System setup checklist. Networking, SSH, webproxy, VNC, passwordless sudo etc.

sys_setup.md

• Sudo without password
• Setup necessary aliases in your server's .bashrc
  • alias x="nautilus ${PWD}" ; so that file explorer opens in current directory with command x
  • alias ls="ls -lt"
• Seup git config name and email at your server
• Setup terminal preferences
• Networking
  • Expose server with tunnel. Make use of cron: crontab -e > @reboot tunnel -l /tmp/tunnel.log 22 and */1 * * * * tunnel -l /tmp/tunnel.log 22. Use tunnel because it is more or less portable and doesn't require sudo priviledge. Just install a portable socat in the same directory as tunnel (e.g. ~/.bin), if needed.
  • At your home-pc/laptop (client) setup a cronjob or add to ~/.bashrc : flock -n /tmp/tunnel.log tunnel -b <port> -l /tmp/tunnel.log <server-kid>:22
  • Similarly expose (@server) and forward (@client) other ports as necessary - for webproxy (Squid), VNC (TightVNC), ipfs etc.
• SSH
  • ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C <server_name> [Enter no passphrase], followed by ssh-copy-id -i <key_file> user@server
  • Set up ssh alias for server using the IdentityFile (ssh-key). Tutorial
  • Test ssh <alias>
• Install a GUI-sftp client : WinSCP for Windows and nautilus > sftp://uid@host > Remember Password > Unlock for Linux This gives you great ease of access - for example simple drag-n-drop file and directory transfer, directory synching etc.
• Webproxy This allows you (client / home-pc / laptop) to browse web using your institute (server)'s IP. Usecase: Journal article download when sci-hub doesn't work.
• VNC or Anydesk
• Install intel-fortran @ workstation/server