I chose a lightweight version of Ubuntu, called Lubuntu. There is another lightweight one called Xubuntu as well, however, from what I have read when comparing those 2, lubuntu seems to use less system resource and maintain its usability.
I'm just going to list all the steps I took to setup proxies, install vbox guest additions and command prompt customizing. This post can serve as a reminder for myself if I ever going to do the same thing again.
My settings in vbox is as follow:
- Linux | Other
- 512 MB RAM
- fixed 12GB VHD
1. Create a file called "95proxies" into /etc/apt/apt.conf.d - for updates in Lubuntu
vi /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/95proxies
Acquire::http::proxy "http://<user>:<password>@<proxy-url>:<port>/";
2. Update packages
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
3. Install guest additions - copy & paste between Windows and scrolling enabled
sudo /media/[VBOXADDITIONS]/VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
4. Create a share folder between Windows and Lubuntu
Vbox Manager -> Settings -> Shared Folders -> Add
5. Mount the share folder
mount -t vboxsf [share] [mount-point]
6. Auto-mount of the share folder when start-up
vi /etc/fstab
[share] [mount-point] vboxsf
OR if it doesn't work, since there was a bug in my version of Lubuntu (12.04):
vi /etc/init.d/rc.local
mount.vboxsf -w [share] [mount-point]
7. Customizing command prompt - editing the bash file
vi ~/.bashrc
## Set the PS1 prompt#
colorsblue='\[\e[0;34m\]'
BLUE='\[\e[1;34m\]'
brown='\[\e[0;33m\]'
cyan='\[\e[0;36m\]'
CYAN='\[\e[1;36m\]'
GREEN_BR='\[\e[1\;32m\]'
green='\[\e[0;32m\]'
GREEN='\[\e[1;32m\]'
magenta='\[\e[0;35m\]'
MAGENTA='\[\e[1;35m\]'
RED_BR='\[\e[1\;31m\]'
red='\[\e[0;31m\]'
RED='\[\e[1;31m\]'
yellow='\[\e[1;33m\]'
NC='\[\e[m\]'
PATH=$PATH:/sbin
GPG_TTY=`tty`
PS1="${red}\t-${cyan}\w${NC}\n${BLUE}\u${NC}@${RED}\h${NC}\` if [[ \$? = 0 ]] ; then echo ${GREEN_BR}\\\>\\\:\\\)${NC}; else echo ${RED_BR}\\\<\\\:\\\(${NC}; fi \`"
alias ls='ls -p'
8. Set up proxy for Internet connections
Right click on Desktop -> Create New... -> Shortcut.
Set up shortcut as follow:
[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Type=Application
Name=Chromium Browser
Name[en_AU]=Chromium Browser
Icon=chromium-browser
Exec=/usr/bin/chromium-browser --proxy-pac-url="<proxy-pac-url>"
Comment[en_AU]=Web Browser
vi ~/.bashrc
## Set proxy
function proxy(){
echo -n "username:"
read -e username
echo -n "password:"
read -es password
export http_proxy="http://$username:$password@<host>:<port>/"
export HTTP_PROXY="http://$username:$password@<host>:<port>/"
export https_proxy="http://$username:$password@<host>:<port>/"
export HTTPS_PROXY="http://$username:$password@<host>:<port>/"
export ftp_proxy="http://$username:$password@<host>:<port>/"
export FTP_PROXY="http://$username:$password@<host>:<port>/"
echo -e "\nProxy environment variable set.\n"
}
function proxyoff(){
unset username
unset password
unset HTTP_PROXY
unset http_proxy
unset HTTPS_PROXY
unset https_proxy
unset FTP_PROXY
unset ftp_proxy
echo -e "\nProxy environment variable removed.\n"
}
To start the proxy, just run "proxy" in the command prompt.To turn it off, just run "proxyoff"
This way, I don't have to manage the password in 2 locations.
That's it! all done =)
