Experiment - 2 :- Preparing a Functional System in Linux

Aim: To configure a freshly installed Linux system into a fully functional workstation by updating repositories, installing essential software packages, configuring drivers, setting up desktop environment tools, and establishing basic system security.

Apparatus / Prerequisites:

• Hardware: PC with a fresh Linux Installation (e.g., Ubuntu / Debian).

• Network: Active internet connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi).

• Permissions: User account with sudo (administrative) privileges.

Process Overview

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                      1. REPOSITORY & SYSTEM UPDATES                   |
|  Update Package Lists  ---> Upgrade Packages  ---> Cleanup Dependencies|
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   |
                                   v
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                     2. ESSENTIAL SOFTWARE PACKAGES                    |
| Build Tools (build-essential) ---> Media Codecs ---> Productivity Suite|
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   |
                                   v
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                   3. DRIVER & HARDWARE CONFIGURATION                  |
|  Detect Hardware  ---> Install Proprietary/GPU Drivers ---> Test Sound |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   |
                                   v
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                       4. SECURITY & SYSTEM FIREWALL                   |
|    Enable UFW Firewall  ---> Configure Automatic Updates ---> Tweaks  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Step-by-Step Procedure
1.Update and Upgrade System Packages: Command Line Interface.

Open Terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T).
Fetch latest package index lists:
Bash  sudo apt update

Upgrade all installed packages to their newest versions:
Bash  sudo apt upgrade -y

2.Install Core Utilities & Codecs: Build Tools & Media Support.

Install essential development tools (compilers, make, header files):
Bash sudo apt install build-essential curl wget git software-properties-common -y

Install multimedia codecs for video/audio playback:
Bash sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras -y

3.Configure Display Drivers & Peripherals: Drivers & Hardware Setup.

Check for additional hardware drivers (e.g., NVIDIA graphics, Wi-Fi adapters):
Bash sudo ubuntu-drivers install

Verify display and graphics setup:
Bash  lshw -c video

4.Install Productivity & Web Software: Application Suites.

Install web browser, office suite, and media tools if not present:
Bash sudo apt install vlc libreoffice gimp Synaptic -y
(Optional) Install modern application managers like Flatpak/Snap:
Bash sudo apt install flatpak

5.Configure Firewall (UFW) and System Protection: Security Setup.

Check firewall status and enable Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW):
Bash sudo ufw status
sudo ufw enable
Ensure system automatically receives critical security updates:
Bash sudo apt install unattended-upgrades -y
sudo dpkg-reconfigure --priority=low unattended-upgrades

Essential Configuration Summary
Category
Recommended Commands / Tools
Purpose
System Maintenance
sudo apt autoremove && sudo apt clean
Removes unused packages and frees disk space
Development
sudo apt install gcc g++ make git
Prepares environment for programming and compiling
Media & Audio
ubuntu-restricted-extras, vlc
Provides MP3, MP4, DVD, and font support
Security
sudo ufw enable
Blocks unauthorized network traffic
GUI Customization
gnome-tweaks
Allows advanced desktop and theme management
Tip: Always run sudo apt update before installing any new package to avoid dependency errors or downloading outdated versions.

Verification & Confirmation
Verify network status and active firewall:
Bash  
sudo ufw status verbose
Test software functionality by opening installed applications (VLC, LibreOffice, Git via terminal).
Check system memory usage and running services using htop:
Bash  
sudo apt install htop
htop