Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS¶
Comprehensive guide for installing, configuring, and hardening Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS.
Overview¶
This section provides deep-dive documentation for running a secure Ubuntu Server. It covers everything from initial installation through comprehensive security hardening, following industry best practices and CIS benchmarks.
What Ubuntu Server Provides¶
- Stable LTS foundation - 5 years of standard support, 12 years with Extended Security Maintenance
- Excellent hardware support - Wide driver coverage for servers and workstations
- Native virtualization - KVM/QEMU virtualization built-in
- Standard package management - APT with extensive repositories
- Enterprise features - Livepatch, AppArmor, comprehensive logging
Guide Philosophy¶
This guide emphasizes:
- Security by default - Hardening from the start, not as an afterthought
- Defense in depth - Multiple layers of protection
- Practical guidance - Real configurations you can use
- Copy-paste ready - Commands and config files ready to apply
Section Overview¶
Installation¶
Complete installation guidance including disk encryption and secure boot.
| Page | Description |
|---|---|
| Installation Overview | Installation philosophy and planning |
| Preparation | Pre-install planning, hardware checks |
| Secure Boot | UEFI Secure Boot configuration |
| Disk Partitioning | LVM, LUKS encryption, layouts |
| Installation Walkthrough | Step-by-step installer guide |
| Post-Install Checklist | First boot essentials |
System Configuration¶
Core system configuration for users, services, and time synchronization.
| Page | Description |
|---|---|
| System Overview | System configuration introduction |
| Users & Groups | User management, groups, home directories |
| sudo Configuration | Privilege escalation, sudoers best practices |
| PAM | Authentication modules, password policies |
| systemd | Service management, unit hardening |
| Time Sync | NTP/chrony configuration |
Security Hardening¶
Comprehensive security measures for protecting the system.
| Page | Description |
|---|---|
| Security Overview | Security philosophy and baseline |
| Kernel Hardening | sysctl, kernel parameters |
| SSH Hardening | SSH server security |
| AppArmor | Mandatory access control |
| Fail2ban | Intrusion prevention |
| auditd | Linux audit framework |
| Integrity Monitoring | AIDE, rkhunter |
| CIS Benchmarks | Compliance scanning |
Updates & Maintenance¶
Keep the system secure and up-to-date.
| Page | Description |
|---|---|
| Updates Overview | Update strategy |
| APT Management | Package management, repositories |
| Unattended Upgrades | Automatic security updates |
| Livepatch | Kernel updates without reboot |
Logging¶
Comprehensive logging for security and troubleshooting.
| Page | Description |
|---|---|
| Logging Overview | Logging architecture |
| journald | systemd journal configuration |
| rsyslog | Traditional syslog, remote logging |
| Log Rotation | logrotate configuration |
Service Management¶
Secure and optimize running services.
| Page | Description |
|---|---|
| Services Overview | Service hardening philosophy |
| Disable Unnecessary | Remove unneeded services |
| Service Isolation | systemd sandboxing |
| Network Services | Hardening common services |
Networking¶
Network configuration with security focus.
| Page | Description |
|---|---|
| Networking | Basic Netplan configuration |
| Firewall | UFW and comprehensive firewall guide |
Troubleshooting¶
Diagnose and resolve common issues.
| Page | Description |
|---|---|
| Troubleshooting Overview | Troubleshooting methodology |
| Boot Issues | Boot problems, recovery mode |
| Network Issues | Network troubleshooting |
| Security Incidents | Incident response basics |
Reference¶
Quick reference materials and checklists.
| Page | Description |
|---|---|
| Quick Reference | Command cheat sheet |
| Hardening Checklist | Complete hardening checklist |
| Resources | External resources, CIS, STIGs |
Quick Start¶
For experienced administrators who want to get started quickly:
- Install - Follow Installation Walkthrough with LUKS encryption
- Initial Hardening - Complete Post-Install Checklist
- Verify - Run through Hardening Checklist
Related Documentation¶
This guide focuses on Ubuntu-specific configuration. For detailed coverage of related topics, see:
| Topic | Location |
|---|---|
| SSH (full guide) | SSH Guide |
| Netplan (full guide) | Netplan Guide |
| Firewall (full guide) | Firewall Guide |
| Tailscale VPN | Tailscale Guide |