These are packages I want to install on pretty most Gentoo boxes:

• direct=yes|media-fonts/corefonts
• direct=yes|media-fonts/cronyx-fonts
• direct=yes|media-fonts/dejavu
• direct=yes|media-fonts/freefonts
• direct=yes|media-fonts/intlfonts
• direct=yes|media-fonts/terminus-font
• direct=yes|media-fonts/ttf-bitstream-vera

• direct=yes|app-admin/hddtemp
• direct=yes|sys-apps/hdparm
• direct=yes|sys-apps/lm_sensors

(There's no need to install these packages on virtual machines)

• direct=yes|net-analyzer/net-snmp
• direct=yes|net-firewall/iptables
• direct=yes|net-misc/openssh

• direct=yes|app-portage/layman {{EnableFlag|git subversion}}
• direct=yes|mail-mta/postfix
• direct=yes|net-misc/ntp
• direct=yes|net-nds/openldap {{EnableFlag|minimal}}
• direct=yes|sys-auth/nss_ldap
• direct=yes|sys-auth/pam_ldap

• direct=yes|app-admin/logrotate
• direct=yes|sys-kernel/module-rebuild
• direct=yes|app-portage/gentoolkit
• direct=yes|app-shells/gentoo-bashcomp

• direct=yes|app-admin/sudo
• direct=yes|app-crypt/aespipe (Used by backup scripts)
• direct=yes|app-misc/screen
• direct=yes|dev-util/subversion
• direct=yes|mail-client/mailx
• direct=yes|net-analyzer/tcpdump
• direct=yes|net-dns/bind-tools
• direct=yes|net-fs/nfs-utils
• direct=yes|net-misc/netkit-telnetd
• direct=yes|sys-apps/pciutils
• direct=yes|sys-process/htop
• direct=yes|sys-process/lsof
• direct=yes|www-client/elinks

http://howflow.com/tricks/gentoo_enable_bash_tab_completion_for_portage_tools

To get into single user mode using a genkernel/initramfs, you must append init_opts=1 to the kernel boot line, rather than the usual 1.

In /etc/default/sensord, set the following: ALARM_INTERVAL=30h LOG_INTERVAL=30g SYSLOG_FACILITY=daemon

In /etc/default/snmpd, change the first part of the SNMPDOPTS line from: -Lsd to: -LS4d This will keep it logging important messages, but debugging & notice messages will be ignored.

Also see Portage for more useful scheduled tasks.

Don't forget to mark these scripts as executable.

Have your Gentoo box check if any installed packages are affected by known security problems using glsa-check. Add the following script to your weekly crontab directory:

/etc/cron.weekly/01-glsa-check|<code bash> #!/bin/bash /usr/bin/glsa-check --nocolor --verbose --cve --list affected 2>/dev/null | mail -s 'GLSA check' security@sihnon.net </code>

Get the new kernel sources:

• direct=yes|sys-kernel/gentoo-sources

Migrate the kernel configuration: <code bash> eselect kernel list eselect kernel set <num> </code>

Mount /boot, and build/install the new kernel <code bash> mount /boot genkernel --menuconfig all </code>

If necessary, modify the Grub configuration, /boot/grub/grub.conf.

Rebuild any packages with kernel-specific drivers: <code bash> module-rebuild rebuild </code>

The current Gentoo release (2008.0) shipped with a blocking problem in portage, involving direct=yes|sys-fs/e2fsprogs and direct=yes|sys-libs/ss/direct=yes|sys-libs/com_err. This appears to be fixed in the latest release candidates of portage 2.2, but on older systems, the following might be needed:

<code>0@@</code>