Linux/Virtual Server Setup Guide

Step 1: Prepare local linux terminal

• Install Windows Subsystem for Linux / Ubuntu
• Open local linux terminal and complete initial setup

Step 2: Generate Cloud VM (Hetzner, Netcup,...)

• Install latest Ubuntu LTS
• Set username / password
• Write down information required for next steps:
  • VM IP, VM username, VM password

Step 3: Adjust DNS entries

• Make sure the desired DNS entries point to the (new?) IP of the VM. (IPv4 + IPv6)
• Verify from the local terminal that the DNS entry is pointing to the correct ip

nslookup {hostname}

Step 4: Set up VM

• Open local linux terminal
• Connect to VM:

ssh {user}@{hostname}

Install basics

apt update
apt install mc aptitude nmap plocate

Uninstall snapd

apt install apparmor apport apt bcache-tools btrfs-progs cloud-init cryptsetup dbus \
lvm2 mdadm multipath-tools netbase ntfs-3g open-iscsi pollinate snapd ssh-import-id \
sudo systemd systemd-sysv ubuntu-drivers-common ubuntu-release-upgrader-core udev xfsprogs
apt purge ubuntu-server-minimal
snap remove lxd core20 core22 snapd
apt purge snapd ntfs-3g
apt autoremove

Install fail2ban

apt install fail2ban
cp /etc/fail2ban/jail.conf /etc/fail2ban/jail.local
systemctl enable fail2ban
systemctl restart fail2ban

Add swapfile

sudo fallocate -l 4G /swapfile
sudo chmod 600 /swapfile
sudo mkswap /swapfile
sudo swapon /swapfile

add to /etc/fstab
/swapfile none swap sw 0 0

sudo sysctl vm.swappiness=10
cat /proc/sys/vm/swappiness