Setting Up Your Linux System: A Step-by-Step Guide

Posted on Jan 12, 2025

Introduction

Congratulations on choosing Linux as your operating system! Setting up your Linux system can seem daunting, but with this step-by-step guide, you’ll be up and running in no time. In this post, we’ll cover the basics of setting up a Linux system, including installing essential packages, configuring networking, and securing your system.

Step 1: Installation

Before we begin, make sure you have a Linux distribution (distro) installed on your computer. Some popular distros for beginners include Ubuntu, Fedora, RockyLinux and CentOS Stream. If you’re new to Linux, I recommend starting with Ubuntu, which has a user-friendly interface and a large community of users.

Step 2: Update and Upgrade

Once you’ve booted into your Linux system, update the package index and upgrade any existing packages:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

This ensures that your system has the latest versions of installed software.

Step 3: Install Essential Packages

Next, let’s install some essential packages to get started with Linux:

sudo apt-get install -y build-essential
sudo apt-get install -y manpages-dev
sudo apt-get install -y tree
  • build-essential provides the necessary development tools for compiling software from source.
  • manpages-dev enables manual page support for developers.
  • tree is a useful command for navigating directories and viewing file hierarchies.

Step 4: Set up Your System User

Create a new system user account to start with:

sudo adduser <username>

Replace with your desired user name. You’ll need to set a password, optionally configure settings like shell and home directory, and decide whether the user should be part of any groups.

Step 5: Configure Networking

Configure your network interface (e.g., Ethernet or Wi-Fi) by editing the interfaces file:

sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces

Edit the auto eth0 section to reflect your desired settings, such as IP address, netmask, gateway, and DNS servers.

Step 6: Secure Your System

Secure your system with these three essential steps:

  1. Set a strong password: Change the default root password:
sudo passwd root
  1. Configure SSH: Enable secure shell (SSH) for remote access:
sudo apt-get install -y openssh-server
  1. Install a firewall: Install and configure UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall):
sudo apt-get install -y ufw

Step 7: Explore Your System

Congratulations! You’ve completed the basic setup of your Linux system. Now’s the time to familiarize yourself with the terminal, shell commands, and file systems.

  • Learn basic navigation commands like cd, ls, and pwd.
  • Understand how to create and manage files and directories.
  • Explore package management using tools like apt-get.

This concludes our step-by-step guide to setting up a basic Linux system. From here, you can explore more advanced topics, such as configuring your network interface, working with services, or managing repositories.

Have any questions or need further guidance? Feel free to leave comments below!