things to do after installing Linux

The first thing to do is make sure you have a 256-color terminfo file for your terminal:
# find /lib/terminfo /usr/share/terminfo -name "*256*"

Configure Bash shell
# vi ~/.bashrc

alias ls='ls --color=auto'
alias ll='ls -alF'

export PS1="\e[0;32m\u@\h \w #\e[m "

#######
# Note: on Ubuntu, xterm-256color may be in different place, try this:
# find /lib/terminfo /usr/share/terminfo -name "*256*"
#######
if [ -e /usr/share/terminfo/x/xterm-256color ]; then
        export TERM='xterm-256color'
else
        export TERM='xterm-color'
fi

Reload the bash setting:
# source ~/.bashrc

# type source
source is a shell builtin

Make sure it's using xterm-256color:
# echo $TERM
xterm-256color

# tput colors
256

Bash tab auto-completion completion:
# vi ~/.inputrc
### enable filename auto-completion
set show-all-if-ambiguous on
set show-all-if-unmodified on

Note: http://blog.ijun.org/2011/01/mac-os-bash-tab-auto-completion.html

Install GNU Screen
# yum update
# yum install screen

Configure GNU Sceen
# vi ~/.screenrc
# to configure how screen looks like.
hardstatus alwayslastline " %{= W} %-Lw %{= KY}%n%f %t%{-}%+Lw %=| "
# to avoid ncurses menu messed up when you are trying to run make install command.
#cjkwidth off
# Always start screen with utf8 enabled. (Alternative method is to run screen with -U parameter)
defutf8 on
#utf8 on on

Reference:
outputs a grid of 256 colors for checking your terminal in console