Basic setup for dedicated service of a Ubuntu box 1) Setup automatic log in: system>administration>login window>enable automatic login ...... see http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2007/08/27/img-quickie-login-automatically-to-ubuntu/ 2) fix issue with secure wireless. Disable nm-applet in sessions manager: preference>sessions>start-up programs>disable network manager. Creat the following script: #!/bin/bash #launch useful stuff for gnome... #first unlock the default keyring... echo /usr/libexec/pam-keyring-tool -u -s #then run nm-applet in the background... nm-applet & Add this script to the start-up programs.