These instructions have been tested with 64-bit install; with noted change(s) should work for 32-bit.

 1. boot amd64 install CD, type "server" at the prompt.

    Ubuntu Splash page
     boot: server <cr>
     ...
      [scrolling text] ...
     ...
    [!] Choose Language
     Choose a language: English <cr>
     Choose your location: United States <cr> (Why rather than Canada?)
                                              (affects locale!)
    [!] Select a keyboard layout
     Your Keyboard is: American English <cr>
     ...
      Blah, Blah, Blah ...
     ...
    [!] Configure the network
     Network Autoconfiguration failed
      (no DHCP service if MAC isn't in inventory system) <Continue> <cr>
     Configure network manually <cr>
     IP address: 129.97.NNN.XXX <cr>
     Netmask: <cr>
     Gateway: <cr>
     Name server addresses: 128.97.152.100 128.97.152.10 129.97.128.100 <cr>
     Hostname: <Portion of the name up to ".uwaterloo.ca".> (refer to
                host naming web page: http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/mfcf/internal/standards/host_naming.html)
     ...
      Blah, Blah, Blah ...
     ...
    [!] Partition disks
     Partitioning method: Manually edit partition table <cr>
       (refer to disk paritioning web page here.)
       Do what needs to be done.
        First-time:
         setup swap and then use half the remaining space to do what you want.
         The other half is for installing the next version of the OS.
        Next time:
         Use the partition that doesn't have the previous version of the OS on
         it.
     Finish partitioning and write changes to disk <CR>
     Warning ....
     Write the changes to disk? <select Yes> <CR>
     ...
      Blah, Blah, Blah ...
     ...
     Warning about "no mount point is asigned for the filesystem in the
     parition for the old OS.
     Do you want to return to the partitioning menu? <No> <cr>
     ...
      Blah, Blah, Blah ...
     ...
    [!] Time zone configuration
     Is the hardware clock set to GMT: yes <cr>
    [!] Time zone configuration
     Select your time zone: Eastern <cr>
    [!] Set up users and passwords
     Enter the full name for the new user: CSCF Administrator <cr>
     Enter a username for your account: cscf-adm <cr>
     Enter a password for the new user: (see CSCF password box.)
     Re-enter password to verify: (you saw CSCF password box, right!)
     ...
      Blah, Blah, Blah ...
     ...
    [!] Install the Grub boot loader on a hard disk
     Install the GRUB boot loader to the master boot record? yes <cr>
     ...
      Blah, Blah, Blah ...
     ...
    [!] Finish the installation
    First stage of installation complete remove CD and hit <continue> <cr>
     ...
      Blah, Blah, REBOOT
     ...

 2. Login as new user listed above
    sudo bash  (uses same password as new user.)

 3. apt-get install rcs

 4. Updated /etc/apt/sources.list to use local mirror.

     wget --no-check-certificate https://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/twiki/pub/CF/MirroringUbuntu/breezy-sources.list

 5. Various important ubuntu packages should be installed, especially if we started from 'server' install 
    (notably, it doesn't default to install all of perl, just perl-base)
    For amd64, you'll want ia32-libs; for i386, you won't need them.

    apt-get update
    apt-get dist-upgrade

    apt-get install openssh-server snmp emacs21 ia32-libs perl dpkg-dev

    5a.) If it is to be running desktop apps as well: 
    apt-get install kubuntu-desktop mozilla-thunderbird 


Which gives us a base secure host to start from.

Possibly follow up with UbuntuXhierHowto .

-- DanielAllen - 24 Oct 2005