domains which should not be handled by the proxy.

Manual proxy configuration: my-proxy-server.network  Port: 8080
SSL Proxy: my-proxy-server.network                   Port: 8080
FTP Proxy: (blank)                                   Port: 0
SOCKS host: (blank)                                  Port: 0

No proxy for: localhost, 127.0.0.1, .mynetwork, .labnetwork

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Configure GNOME System ProxyTop Proxy environments only!

Navigate to the GNOME Network control panel applet and configure proxies for http and https traffic. Specify any local domains which should not be handled by the proxy.

Method: Manual
HTTP Proxy:  my-proxy-server.network  Port: 8080
HTTPS Proxy: my-proxy-server.network  Port: 8080
FTP Proxy:  (blank)                   Port: 0
Socks host: (blank)                   Port: 0

No proxy for: localhost, 127.0.0.1, .mynetwork, .labnetwork

Configure yum proxy in /etc/yum.confTop Proxy environments only!

Insert the following line into the [main] section in /etc/yum.conf.

[main]
proxy=https://proxy-server-id.company.com:8080/

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Configure Third-party Repositories and Update packages

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Install yum-plugin-fastestmirror for speedTop

A yum plugin called "yum-plugin-fastestmirror" selects the fastest Fedora repository mirror for your location and uses that mirror for all future updates. Download it now so all future work with yum is as quick as possible.

# yum -y install yum-plugin-fastestmirror

Install rpmfusion repositoryTop

Rpmfusion.org provides repositories for packages not included in the Fedora distribution including packages with non-free components. Enable rpmfusion support now so packages can be installed from it later.

Enable the free and non-free repositories on rpmfusion.org

Click here to enable the free repository on rpmfusion.org

Click here to enable the non-free repository on rpmfusion.org

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Update base OS install with current packagesTop

The packages installed using the installation media may have been replaced by updated versions with bug fixes or security enhancements. Run yum update now to update all packages.

# yum -y update

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Additional Packages

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Install Required Packages using "fedora-desktop-packages" script Top

After installing the base OS from the LiveCD, LiveDVD or other media source, I add additional packages and remove a few of the unwanted base packages. I've written a script called fedora-desktop-packages to automate this for me.

fedora-desktop-packages contains a set of pre-defined packages to be installed or removed to a Linux system. When it runs, it examines what is already installed and takes action to install what is missing.

Right click on fedora-desktop-packages, save it locally then make it executable in order to run it:

$ chmod u+x fedora-desktop-packages

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Third-Party Applications

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These commercial applications are provided directly from their vendors and require special steps to download and install.

Install Oracle VirtualBoxTop

VirtualBox has been my primary hypervisor for running Windows virtual machines.

1. Download Oracle VirtualBox.
2. Download a VirtualBox extension pack for USB support.

Install VirtualBox using yum:

# yum -y localinstall ~/Downloads/VirtualBox

To complete the installation, run the VirtualBox application and install the license pack in File->Preferences->Extensions

I've used repositories for VirtualBox in the past, but recently found problems with their packages being tied to specific kernels. Periodic downloads from virtualbox.org is a simple way around this.

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Install Adobe i386 repo for AcrobatTop

Install the official Adobe Acrobat Reader program to overcome small incompatabilities observed with the open source PDF readers.

1. Enable the Adobe Reader repository. (Click here and open with Software Install) or

# rpm -ivh https://linuxdownload.adobe.com/adobe-release/adobe-release-i386-1.0-1.noarch.rpm
# rpm --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-adobe-linux

2. Use yum to download and install Adobe Acrobat from the repository.

# yum -y install AdobeReader_enu

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Install Adobe x86_64 repo for Flash PlayerTop

Install the Adobe x86_64 repo to enable easy access to flash player updates.

1. Enable the Adobe x86_64 repository. (Click here) or

# rpm -ivh https://linuxdownload.adobe.com/adobe-release/adobe-release-x86_64-1.0-1.noarch.rpm
# rpm --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-adobe-linux

2. Use yum to download and install the Adobe Flash plugin from the repository.

# yum -y install flash-plugin

3. Restart Firefox
4. Visit this page to verify flash is working

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Install Google ApplicationsTop

1. Right click and save this link for the Google Signing Key or

# wget https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub

2. Import the key into the rpm database

# rpm --import linux_signing_key.pub

3. Download the Chrome package (which also enables the chrome repository.)

# yum localinstall google-chrome-stable*

4. Download the Google Earth package

Update: Looks like Google Earth has some Fedora 18 issues so as of February 2013, I'm leaving this one off my systems for a bit.

# yum localinstall google-earth*

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System Environmental Settings

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Set SELinux to PermissiveTop

SELinux is a policy based security system included with Fedora and enabled by default in a restrictive mode called "Enforcing."

SELinux, by default, blocks many activities that have not been explicitly authorized first. This causes difficulty to even advanced users as they try to configure services only to have them blocked -- often quietly -- by SELinux. As a result, for years I have recommended reconfiguring SELinux to "permissive" mode which does not block anything.

After a talk by SELinux developer Dave Quigley I'm going to start operating with SELinux enabled in enforcing mode. While the recommendation still stands for most users to use permissive mode, I will be adding future content to these guides with SELinux configuration information.

To put SELinux into permissive mode, edit the file /etc/selinux/config and replace "enforcing" with "permissive":

SELINUX=permissive

SELinux will be in permissive mode when the system is rebooted.

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Configure FirewallTop

Leave the firewall enabled if you can and open ports as needed.

Run the Firewall (GUI application) to make these changes:

1. SSH - inbound shell access
2. HTTP & HTTPS - allows serving web pages
3. SAMBA & SAMBA CLIENT - allows serving files via CIFS (primarily to Windows VMs)

Make a Guest UserTop

If your Gnome 3.6 based system only has one user you can log-in, but you can't log-out. I find this really stupid, so the work-around is to simply create a guest user and then the "Log Off" menu option is restored.

To create a guest user, go to System Settings -> User Accounts, then click on the "+" icon and make a guest user. If you don't set a password on it, no one can login. If you do set a password, you've got a guest account others can use.

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Fonts

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Install Custom FontsTop

The following commercial fonts are installed by copying several individual font directories into /usr/share/fonts. Note: I don't make these fonts available, Sorry.

1. Myriad Pro
2. Lucida Grande
3. HP Simplified - Corporate use only.

[maxwell@elite ~]$ ls /usr/share/fonts
abattis-cantarell  default        msttcore            wine-ms-sans-serif-fonts
AdobeGaramond      dejavu         opensymbol          wine-small-fonts
AdobeMinion        hp             stix                wine-symbol-fonts
AdobeMisc          liberation     vlgothic            wine-system-fonts
AdobeMyriadPro     Lucida         wine-courier-fonts
AppleGaramond      MicroFontPack  wine-marlett-fonts

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Install Microsoft FontsTop

Having standard Windows fonts helps websites designed for Windows look accurate and helps with importing Microsoft Office documents.

Download this archive and place the contents in /usr/share/fonts

Please do not link directly to this file!

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Set Minimum Fonts Size in Firefox Top

Set the minimum font size in firefox to between 14 and 16 points to make it easier to view small text on high resolution displays (especially laptops.)

Run Firefox. Go to Edit -> Preferences -> Content -> Fonts & Colors -> Advanced and configure what works best for you.

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Special Installs

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Install Oracle Java Top

OpenJDK works very well as a replacement for Oracle Java but there are some instances where problems can be seen. My attempts to run 3 or more HP iLO3 remote consoles simultaneously exhibit problems with OpenJDK but not with Oracle's JRE, so I use install Oracle and use that.

Navigate to the following link with Firefox and download the 64-bit JRE rpm file of the most recent version of Java.

Oracle JavaSE download page

Choose to have it open with the software installer and install it, or as root, use the rpm command to install the downloaded rpm file. Adjust this command for the filename you've downloaded.

# rpm -ivh jre-7u15-linux-x64.rpm

Next, use the alternatives command to tell Fedora to use Oracle Java instead of OpenJDK:

# /usr/sbin/alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /usr/java/default/bin/java 20000

Then, install the Java plugin for Firefox:

# /usr/sbin/alternatives --install /usr/lib64/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin.so \
libjavaplugin.so.x86_64 /usr/java/default/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so 20000

Restart Firefox and go to this page to verify Java is installed and working in your browser:

Java is regularly being updated to fix security issues, so please revisit this step on a regular basis to keep your Java updated.

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Download and install HP Virtual Rooms client for Linux Top

This client allows me to share my desktop at work.

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Configure Applications

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Configure Firefox Plug-ins) Top

Install the following Firefox plug-ins for a better firefox experience:

1. Video Download Helper - Allows downloading web videos for offline viewing.
2. Download Status Bar - Monitor downloads via statusbar strip instead of separate window.
3. Flashblock - Hide Flash advertisements that waste laptop CPU cycles.

Configure conserver client (corporate) Top

I install a Conserver client that can access a conserver server. The conserver system uses a central server to monitor production systems serial port output and brokers access from simultaneous clients. I only need the client on my Fedora systems. This was downloaded earlier and needs

Create a /etc/conserver/console.conf with the following information:

default config for console
config * {
     master  my-conserver.company.com;
     port    3109;
}

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Configure Pidgin Chat client Top

Pidgin provides me with a single chat client to all the accounts I use at home and work:

1. Google Chat
2. IRC
3. Microsoft Office Communicator/Lync

Run Pidgin, then use Accounts -> Manage Accounts to set these up individually through Pidgin's user interface.

OR, copy a previously created $HOME/.purple directory into the new home directory and see if Pidgin uses the old settings.

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Configure OpenVPN client (corporate) Top

OpenVPN is used to access a variety of secure networks in my life. Configuration is simple:

1. Copy the existing openvpn.conf configuration file and cert key file to /etc/openvpn
2. Launch openvpn to verify

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Configure Samba Top

Samba provides network file sharing services to Windows clients. A Samba server running on a host enables Windows virtual machines to access the host's files.

First, set a samba password for your user:

$ smbpasswd -a
New SMB password: ********
Retype new SMB password: *******

Next, edit /etc/samba/smb.conf and make the following changes:

1. Set the workgroup name
2. Set the server string
3. Allow Samba traffic on selected interfaces including VirtualBox and KVM host only networks
4. Set security to simple user passwords on the host
5. Configure access to users home directories via Samba
6. Configure access to specific directories on the host (outside of users' homes)

[global]
workgroup = MY-SERVER-NAME-GROUP
server string = My Fedora Samba Server
interfaces = lo eth0 192.168.122.0/24 192.168.56.0/24
security = user

Remove eth0 from above if you wish to ONLY share files with the virtual machines on your host and not with other computers on your network.

[homes]
comment = Home Directories
browseable = no
writeable = yes

Note that in Fedora 18, externally mounted drives are now at /run/media/(user)/(medianame) instead of /media/(medianame) so edit your old Samba files accordingly.

Music files shared from the host to others:

[music]
comment = Music share
path = /run/media/maxwell/music/
browseable = yes
writeable = yes
valid users = maxwell

This is a single folder in my home directory shared to VMs when I don't want to share my full home directory:

[vmxfer]
comment = Virtual Machine Transfer folder
path = /home/maxwell/vmxfer
browseable = yes
writeable = yes
valid users = maxwell

As root, use systemctl to configure the system to start samba upon boot and issue two commands to start the services immediately for use.

# Configure the services to start

# systemctl enable smb
# systemctl enable nmb

# Start the services

# systemctl start smb
# systemctl start nmb

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Configure VirtualBox Top

1. Add 'maxwell' to the vboxusers group.
2. Install an extensions pack. Download it here then use Virtualbox -> Preferences -> Extensions to install it.
3. Restore any virtual machine images to the $HOME/VirtualBox directory.
4. Run each VM and verify proper operation
5. Test access to host files via Samba

ensure that vhostnet 192.168.56.1 is working; configure services like samba to respect this setup vhostnet within virtualbox GUI: file/preferences/network

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Gnome Environmental Settings

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These configuration changes can be made while the previous 'yum update' activity or 'packages' script activites are in progress.

The following activities can be performed interactively while other programs are being installed.

Run the System Settings program to make these changes:

1. Users Accounts: Set the user icon to an actual photo.
2. Background: Set the desktop background to something you like.
3. Online Accounts: Setup Google Online accounts for calendaring, gchat, etc.
4. Screen: Set/Disable screen lock.
5. Displays: Set display resolution
6. Keyboard: Set shortcuts
   1. Shortcuts/Windows/Lower all Windows - Menu Key
   2. Shortcuts/Launchers/Launch Terminal - Super-S
7. Network: Setup Wireless Access
8. Date&Time: Enable NTP and change to AM/PM

Run the Advanced System Settings (Gnome Tweak Tool) program to make these changes:

1. Fonts:
   1. Modify text scaling factor as needed
   2. Change default font, document font and window title font to Lucida Grande (my preference!)
   3. Change hinting and Antialiasing as needed (depends on the display in use)
2. Shell: Show date clock - ON
3. Shell: Workspaces only on the primary monitor: @Work:ON, @Home:OFF
4. Shell: Arrangement of buttons on the titlebar: ALL
5. Shell: Dynamic workspaces: 5
6. Window: Action on title bar doubleclick: Maximize Vertically
7. Window: Window focus mode: Mouse

GNOME Alias Changes

Use the Alacarte GNOME menu editor to change the "Files" alias to use the Nemo file manager instead of Nautilus.

1. Run Alacarte ('Main Menu')
2. Select Accessories group
3. Find the "Files" entry whose icon is a file cabinet. Use Properties to change the name field from "Files" to "Nautilus"
4. Verify that a second "Files" whose icon is a folder is present (properties shoes it launches Nemo)

Now, when you launch the file manager with "Files" the Nemo file manager will run. Several important features like Tree view were removed in Fedora 18 which makes Nemo a superior file manager to Nautilus. Nautilus remains available as "Nautilus"

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