How should I harden my laptop for an upcoming 8 month deployment, /gentoo/? I've pretty much got the hardware side of things taken care of, with all of the mechanical parts replaced with SSDs and plugs in the USB ports, but software is a bit trickier. I'm

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Anonymous 04/02/15 (Thu) 10:20:43 No.689

How should I harden my laptop for an upcoming 8 month deployment, /gentoo/? I've pretty much got the hardware side of things taken care of, with all of the mechanical parts replaced with SSDs and plugs in the USB ports, but software is a bit trickier. I'm probably gonna be without internet for about six of the eight months and thus can't fall back on Google when shit crashes. I'm thinking either CoreOS or Qebes, due to them being containerized. The problem with that is that they are both in early states and still relatively unstable. I might be well served to use OpenBSD, but I need Tox and Skype to work, neither of which I am sure about and I don't want to have to learn a new OS so quickly.

Any suggestions, /gentoo/men?

Anonymous 04/02/15 (Thu) 12:24:15 No.690

>>689
>but software is a bit trickier
>Any suggestions, /gentoo/men?

Debian GNU/Linux (Stable)

>rock solid
>won't even have a single update during that six month period (no, really)
>it is difficult to find free-as-in-freedom software that won't run on Debian
>can run Tox and ~~Microshit spyware~~ Skype as well

Since you won't have internet for a while, make sure you have the full documentation (read: not just the man pages; on Debian this is sometimes a separate package) installed for both Debian itself and also any software you'll be using frequently.

Remember that every program you install is another bug in your system. Ideally you should follow the noble example of rms: don't even install a graphical interface (he may be "crazy", but I doubt he's ever had a crash).

For convenience though, I'd say go with a lightweight desktop environment (LXDE or XFCE are good examples, but there are plenty more). The software that comes pre-packaged with them is okay.jpg for everyday use and you'll probably never have to mess with any settings.

Anonymous 04/02/15 (Thu) 22:44:44 No.692

>Any suggestions, /gentoo/men?

Hello teenager having a fantasy. /tech/ might be more your speed.

Anonymous 04/03/15 (Fri) 00:57:04 No.693

>>692
>somebody deploying is a teenager's fantasy
Yeah, because that never happens...

https://www.vetfriends.com/US-deployments-overseas/

You act like I just told you I was Delta or something.

>>690

Thanks. I guess you're right that Debian would be a better choice. I'm just a bit nervous since I've never deployed before and only heard others talk about what to expect. Now that I've had time to think about it, going off the rails with some obscure weird OS that I don't have experience with is probably a bad idea...

Anonymous 04/03/15 (Fri) 07:07:04 No.694

What English/Jewish-speaking country doesn't provide Facebook access for teh tropps these days?

Anonymous 04/03/15 (Fri) 14:59:47 No.698

>>694
They all usually do, but I'm pulling shit out of a smaller FOB that isn't needed now that the wars are over and there won't be internet. That's about all I've been told.