Arch Linux for beginners

Backups

A regular backup is very important, especially for production computer systems. Virtually all Linux distributions thus usually have several backup applications in their software archives that you typically first need to install. Apricity OS is a pleasing exception to this rule: Out of the box, it comes with a backup program that you can launch from the application browser with a simple mouse click. Again, the Apricity OS developers keep true to their maxim of choosing software that is easy to use.

The Simple Backup Suite [7] is ideally suited as a backup program for the desktop and is not overloaded with functions that are usually only used on server systems. The Simple Backup-Configuration application launcher in the application browser initially takes you to a configuration window, where you can specify basic options like paths, intervals, the data to be saved, and whether to exclude files or directories. A reporting function helps you verify the success of a backup run.

The program manages various backup routines in custom profiles. In this way, you can easily enable frequently used, but different, backup scenarios by changing the profile, without changing the options manually before each run. The second application launcher, Simple Backup-Restoration, lets you manage the backups and restore one or more backup copies with a mouse click if needed (Figure 8).

Figure 8: Apricity OS offers a genuinely simple backup program in the form of the Simple Backup Suite.

Firewall

If you run services such as an SSH server or Samba on your computer and use these on other networks (such as a university WiFi or hotel network), you need to secure your setup with a firewall. Like almost all major Linux distributions Apricity OS gives you a firewall when you first install it on your storage medium. With seven years of development under its belt, and availability under the GPLv3 license, the Uncomplicated Firewall (ufw) and its graphical front end, Gufw, can be easily accessed by clicking on the Firewall Configuration icon in the application browser.

In just a few steps you can define individual rules for Office, Home, and Public profiles. Ufw distinguishes between incoming and outgoing data packets. After saving the profile, enable the firewall with the slider switch below the profile name (Figure 9). To create efficient rules, you do need a basic understanding of the Linux standard packet filter, iptables, on which ufw/Gufw are based.

Figure 9: A convenient graphical tool helps you set up a firewall.

Conclusions

Apricity OS gives you a Linux distribution with a customized Gnome desktop that is genuinely easy to operate across the board and requires little prior knowledge – even though it has Arch Linux under the hood. The operating system is visually modern and well thought out and impressively proves that an Arch Linux derivative need not be suitable only for geeks.

Thanks to the many active repositories, Apricity OS has a most comprehensive collection of software, which makes it a very useful all-around operating system. With the streamlined Gnome desktop, the system even makes quite a good impression on older computers.

Infos

  1. Apricity OS: https://apricityos.com/index.html
  2. Chromium OS : https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os
  3. Peppermint OS: http://peppermintos.com
  4. "TLP: Laptop Power Management" by Erik Bärwaldt, Linux Pro Magazine, issue 133, December 2011, pg. 80
  5. PlayOnLinux: https://www.playonlinux.com/en/
  6. Syncthing: https://syncthing.net
  7. sbackup suite: https://launchpad.net/sbackup

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