Do not assign a root password during installation, which will enable sudo for the main user

(VPS) change the machine name:

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname <new-name>
sudo edit /etc/hosts

enable force_color_prompt=yes in file ~/.bashrc

copy /home/user/.bashrc to /root and modify PS1 prompt color (32m –> 31m)

Swap behavior

In a minimal install without GUI is no NetworkManager present. Configure the static ip address first to be able to access the host. If you have chosen manual network setup during installation all following settings have been done automatically and you don't need to change anything.

Modify /etc/network/interfaces:

auto enp0s3
iface enp0s3 inet static
    address 192.168.3.150/24
    gateway 192.168.3.1
    dns-nameservers 192.168.3.1

Add the nameserver to /etc/resolv.conf:

nameserver 192.168.3.1

Reboot with either of the following commands:

sudo reboot
sudo shutdown -r now

Don't forget to bridge the interface if it is a VirtualBox virtual machine.

Configure SSH Access

Install UFW Firewall

Disable root login by changing file /etc/passwd from line 1 to line 2

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash
root:x:0:0:root:/root:/usr/sbin/nologin

Additional packages

$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install vim
$ sudo apt install zip
$ sudo apt install rename
$ sudo apt install rsync
$ sudo apt install curl
$ sudo apt install dnsutils
$ sudo apt install dos2unix
$ sudo apt install socat
$ sudo apt install git
$ sudo apt install rsyslog

Change visudo editor

$ sudo update-alternatives --config editor

Check install

apt-cache policy <packagename>