Installing Linux OS

Ubuntu Linux 14.04 is a Long Term Support (LTS) release with support until April 2019. The desktop system will be a complete workstation designed to be used for desktop publishing.

Installing the base system follows the basic setup with no changes. You can see the directions with screenshots at http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/install-ubuntu-desktop

After installation, we’ll add:

• Chromium, the open source web browser
• FileZilla, an FTP client
• Skype
• K3B, a CD/DVD burning program
• Audacity, an audio editor
• Multimedia Codecs
• TrueType fonts, including Google fonts
• Java

In addition, there will be custom installation of GIMP, Scribus, Inkscape, VideoLan Movie Creator, and Kompozer.

After initial installation, the system should be updated. Open a terminal window (Dash -> Terminal) and run the updater:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo apt-get autoclean

When that’s completed, a reboot will be required.

Install Synaptic Package Manager

The next step is to add the Synaptic Package Manager, which is used to easily install multiple packages. Open a terminal and enter:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get -f install
sudo apt-get install synaptic

Install additional software

Additional software needs to be installed. Open Synaptic Package Manager (Dash -> Synaptic).

In the Synaptic Package Manager, us the Quick Filter to find packages and click the checkbox to select the package and Mark for Installation. If a package has a dependency that is needed a popup will show this and click on Mark.

Select these packages for installation:

• gimp
• audacity
• bluefish
• dvdrip
• filezilla
• ttf-mscorefonts-installer
• k3b
• openshot
• mplayer
• smplayer
• kompozer
• scribus
• inkscape
• vlc
• browser-plugin-vlc
• sound-juicer
• ubuntu-restricted-extras
• linux-firmware-nonfree
• xine-ui
• xine-plugin
• virtualbox-ose
• chromium-browser
• skype
• gdebi
• icedtea-plugin

This will install the standard Microsoft fonts, java, a PDF editor, the codecs required for video playback, and everything else on the list.

Install Google Web Fonts

The whole library of Google Web Fonts can be installed on your desktop. Open a terminal and enter the following commands:

wget https://freesoftwarepublishing.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/install-google-fonts.doc
chmod +x install-google-fonts.doc
./install-google-fonts.doc

Security

Start the firewall.

sudo ufw enable

Limit su

sudo groupadd admin
sudo usermod -a -G admin
sudo dpkg-statoverride –update –add root admin 4750 /bin/su

sysctl settings

sudo gedit /etc/sysctl.conf

uncomment the following lines:
net.ipv4.conf.default.rp_filter=1
net.ipv4.conf.all.rp_filter=1
net.ipv4.tcp_syncookies=1
net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_redirects = 0
net.ipv6.conf.all.accept_redirects = 0
net.ipv4.conf.all.send_redirects = 0
net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_source_route = 0
net.ipv6.conf.all.accept_source_route = 0
net.ipv4.conf.all.log_martians = 1

Finally, apply the new settings:

sudo sysctl -p

Move /tmp to RAM

Reduces disk I/O

In a terminal window enter:

sudo gedit /etc/fstab

At the end of the file add:

# Move /tmp to RAM
tmpfs    /tmp    tmpfs    defaults,noexec,nosuid    0 0