Running Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop AND Server

Hi :)

You can install Server functionality straight to the desktop edition
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingSoftware#Introduction
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticHowto

However, it might be easier to have a look at VirtualBox, install it through Synaptic - and then have a go at installing Server Edition to a virtual machine made by virtualbox.

When you say you want to run a server is it likely to be serving to a large number of machines or just a couple? What kinds of functions? Is it going to be mainly going to be inwards facing, dealing with all the machines on a Lan and sharing files, acting as an email and internet gateway for them? or is it going to be uploading files to the internet a lot and hosting web-sites?

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

Hi Tom

The server "project" is to learn with my 15 year old son, we want to set up a server to run a a WOW (World of Warcraft) online game, often referred to as a private server.

As well, just learn the mechanics of a server, as such, it would run our local home network of about 4 machines.

----- Original Message ----
From: Tom <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2009 2:07:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Question #82064]: Running Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop AND Server

Your question #82064 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/82064

    Status: Open => Answered

Tom proposed the following answer:
Hi :)

You can install Server functionality straight to the desktop edition
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingSoftware#Introduction
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticHowto

However, it might be easier to have a look at VirtualBox, install it
through Synaptic - and then have a go at installing Server Edition to a
virtual machine made by virtualbox.

When you say you want to run a server is it likely to be serving to a
large number of machines or just a couple? What kinds of functions? Is
it going to be mainly going to be inwards facing, dealing with all the
machines on a Lan and sharing files, acting as an email and internet
gateway for them? or is it going to be uploading files to the internet a
lot and hosting web-sites?

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

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There is no need to run server is you have dektop.

The desktop can do all the server can, you just get a desktop environment. Servers (for both security and performance) do not come with a desktop environment

The server install comes with PAE by default to enable more RAM to be accessed in both 32bit and 64bit which is common in servers.

You can easily install server based services on the desktop install as they use the same repos, so You can run a desktop and have a samba service running. The desktop will then be a samba server but will be usable locally.

Running a VM is prtty pointless unless you wish to learn how to configure a server system without an X server.

Hi :)

Ubuntu Server should be good for this. I would try it out in a small Virtual Machine, maybe only 15Gb. Note tho that Ubuntu Server is command-line only. So you might get more from trying out something like "CentOS" or "Scientific Linux" as i think they have gui desktops on their's. Also they only really make Server OSs and both are RedHat based so it might be better experience for the longer term too
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=centos
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=scientific

Note that even linux distros from very different families have lot more in common so what you learn in one is often useful in another.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows

It might be worth posting a separate question about WoW because someone here gave an excellent answer to something about that fairly recently so it mgiht be fairly easy to find in the "Soved Answers" database, with any luck.
http://appdb.winehq.org/

It's late where i am and i am not sure what to advise so hopefully someone with a bit more expertise will be along later to help with ideas about the server edition

Good luck and regards again from
Tom :)

Yes, i would go with the "install a few server functions" idea but suddenly realised i didn't have a clear plan for what to install ;) Thanks AP :)
Regards from
Tom :)

Thanks

When I installed the server edition, it opens with loading all the various features/clinics
then asks for my user name/pw, but on a command line. I must have missed something, I
do not see a desktop environment included (or I need to go out and get something.. what such as gnome)?

thanks

----- Original Message ----
From: actionparsnip <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2009 2:33:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Question #82064]: Running Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop AND Server

Your question #82064 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/82064

    Status: Open => Answered

actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
There is no need to run server is you have dektop.

The desktop can do all the server can, you just get a desktop
environment. Servers (for both security and performance) do not come
with a desktop environment

The server install comes with PAE by default to enable more RAM to be
accessed in both 32bit and 64bit which is common in servers.

You can easily install server based services on the desktop install as
they use the same repos, so You can run a desktop and have a samba
service running. The desktop will then be a samba server but will be
usable locally.

Running a VM is prtty pointless unless you wish to learn how to
configure a server system without an X server.

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/82064/+confirm?answer_id=2

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/82064

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

I will look into those thanks

----- Original Message ----
From: Tom <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2009 2:40:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Question #82064]: Running Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop AND Server

Your question #82064 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/82064

Tom proposed the following answer:
Hi :)

Ubuntu Server should be good for this. I would try it out in a small Virtual Machine, maybe only 15Gb. Note tho that Ubuntu Server is command-line only. So you might get more from trying out something like "CentOS" or "Scientific Linux" as i think they have gui desktops on their's. Also they only really make Server OSs and both are RedHat based so it might be better experience for the longer term too
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=centos
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=scientific

Note that even linux distros from very different families have lot more in common so what you learn in one is often useful in another.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows

It might be worth posting a separate question about WoW because someone here gave an excellent answer to something about that fairly recently so it mgiht be fairly easy to find in the "Soved Answers" database, with any luck.
http://appdb.winehq.org/

It's late where i am and i am not sure what to advise so hopefully
someone with a bit more expertise will be along later to help with ideas
about the server edition

Good luck and regards again from
Tom :)

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/82064/+confirm?answer_id=3

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/82064

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

The desktop environment is a bit hidden... It would be easier to simply go through the install process, and then issue *ONE* of the following command from the shell:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop

ubuntu installs the GNOME desktop, while kubuntu installes the KDE flavor of ubuntu, while xubuntu offers XFCE which is intended for lower performing systems, of on systems which have more important things to do than let GNOME eat up system recourses.

You'll also probably want to install Macromedia Flash....
sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree

or... if you're brave... get a GPL'ed flash clone (don't expect it to work the same as Macromedia's)
sudo apt-get install libflash-mozplugin

Of course, with the x11 libraries, there is no need for a full desktop, or to even run X11 on your server. From your local machine, simply issue:
ssh -X yourname@remotehost

This will start an Xterm session on the remote server, and forward it's output to your local machine. From that xterm window, you can launch any app you like. X11 apps will forward their output to your display... this even works if you're miles away and have remote ssh access to your box. THIS IS NOT VNC OR rdesktop!

There are other ways to do this that don't require an ssh X11 tunnel. This involves using xhost command, and setting the DISPLAY environment variable.

Hi :)

Yes, i would get the gnome desktop environment with this command

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

Xubuntu does look quite nice now and is much faster. Kubuntu is very flashy with lots of eye-candy but a bit heavy and slow. I would choose the best of both and go with gnome, reasonably fast and plenty of eye-candy :) Also i don't like blue ;)

Lol, anyway, good luck and regards from
Tom :)