Editing My Mint Notes

== My Mint Linux Notes ==

Notes on my Minut Linux

== SSH server ==

First order of business is to install an SSH server so I can securely connect to machine remotely. OpenSSH server is optimum for this.

In terminal window run this command:

<code>sudo aptitude install openssh-server</code>

Backup your sshd-config file:

<code>sudo cp /etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_config.bak</code>

Edit sshd_config file. To read about the options read [http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/man.cgi?query=sshd_config&sektion=5 sshd_config man page]

<code>sudo vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config</code>

To enhance security modify your sshd_config to disable login by root and deny all users except those listed:
* PermitRootLogin no
* AllowUsers <userid> <userid> // Adding AllowUsers explicity retricts access to only specified users

Restart ssh:

<code>sudo restart ssh</code>

Now you should be able to remotely connect to your Mint Linux

== Aptitude ==

Copied from [http://www.garfieldtech.com/blog/your-debian-aptitude Garfield Tech] for reference:

<pre>
aptitude update: Update the local cache of available packages (formerly apt-get update.
aptitude upgrade: Upgrade available packages (formerly apt-get upgrade).
aptitude dist-upgrade: Upgrade available packages even if it means removing stuff (formerly apt-get dist-upgrade).
aptitude install pkgname: Install package (formerly apt-get install).
aptitude remove pkgname: Uninstall package (formerly apt-get remove).
aptitude purge pkgname: Uninstall package and config files (formerly apt-get --purge remove).
aptitude search string: Search for a package with "string" in the name or description (formerly apt-cache search string).
aptitude show pkgname: Show detailed of a package (formerly apt-cache show pkgname).
aptitude clean: Delete downloaded package files (formerly apt-get clean).
aptitude autoclean: Delete only out-of-date package files but keep current ones (formerly apt-get autoclean).
aptitude hold pkgname: Fix a package at its current version and don't upgrade it automatically (formerly an obscure echo-to-file command). unhold to remove the hold.
</pre>