--- title: Essential software and configuration on my systems excerpt: This is just a quick personal reference so I don't have to guess and notice that I forgot something important. layout: mini permalink: /n/essentialsoftware.html sitemap: true lang: en robots: noai --- # Essential software for new systems _{{ page.excerpt }}_ Automaattinen sisällysluettelo / Automatically generated Table of Contents - [Security](#security) - [Usability](#usability) - [Essential system configuration](#essential-system-configuration) - [Debian console](#debian-console) - [Terminus on Fedora](#terminus-on-fedora) - [Terminus on Arch Linux](#terminus-on-arch-linux) - [SSD](#ssd) - [BTRFS](#btrfs) - [Swap](#swap) - [sudo](#sudo) - [systemd presets](#systemd-presets) - [Debian](#debian) - [sources.list](#sourceslist) - [`/etc/apt/preferences.d/whatever`](#etcaptpreferencesdwhatever) - [sshd](#sshd) - [Encrypted DNS](#encrypted-dns) - [`/etc/xdg/autostart`](#etcxdgautostart) - [`aminda-*.{service,socket]`](#aminda-servicesocket) - [Remember!](#remember) - [Accessing UEFI setup without key smashing](#accessing-uefi-setup-without-key-smashing) ## Security - `microcode` - propietary, but otherwise CPU holes are going to be gaping open. Refer to `tail -n +1 /sys/devices/system/cpu/vulnerabilities/*` - Debian calls this as `amd64-microcode` or `intel-microcode` - Arch knows them as `amd-ucode` or `intel-ucode` and won't load it for you, you will have to `initrd /intel-ucode.img` yourself instantly after `linux` and before `initrd /initramfs-linux-lts.img`... - `ufw` for Deb-based or `firewalld` on Fedora (and Kali and Arch Linux, if you so choose in the last) - `sshguard` for mitigating shared systems where others refuse to use keys - `needrestart` for knowing when updates actually require services to be restarted or a kernel upgrade happens and requires reboot - Arch users may prefer `checkservices` from `archlinux-contrib` - `molly-guard` so you won't accidentally `reboot` or `poweroff` production rather than local machine. - `apt-listchanges` changelogs are worth knowing when updating. - `apt-listbugs` known bugs are especially nice when performing bigger updates. - `chrony` - security demands the time to be correct, Chrony supports NTS and is proper NTP server instead of just SNTP like systemd-timesyncd. - alternatively configure `systemd-timesyncd` - `unbound` - my choice for both DNSSEC validating and DNS-over-TLS, even if I had it connect to upstream dns\[crypt\]proxy - alternatively configure `systemd-resolved`. Simultaneously `systemd-networkd` may be a good idea. - `unattended-upgrades` or `dnf-automatic` so security updates are at least downloaded if not even directly installed (see configuration and systemd units!) - if `dnf-automatic`, consider `sudo systemctl enable dnf-automatic-install.{timer,service}` or at least `sudo systemctl enable dnf-automatic-download.{timer,service}` ## Usability - `nvim git tmux zsh mosh` - good luck without these - if cryptographic operations are taking ages, consider something like `haveged`. It's controversial, so if there are no issues, don't install a random number generator. - userspace oom killer, may avoid frozen systems, much more pleasant than actually having to deal with a frozen system. - `earlyoom` - remember to `sudo systemctl enable --now earlyoom` - `systemd-oomd` - remember to `sudo systemctl enable --now systemd-oomd` - https://codeberg.org/Aminda/shell-things/src/branch/cxefa/etc/systemd/oomd.conf.d - `zram-tools` - small compressed swap in RAM - Remember to check configs! Fedora: `/etc/zram.conf` - `sudo systemctl enable --now zramswap.service zram-swap.service` - `thermald` for additional help keeping system cool, especially intel - `sudo systemctl enable --now thermald` - `vnstat` - help for observing bandwidth usage - `yggdrasil` - essential for getting through Carrier Grade NAT whether there is IPv6 or not. Also gives static internal IPv6 reducing need for dynamic DNS. - `tlp` - for laptop power management, especially ThinkPad. - `sudo tlp-stat | less` - `sudo systemctl enable --now tlp` ## Essential system configuration Since software being present and doing nothing may not actually do anything. ### Debian console - `sudo dpkg-reconfigure console-setup` - ensure UTF-8 and select Terminus - `sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration` - compose key ### Terminus on Fedora After installing the package, adjust `/etc/vconsole.conf` e.g.: ```conf KEYMAP="fi" FONT="ter-v16v" ``` Maybe `sudo updatedb` and `locate ter-v16v` at first though? #### Terminus on Arch Linux See Fedora, but change the `FONT` to `"ter-132b"` instead. ### SSD - `sudo systemctl enable --now fstrim.timer` - check that `/etc/fstab` has `noatime` so every file access isn't written to the disk. BTRFS filesystems should also have `ssd` flag. - NEVER ENABLE `atime`, `relatime` or `norelatime` under the threat of suffering especially on BTRFS. I have been doing fine without it for years, it will not help any issue, unless you want read operations to cause writes and eat space... ### BTRFS - The above applies, `/etc/fstab` **_must have_** `noatime`. - `compress=zstd:0` may be helpful. It enables zstd compression, which is an integrated feature of BTRFS, with the default compression level (3 at the time of writing). The BTRFS devs are most likely wiser than me and can provide a reasonable balance between efficiency and CPU use. - Alternatively `compress-force=zstd:0` may be used, but that might bring extra CPU usage in compressing what cannot be compressed. - Test on Lumina: 20G free -> 24G free. - The compression will happen either the next time the file is written or can be manually triggered through `sudo btrfs filesystem defragment -r "$PWD"` - For swapfiles on btrfs partition, e.g. `btrfs filesystem mkswapfile --size 8G /swap` ### Swap Zramswap is not enough. 8 GB everywhere may be enough, [summarizing Gentoo](https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Handbook:AMD64/Full/Installation#What_about_swap_space.3F). No swap partition and swap file is acceptable (consider SSD)? See above for btrfs or as root ```bash fallocate -l 8G /swap chmod 600 /swap mkswap /swap swapon /swap ``` The `/etc/fstab` rule is: `/swap none swap sw 0 0` and then it's just a matter of `sudo swapon -a` ### sudo - https://codeberg.org/Aminda/shell-things/src/branch/cxefa/etc/sudoers.d Consider these: ```sudoers # Thanks Tails Defaults timestamp_timeout=0 Defaults pwfeedback Defaults lecture = always ``` Additionally Arch Linux should consider either ```sudoers # Allow full sudo access to the group which is uncommented. The first is # Debian. #%sudoers ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL # Defaults to passwordless sudo on Debian. #%wheel ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL ``` ### systemd presets You are practically **_guaranteed horrible time especially on Debian_**, unless `/etc/systemd/system-preset` has a `whatever.preset` saying `disable *` as some distributions consider it a good idea to autostart every installed service by default. I am unsure on whether this requires `sudo systemctl daemon-reload` to apply. To return to the preset state of nothing autostarting, execute the **_dangerous if you don't know what you are doing_** command `sudo systemctl preset-all`. ### Debian Remember to install `apt-transport-tor`! #### sources.list The mirror to use is `https://deb.debian.org/debian`. #### `/etc/apt/preferences.d/whatever` ```apt # Copied from https://www.wireguard.com/install/ (2020-01-11) # Default priority appears to be 500, so 90 results to unstable being # used when the package is not available anywhere else Package: * Pin: release a=unstable Pin-Priority: 90 Package: * Pin: release a=unstable-debug Pin-Priority: 90 ``` ### sshd If nothing else, **_please_** at least ``` # ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -N "" -f /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key HostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key LogLevel VERBOSE PermitRootLogin prohibit-password PasswordAuthentication no AuthenticationMethods publickey ``` ### Encrypted DNS - https://codeberg.org/Aminda/shell-things/src/branch/cxefa/etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d - https://codeberg.org/Aminda/shell-things/src/branch/cxefa/etc/unbound/unbound.conf.d ### `/etc/xdg/autostart` Not having terminal autostarting for all users is pain. - https://codeberg.org/Aminda/shell-things/src/branch/cxefa/etc/xdg/autostart/kgx-tmux.desktop ```desktop [Desktop Entry] Terminal=true Exec=kgx --command="bash --norc -c tmux" Name=Tmux in Console Icon=org.gnome.Console ``` ### `aminda-*.{service,socket]` They workaround either me or the distribution messing things up. While at it, don't forget `/etc/sysctl.d` - https://codeberg.org/Aminda/shell-things/src/branch/cxefa/etc/systemd/system ## Remember! Not quite configuration, but I am not going to start inventing a new place for it. ### Accessing UEFI setup without key smashing - systemd: there is a `systemctl reboot --firmware-setup` ([spotted here](https://toot.io/@ProfessorCode@fosstodon.org/113009727720521254)) - Plasma: in `systemsettings` section `desktop session` there is a checkbox to _after next boot, enter UEFI settings_ (via [reply to that](https://sauna.social/@justin@toot.io/113011195378808998)) - Windows allows access to UEFI by pressing Shift while reboot ([said here](https://sauna.social/@halva@wetdry.world/113011439141055477)) or simply `shutdown -r -t 1 -fw` twice ([said here](https://infosec.exchange/@jernej__s/113012094181641667)). - GNOME: in the reboot after 60 seconds menu, hold alt to get into boot options ([said here](https://chaos.social/@keywan/113012020348714057)) - In boot loader the command `fwsetup` should take you there ([said here](https://fedi.absturztau.be/notice/AlGqYz5GeJOQw9dfNo)). And anyone using either grub or systemd-bootd has probably seen the menu entry. - efibootmgr: `efibootmgr —bootnext 0000 && reboot` ([said or implied here](https://infosec.exchange/@dodgybadger/113012265751917509))