How to go from Ubuntu desktop to Ubuntu server?

Asked by Uqbar

I have an online Ubuntu Desktop machine I installed for testing.
Now Iìd need to move to Server (LTS) *without* reinstalling:

I'm accessing the machine from REMOTE (ssh).

I think that by installing/removing the proper packages I'd be able to do it with just one reboot.

But I have no idea about which packages make an Ubuntu box a server!

I haven't found any guide about this.

Is there any hint? TIA.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#1

You can add the boot option:

text

and it will not start the GUI, you will go straight to CLI login. You can always start the GUI if you want. Saves having to remove packages and such :)

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Uqbar (uqbar) said :
#2

I think that Ubuntu Server IS NOT an Ubuntu Desktop with "text" in the boot options...

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#3

By default no, but the text option makes it boot to CLI. The server OS also has the server kernel which supports more CPU cores and is optomised for background apps. Otherwise its the same deal.

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Uqbar (uqbar) said :
#4

I think it's also a matter of a number of packages that need to be installed and another number of packages that need to be removed (yes, please).
I need to move to a real Ubuntu Server, not a "castrated" Ubuntu Desktop.
And I need a solution to this question, not workarounds.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#5

Without reinstaling, this is the best I can suggest. Maybe others have a better solution

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mycae (mycae) said :
#6

As you say it is a matter of removing packages.

I found a listing here, though it is for ARM so it may be incomplete. You could compile one using get/set selections, but then you would already have to have the sever install running - which I for one dont.

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ARM/OneiricServerPackageList

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Uqbar (uqbar) said :
#7

Well, removing the desktop related packages and installing the server ones. actually.

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Deon Rodden (glitch-m) said :
#8

Can't you just do an aptitude purge ubuntu-desktop ? gnome-desktop? If you purge those that'll kill X-Windows and such.

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Uqbar (uqbar) said :
#9

That's why:

~ sudo apt-get -s purge kubuntu-desktop
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  kubuntu-desktop*
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Purg kubuntu-desktop [1.239]
~

And it's also why I'm asking here.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#10

Removing the metapackage does only that, it does not remove its contents, it removes only the metapackage

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Uqbar (uqbar) said :
#11

And so we go back to the original question: which packages should I remove and add in order to move from Ubuntu Desktop to Ubuntu Server?
I am pretty sure that purging just the desktop environment (being it KDE or GNOME) it's not enough.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#12

sudo apt-get --purge remove `dpkg -l | egrep -i 'gnome|kde'`
sudo apt-get --purge autoremove

Will remove all of gnome and kde and then all the other apps which use it. The whole thing is pretty unnecessary as you can just add the 'text' boot option and the GUI stuff will never be loaded, by removing the apps, literally all you are doing is saving about 2 or 3Gb HDD space.

Hardly worth it

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Uqbar (uqbar) said :
#13

Actionparsnip, I don't want to save HD space, I don't want to start a desktop w/o the GUI.

I DO WANT TO MIGRATE AN UBUNTU DESKTOP TO AN UBUNTU SERVER.

If you don't know how to, please "Just Add a Comment" as otherwise my question gets flagged as "ANSWERED".

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#14

Don't confuse 'answered' where someone provides an answer, and 'solved' which only you can set when a solution has been given that solves the problem.

From what has been given, what else is there you can do that can possibly be different...?

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Uqbar (uqbar) said :
#15

OK. What's the list of packages I need to uninstall and to install in order to go from desktop to server?

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Uqbar (uqbar) said :
#16

None knows. This question is at a dead end.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#17

I've given a solution. The text boot option will achieve what you need.

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Uqbar (uqbar) said :
#18

Please read before talking:

> What's the list of packages I need to uninstall and to install in order to go from desktop to server?

Yours is a kind of workaround. I need a solution. I'm sick with this thing.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#19

All I can suggest is a reinstall then. The only difference between the server install and the desktop is the server kernel and there is no X server running by default. The text bootloader will achieve this.....