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Back|Track 5 R3 Post-Install

posted Sep 13, 2012, 7:48 AM by William Stone   [ updated Sep 16, 2012, 1:09 PM ]

Post-Install

The following procedures worked for me under Back|Track Linux 5 R3.  There is no guarantee that it will work for you, nor with any other version of Linux.

User Administration

Add a Non-Privileged User

You should not generally log into a *NIX system as root.  To create a fully-working non priviledged user in Back|Track 5R3, perform the following:
  1. Log in as root.  The default password is toor.

  2. Enter the command:

    adduser [userid]

    where [userid] is the user ID that you wish to create.  Follow the onscreen prompts.

  3. Add the new user to the appropriate groups with the following commands:

    usermod -g [userid] [userid] && usermod -G admin [userid] && usermod -G users [userid]

    where [userid] is the user ID name that you just created.

    You'll note the user of [userid] twice in a row:  this is because the user's primary group should be a group with the same name as the userid.

    The other statements will add the user to the admin and users groups, which is necessary for sudo and sudo-dependent programs to function correctly.

Change root's Password

The default root password in Back|Track Linux is toor.  Since this is a highly-publicizsed fact, it is imperative to immediately change root's password.

While logged in as root or via sudo, enter the command:

    passwd

and follow the prompts.  Be sure to choose a strong password.

Install Network Manager

wicd irritates me.  I understand the intent, but I simply can't get it to function as advertised.  Furthermore, NetworkManager is rubust, stable, and has plug-ins for all kinds of things that wicd doesn't.

Please be aware:  following these procedures will completely remove wicd and replace it with NetworkManager.

Procedure

  1. Log in as a non-privileged user.

  2. Open a command prompt window and type:

    sudo apt-get remove --purge wicd* python-wicd && sudo apt-get install network-manager-gnome network-manager-vpnc-gnome network-manager-openconnect-gnome network-manager-pptp network-manager network-manager-openvpn network-manager-openconnect network-manager-openvpn-gnome network-manager-pptp-gnome network-manager-vpnc network-manager-strongswan

  3. As root or via sudo, edit the file /etc/NetworkManager/nm-system-settings.conf

  4. Change the line under [ifupdown] that reads:

    managed=false

    to read:

    managed=true

Caveats and Gotchas

Be aware that when Network Manager is installed, interfaces configured as, Connect Automatically and Available to All Users will be automatically active on boot.
 

Install Ubuntu-Tweak

    TBD

Disable the Splash Screen

In my opinion, a booting computer should display as much information as possible.  It should not hide behind a picture but rather display information that an expert can use to immediately use for trouble-shooting, if necessary.

Fortunately, this is easy to configure in Back|Track.  As root or via sudo edit the file:

    /etc/default/grub

Comment out the line that reads:

    GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="text splash vga=791"

and replace it with one that reads:

    GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="vga=791"

It's possible that you may not have "vga=791"  if so, duplicate the pre-existing value in your new configuration line.  The important step is to remove the words text and splash.

Save the file.  To make this change active, issue the following command:

    sudo update-grub2

Customize the Console Font

I prefer Terminus font for everything related to the command prompt.
Terminus Font

To install Terminus, enter the following command in the Terminal window:

    sudo apt-get install terminus*

Note that this will also install the Terminus font in X-Windows, thereby making it available to X-Terminal applications.

Once the font is installed, you may configure the console font via the following command in a Terminal window:

    sudo dpkg-reconfigure console-setup

It should be appropriate to press <ENTER> until you reach the screen showing the various fonts available.  Use the cursor keys to select Terminus, then use the <TAB> key to highlight Ok.

Press <ENTER> until you reach the screen that reads Font Size.  Use the cursor key to select the font size of your choice.  I prefer 12x6, however I find that most people prefer 14-point or above.

When you have chosen the font you like, use the <TAB> key to highlight Ok and press <ENTER>.  You may then press 
<ENTER> until the program completes.

Add Repositories

    TBD
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