Some basic server configurations added.

server/index.rst

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ Contents:
    :maxdepth: 1
 
    install/install
+   server-basics
    entropy
    ssh-server
    tools

server/server-basics.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,242 @@
+Basic Configuration
+===================
+
+Hostname and Domain
+-------------------
+
+Hostname
+^^^^^^^^
+
+The Linux/UNIX system hostname is set in the file :file:`/etc/hostname`::
+
+    $ sudo echo "charlotte" |sudo tee /etc/hostname
+
+See the :manpage:`hostname(5)` manpage describing the file.
+
+The file is only read at boot time. To update the current hostname until the
+next reboot takes place::
+
+    $ sudo hostname --file /etc/hostname
+
+See the :manpage:`hostname(1)` command manpage.
+
+
+Domain
+^^^^^^
+
+The fully qualified domain name (aka. FQDN) contains the hostname and the
+domain. That can not be set by commands. It is resolved by the system, when
+needed. To make this less dependent on DNS resolvers and servers, we should
+set it in the :file:`/etc/hosts` file. DNS servers may not be available,
+especially during system startup, or might not have any records of this
+system.
+
+Edit :file:`/etc/hosts` and add your hostname and domain (FQDN) as
+follows at the very beginning of the file::
+
+    127.0.0.1               charlotte.example.net charlotte localhost
+    ::1                     charlotte.example.net charlotte localhost
+    172.27.88.10            charlotte.example.net charlotte
+    2001:db8:3414:6b1d::10  charlotte.example.net charlotte
+
+
+See the :manpage:`hosts(5)` manpage.
+
+
+Resolver
+^^^^^^^^
+
+Another place we should place the domain name is in the
+:file:`/etc/resolvconf/resolv.conf.d/head`. It is used to create the
+:file:`/etc/resolv.conf` by the :manpage:`resolvconf(8)` service (usually at
+boot time and after network interface events). Add it after any lines already
+present::
+
+    $ echo "domain example.net" |sudo tee -a /etc/resolvconf/resolv.conf.d/head
+
+Update the :file:`/etc/resolv.conf` file::
+
+    $ sudo resolvconf -u
+
+Systems without resolvconf or a similar service (e.g. dnssec-trigger) can just
+add the line to the :file:`/etc/resolv.conf` file directly::
+
+    $ echo "domain example.net" |sudo tee -a /etc/resolv.conf
+
+
+Cloud-Init
+^^^^^^^^^^
+
+`Cloud-init <https://cloudinit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/>`_ for cloud instance
+initialization.
+
+In some cases Cloud-Init might interfere with your host and domain
+configuration at boot time. If that is the case edit the file
+:file:`/etc/cloud/cloud.cfg` and change the following line as follows:
+
+.. code-block:: ini
+
+    # This will cause the set+update hostname module to not operate (if true)
+    preserve_hostname: true
+
+
+Timezone
+--------
+
+Use :manpage:`timedatectl(1)` to show the current timezone configuration::
+
+    $ timedatectl status
+
+
+Change it with the :command:`timedatectl set-timezone` command::
+
+    $ sudo timedatectl set-timezone
+
+
+You can use command-completion with the :kbd:`TAB` key to select your closest
+city::
+
+    $ sudo timedatectl set-timezone Europe/
+
+
+
+Locales
+-------
+
+Locales are a framework to switch between multiple languages and allow users
+to use their language, country, characters, collation order, etc.
+
+We can have fine-grained control on how your system talks to you.
+
+For example, I prefer reading untranslated english system messages, but I
+prefer time and date strings in log-files or directory listings formatted as I
+am used to it in my country (DD.MM.YYYY and 24-hour time).
+
+
+Locales Installation
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+To get a list of currently installed locales you can use the
+:command:`locale` command::
+
+    $ locale -a
+
+
+See the :manpage:`locale(1)` manpage.
+
+To see the list of all (500+) locales your system supports::
+
+    $ less /usr/share/i18n/SUPPORTED
+
+
+Usually the UTF-8 variants are sufficient::
+
+    $ grep -E '^[a-z]{2,3}_[A-Z]{2}.UTF-8' /usr/share/i18n/SUPPORTED
+
+
+If you are interested in a particular language only (e.g. German)::
+
+    $ grep '^de' /usr/share/i18n/SUPPORTED
+
+
+Usually the UTF-8 variants are sufficient::
+
+    $ grep -E '^de_[A-Z]{2}.UTF-8' /usr/share/i18n/SUPPORTED
+
+
+Just show the available locales for you country (i.e. Switzerland)::
+
+    $ grep -E '_CH.UTF-8' /usr/share/i18n/SUPPORTED
+
+
+Once you have decided on your selection you can install them as follows using
+the :manpage:`locale-gen(8)` command::
+
+    $ sudo locale-gen \
+        en_GB.UTF-8 en_US.UTF-8 \
+        de_CH.UTF-8 fr_CH.UTF-8 it_CH.UTF-8 \
+        de_DE.UTF-8 de_AT.UTF-8
+
+
+In this example we installed British- and US-English, Swiss german, french and
+italian, and the german variants of Germany and Austria.
+
+
+Locale Configuration
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+To see the locales settings of your current session::
+
+    $ locale
+    LANG=en_US.UTF-8
+    LANGUAGE=
+    LC_CTYPE="en_US.UTF-8"
+    LC_NUMERIC="en_US.UTF-8"
+    LC_TIME="en_US.UTF-8"
+    LC_COLLATE="en_US.UTF-8"
+    LC_MONETARY="en_US.UTF-8"
+    LC_MESSAGES=POSIX
+    LC_PAPER="en_US.UTF-8"
+    LC_NAME="en_US.UTF-8"
+    LC_ADDRESS="en_US.UTF-8"
+    LC_TELEPHONE="en_US.UTF-8"
+    LC_MEASUREMENT="en_US.UTF-8"
+    LC_IDENTIFICATION="en_US.UTF-8"
+    LC_ALL=
+
+
+The system default settings are stored in the :file:`/etc/default/locale`
+file. The format is described in :manpage:`locale(5)`.
+
+::
+
+    $ cat /etc/default/locale
+
+In the following example, we retain US-English as the system language for
+messages and string operations like sorting, but change some of them to our
+familiar national formats.
+
+
+Set Defaults for All Users
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+To change these defaults for all users edit the :file:`/etc/default/locale`
+file directly or use the :manpage:`update-locale(8)` command::
+
+    # Set US-English as default language
+    LANG=en_US.UTF-8
+
+    # What language should be used for system messages.
+    LC_MESSAGES=POSIX
+
+    # What name and symbol of your currency
+    LC_MONETARY=de_CH.UTF-8
+
+    # Date and time representations (e.g. 24-hour or AM/PM)
+    LC_TIME=de_CH.UTF-8
+
+    # Paper sizes and formats, for printing (Letter or A4)
+    LC_PAPER=de_CH.UTF-8
+
+    # How names and addresses are formatted
+    LC_IDENTIFICATION=de_CH.UTF-8
+    LC_NAME=de_CH.UTF-8
+    LC_ADDRESS=de_CH.UTF-8
+    LC_TELEPHONE=de_CH.UTF-8
+
+    # Metric or imperial units (Pounds or kilos)
+    LC_MEASUREMENT=de_CH.UTF-8
+
+
+Set for Your Own User Profile
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Set them in your :file:`~/.pam_environment` file.
+
+
+References
+''''''''''
+
+    * https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Locale#List_current_settings
+
+