What's the difference between the server version and the desktop version?












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What's the difference between the server version of Ubuntu and the desktop version?










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    which one is better? I have an Acer Aspire One 1gb RAM, 1,60GHZ processor... It's an old computer, but I've always used Ubuntu distros with it. I recently installed Ubuntu 12.10 and it's too slow for my computer. In addition to this, I need to install Atlas.TI to process some surveys. I've been unable to due to the 12.10 version... It worked just perfectly when the 10,04 version was intalled in my machine Thanks. Sammaël
    – user170239
    Jun 25 '13 at 20:42
















119














What's the difference between the server version of Ubuntu and the desktop version?










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migrated from unix.stackexchange.com Mar 19 '11 at 15:35


This question came from our site for users of Linux, FreeBSD and other Un*x-like operating systems.











  • 1




    which one is better? I have an Acer Aspire One 1gb RAM, 1,60GHZ processor... It's an old computer, but I've always used Ubuntu distros with it. I recently installed Ubuntu 12.10 and it's too slow for my computer. In addition to this, I need to install Atlas.TI to process some surveys. I've been unable to due to the 12.10 version... It worked just perfectly when the 10,04 version was intalled in my machine Thanks. Sammaël
    – user170239
    Jun 25 '13 at 20:42














119












119








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33





What's the difference between the server version of Ubuntu and the desktop version?










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What's the difference between the server version of Ubuntu and the desktop version?







distro-recommendation






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edited Nov 21 '12 at 21:35









Bruno Pereira

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59.5k26179207










asked Mar 19 '11 at 15:02









oneat

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711268




migrated from unix.stackexchange.com Mar 19 '11 at 15:35


This question came from our site for users of Linux, FreeBSD and other Un*x-like operating systems.






migrated from unix.stackexchange.com Mar 19 '11 at 15:35


This question came from our site for users of Linux, FreeBSD and other Un*x-like operating systems.










  • 1




    which one is better? I have an Acer Aspire One 1gb RAM, 1,60GHZ processor... It's an old computer, but I've always used Ubuntu distros with it. I recently installed Ubuntu 12.10 and it's too slow for my computer. In addition to this, I need to install Atlas.TI to process some surveys. I've been unable to due to the 12.10 version... It worked just perfectly when the 10,04 version was intalled in my machine Thanks. Sammaël
    – user170239
    Jun 25 '13 at 20:42














  • 1




    which one is better? I have an Acer Aspire One 1gb RAM, 1,60GHZ processor... It's an old computer, but I've always used Ubuntu distros with it. I recently installed Ubuntu 12.10 and it's too slow for my computer. In addition to this, I need to install Atlas.TI to process some surveys. I've been unable to due to the 12.10 version... It worked just perfectly when the 10,04 version was intalled in my machine Thanks. Sammaël
    – user170239
    Jun 25 '13 at 20:42








1




1




which one is better? I have an Acer Aspire One 1gb RAM, 1,60GHZ processor... It's an old computer, but I've always used Ubuntu distros with it. I recently installed Ubuntu 12.10 and it's too slow for my computer. In addition to this, I need to install Atlas.TI to process some surveys. I've been unable to due to the 12.10 version... It worked just perfectly when the 10,04 version was intalled in my machine Thanks. Sammaël
– user170239
Jun 25 '13 at 20:42




which one is better? I have an Acer Aspire One 1gb RAM, 1,60GHZ processor... It's an old computer, but I've always used Ubuntu distros with it. I recently installed Ubuntu 12.10 and it's too slow for my computer. In addition to this, I need to install Atlas.TI to process some surveys. I've been unable to due to the 12.10 version... It worked just perfectly when the 10,04 version was intalled in my machine Thanks. Sammaël
– user170239
Jun 25 '13 at 20:42










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

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80














Copied as-is from Ubuntu docs:




  • The first difference is in the CD contents. The "Server" CD avoids including what Ubuntu considers desktop packages (packages like X, Gnome or KDE), but does include server related packages (Apache2, Bind9 and so on). Using a Desktop CD with a minimal installation and installing, for example, apache2 from the network, one can obtain the exact same result that can be obtained by inserting the Server CD and installing apache2 from the CD-ROM.

  • The Ubuntu Server Edition installation process is slightly different from the Desktop Edition. Since by default Ubuntu Server doesn't have a GUI, the process is menu driven, very similar to the Alternate CD installation process.

  • Before 12.04, Ubuntu server installs a server-optimized kernel by default. Since 12.04, there is no difference in kernel between Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server since linux-image-server is merged into linux-image-generic.

  • For Ubuntu LTS releases before 12.04, the Ubuntu Desktop Edition only receives 3 years of support. This was increased to 5 years in Ubuntu LTS 12.04 In contrast, all Ubuntu LTS Server Edition releases are supported for 5 years.






share|improve this answer































    52














    It's worth noting that other than the kernel settings, Ubuntu Desktop and Server are essentially the same distribution, just with different default package selection. They both use the same packages and respositories. If you run apt-get install ubuntu-desktop you will end up with the functional equivalent of Desktop Edition.



    That also means that any package that's intended for Ubuntu Server will run just as happily on your desktop installation.






    share|improve this answer





























      9














      Whether you install using a server CD, or a desktop CD, you end up with the same Ubuntu. The difference is in what selection of packages it installs by default - that is - what software selection you end up with at the end of the installation process.



      It is possible to move from a desktop system to a server system and vice-versa on an already-installed copy of Ubuntu. Ubuntu even makes it relatively easy with the tasksel utility or with meta-packages like ubuntu-desktop and ubuntu-server (available through the standard apt package manager at least as of 16.04). You can even mix and match - installing a desktop environment on a server or server software such as ssh_server or apache2 on a primarily desktop computer.



      But chances are, you probably already know at install time whether you want a desktop system complete with desktop environment, or a server system. So having different installation CDs for server and desktop is simply a convenience factor that makes software selection just a bit simpler.



      The installers also behave differently, in the sense that only the "desktop" version installs from a graphical Live CD. The other versions install using a menu-based installer similar to Debian's installer.






      share|improve this answer























      • At least in 10.04, I can find no ubuntu-server package. Though it might have been cool, you probably want to just just install the servers you want anyway.
        – Blaisorblade
        Nov 18 '13 at 20:50






      • 1




        I've updated my answer. You use tasks (via tasksel) rather than meta-packages to install the server packages. Run sudo tasksel for user interface or install individual tasks via command line like sudo tasksel install lamp-server. List of other tasks available at help.ubuntu.com/community/Tasksel Note that these are groups of packages designed for a "starting point" server deployment. You may want to install packages on a more granular basis.
        – thomasrutter
        Nov 19 '13 at 0:34












      • I totally spaced off taskel. Still valid in 16.04 LTS. Makes server packages easily installable as well as Desktop packages. +1
        – Terrance
        Jan 16 '17 at 15:39










      protected by jokerdino Sep 19 '16 at 13:28



      Thank you for your interest in this question.
      Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).



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      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

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      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      80














      Copied as-is from Ubuntu docs:




      • The first difference is in the CD contents. The "Server" CD avoids including what Ubuntu considers desktop packages (packages like X, Gnome or KDE), but does include server related packages (Apache2, Bind9 and so on). Using a Desktop CD with a minimal installation and installing, for example, apache2 from the network, one can obtain the exact same result that can be obtained by inserting the Server CD and installing apache2 from the CD-ROM.

      • The Ubuntu Server Edition installation process is slightly different from the Desktop Edition. Since by default Ubuntu Server doesn't have a GUI, the process is menu driven, very similar to the Alternate CD installation process.

      • Before 12.04, Ubuntu server installs a server-optimized kernel by default. Since 12.04, there is no difference in kernel between Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server since linux-image-server is merged into linux-image-generic.

      • For Ubuntu LTS releases before 12.04, the Ubuntu Desktop Edition only receives 3 years of support. This was increased to 5 years in Ubuntu LTS 12.04 In contrast, all Ubuntu LTS Server Edition releases are supported for 5 years.






      share|improve this answer




























        80














        Copied as-is from Ubuntu docs:




        • The first difference is in the CD contents. The "Server" CD avoids including what Ubuntu considers desktop packages (packages like X, Gnome or KDE), but does include server related packages (Apache2, Bind9 and so on). Using a Desktop CD with a minimal installation and installing, for example, apache2 from the network, one can obtain the exact same result that can be obtained by inserting the Server CD and installing apache2 from the CD-ROM.

        • The Ubuntu Server Edition installation process is slightly different from the Desktop Edition. Since by default Ubuntu Server doesn't have a GUI, the process is menu driven, very similar to the Alternate CD installation process.

        • Before 12.04, Ubuntu server installs a server-optimized kernel by default. Since 12.04, there is no difference in kernel between Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server since linux-image-server is merged into linux-image-generic.

        • For Ubuntu LTS releases before 12.04, the Ubuntu Desktop Edition only receives 3 years of support. This was increased to 5 years in Ubuntu LTS 12.04 In contrast, all Ubuntu LTS Server Edition releases are supported for 5 years.






        share|improve this answer


























          80












          80








          80






          Copied as-is from Ubuntu docs:




          • The first difference is in the CD contents. The "Server" CD avoids including what Ubuntu considers desktop packages (packages like X, Gnome or KDE), but does include server related packages (Apache2, Bind9 and so on). Using a Desktop CD with a minimal installation and installing, for example, apache2 from the network, one can obtain the exact same result that can be obtained by inserting the Server CD and installing apache2 from the CD-ROM.

          • The Ubuntu Server Edition installation process is slightly different from the Desktop Edition. Since by default Ubuntu Server doesn't have a GUI, the process is menu driven, very similar to the Alternate CD installation process.

          • Before 12.04, Ubuntu server installs a server-optimized kernel by default. Since 12.04, there is no difference in kernel between Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server since linux-image-server is merged into linux-image-generic.

          • For Ubuntu LTS releases before 12.04, the Ubuntu Desktop Edition only receives 3 years of support. This was increased to 5 years in Ubuntu LTS 12.04 In contrast, all Ubuntu LTS Server Edition releases are supported for 5 years.






          share|improve this answer














          Copied as-is from Ubuntu docs:




          • The first difference is in the CD contents. The "Server" CD avoids including what Ubuntu considers desktop packages (packages like X, Gnome or KDE), but does include server related packages (Apache2, Bind9 and so on). Using a Desktop CD with a minimal installation and installing, for example, apache2 from the network, one can obtain the exact same result that can be obtained by inserting the Server CD and installing apache2 from the CD-ROM.

          • The Ubuntu Server Edition installation process is slightly different from the Desktop Edition. Since by default Ubuntu Server doesn't have a GUI, the process is menu driven, very similar to the Alternate CD installation process.

          • Before 12.04, Ubuntu server installs a server-optimized kernel by default. Since 12.04, there is no difference in kernel between Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server since linux-image-server is merged into linux-image-generic.

          • For Ubuntu LTS releases before 12.04, the Ubuntu Desktop Edition only receives 3 years of support. This was increased to 5 years in Ubuntu LTS 12.04 In contrast, all Ubuntu LTS Server Edition releases are supported for 5 years.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Feb 17 '13 at 9:39


























          community wiki





          2 revs, 2 users 82%
          Tshepang


























              52














              It's worth noting that other than the kernel settings, Ubuntu Desktop and Server are essentially the same distribution, just with different default package selection. They both use the same packages and respositories. If you run apt-get install ubuntu-desktop you will end up with the functional equivalent of Desktop Edition.



              That also means that any package that's intended for Ubuntu Server will run just as happily on your desktop installation.






              share|improve this answer


























                52














                It's worth noting that other than the kernel settings, Ubuntu Desktop and Server are essentially the same distribution, just with different default package selection. They both use the same packages and respositories. If you run apt-get install ubuntu-desktop you will end up with the functional equivalent of Desktop Edition.



                That also means that any package that's intended for Ubuntu Server will run just as happily on your desktop installation.






                share|improve this answer
























                  52












                  52








                  52






                  It's worth noting that other than the kernel settings, Ubuntu Desktop and Server are essentially the same distribution, just with different default package selection. They both use the same packages and respositories. If you run apt-get install ubuntu-desktop you will end up with the functional equivalent of Desktop Edition.



                  That also means that any package that's intended for Ubuntu Server will run just as happily on your desktop installation.






                  share|improve this answer












                  It's worth noting that other than the kernel settings, Ubuntu Desktop and Server are essentially the same distribution, just with different default package selection. They both use the same packages and respositories. If you run apt-get install ubuntu-desktop you will end up with the functional equivalent of Desktop Edition.



                  That also means that any package that's intended for Ubuntu Server will run just as happily on your desktop installation.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Mar 20 '11 at 1:49









                  Mark Russell

                  6,83823135




                  6,83823135























                      9














                      Whether you install using a server CD, or a desktop CD, you end up with the same Ubuntu. The difference is in what selection of packages it installs by default - that is - what software selection you end up with at the end of the installation process.



                      It is possible to move from a desktop system to a server system and vice-versa on an already-installed copy of Ubuntu. Ubuntu even makes it relatively easy with the tasksel utility or with meta-packages like ubuntu-desktop and ubuntu-server (available through the standard apt package manager at least as of 16.04). You can even mix and match - installing a desktop environment on a server or server software such as ssh_server or apache2 on a primarily desktop computer.



                      But chances are, you probably already know at install time whether you want a desktop system complete with desktop environment, or a server system. So having different installation CDs for server and desktop is simply a convenience factor that makes software selection just a bit simpler.



                      The installers also behave differently, in the sense that only the "desktop" version installs from a graphical Live CD. The other versions install using a menu-based installer similar to Debian's installer.






                      share|improve this answer























                      • At least in 10.04, I can find no ubuntu-server package. Though it might have been cool, you probably want to just just install the servers you want anyway.
                        – Blaisorblade
                        Nov 18 '13 at 20:50






                      • 1




                        I've updated my answer. You use tasks (via tasksel) rather than meta-packages to install the server packages. Run sudo tasksel for user interface or install individual tasks via command line like sudo tasksel install lamp-server. List of other tasks available at help.ubuntu.com/community/Tasksel Note that these are groups of packages designed for a "starting point" server deployment. You may want to install packages on a more granular basis.
                        – thomasrutter
                        Nov 19 '13 at 0:34












                      • I totally spaced off taskel. Still valid in 16.04 LTS. Makes server packages easily installable as well as Desktop packages. +1
                        – Terrance
                        Jan 16 '17 at 15:39
















                      9














                      Whether you install using a server CD, or a desktop CD, you end up with the same Ubuntu. The difference is in what selection of packages it installs by default - that is - what software selection you end up with at the end of the installation process.



                      It is possible to move from a desktop system to a server system and vice-versa on an already-installed copy of Ubuntu. Ubuntu even makes it relatively easy with the tasksel utility or with meta-packages like ubuntu-desktop and ubuntu-server (available through the standard apt package manager at least as of 16.04). You can even mix and match - installing a desktop environment on a server or server software such as ssh_server or apache2 on a primarily desktop computer.



                      But chances are, you probably already know at install time whether you want a desktop system complete with desktop environment, or a server system. So having different installation CDs for server and desktop is simply a convenience factor that makes software selection just a bit simpler.



                      The installers also behave differently, in the sense that only the "desktop" version installs from a graphical Live CD. The other versions install using a menu-based installer similar to Debian's installer.






                      share|improve this answer























                      • At least in 10.04, I can find no ubuntu-server package. Though it might have been cool, you probably want to just just install the servers you want anyway.
                        – Blaisorblade
                        Nov 18 '13 at 20:50






                      • 1




                        I've updated my answer. You use tasks (via tasksel) rather than meta-packages to install the server packages. Run sudo tasksel for user interface or install individual tasks via command line like sudo tasksel install lamp-server. List of other tasks available at help.ubuntu.com/community/Tasksel Note that these are groups of packages designed for a "starting point" server deployment. You may want to install packages on a more granular basis.
                        – thomasrutter
                        Nov 19 '13 at 0:34












                      • I totally spaced off taskel. Still valid in 16.04 LTS. Makes server packages easily installable as well as Desktop packages. +1
                        – Terrance
                        Jan 16 '17 at 15:39














                      9












                      9








                      9






                      Whether you install using a server CD, or a desktop CD, you end up with the same Ubuntu. The difference is in what selection of packages it installs by default - that is - what software selection you end up with at the end of the installation process.



                      It is possible to move from a desktop system to a server system and vice-versa on an already-installed copy of Ubuntu. Ubuntu even makes it relatively easy with the tasksel utility or with meta-packages like ubuntu-desktop and ubuntu-server (available through the standard apt package manager at least as of 16.04). You can even mix and match - installing a desktop environment on a server or server software such as ssh_server or apache2 on a primarily desktop computer.



                      But chances are, you probably already know at install time whether you want a desktop system complete with desktop environment, or a server system. So having different installation CDs for server and desktop is simply a convenience factor that makes software selection just a bit simpler.



                      The installers also behave differently, in the sense that only the "desktop" version installs from a graphical Live CD. The other versions install using a menu-based installer similar to Debian's installer.






                      share|improve this answer














                      Whether you install using a server CD, or a desktop CD, you end up with the same Ubuntu. The difference is in what selection of packages it installs by default - that is - what software selection you end up with at the end of the installation process.



                      It is possible to move from a desktop system to a server system and vice-versa on an already-installed copy of Ubuntu. Ubuntu even makes it relatively easy with the tasksel utility or with meta-packages like ubuntu-desktop and ubuntu-server (available through the standard apt package manager at least as of 16.04). You can even mix and match - installing a desktop environment on a server or server software such as ssh_server or apache2 on a primarily desktop computer.



                      But chances are, you probably already know at install time whether you want a desktop system complete with desktop environment, or a server system. So having different installation CDs for server and desktop is simply a convenience factor that makes software selection just a bit simpler.



                      The installers also behave differently, in the sense that only the "desktop" version installs from a graphical Live CD. The other versions install using a menu-based installer similar to Debian's installer.







                      share|improve this answer














                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer








                      edited Sep 17 '17 at 2:21









                      maxMak

                      32




                      32










                      answered Apr 27 '12 at 7:26









                      thomasrutter

                      26.4k46389




                      26.4k46389












                      • At least in 10.04, I can find no ubuntu-server package. Though it might have been cool, you probably want to just just install the servers you want anyway.
                        – Blaisorblade
                        Nov 18 '13 at 20:50






                      • 1




                        I've updated my answer. You use tasks (via tasksel) rather than meta-packages to install the server packages. Run sudo tasksel for user interface or install individual tasks via command line like sudo tasksel install lamp-server. List of other tasks available at help.ubuntu.com/community/Tasksel Note that these are groups of packages designed for a "starting point" server deployment. You may want to install packages on a more granular basis.
                        – thomasrutter
                        Nov 19 '13 at 0:34












                      • I totally spaced off taskel. Still valid in 16.04 LTS. Makes server packages easily installable as well as Desktop packages. +1
                        – Terrance
                        Jan 16 '17 at 15:39


















                      • At least in 10.04, I can find no ubuntu-server package. Though it might have been cool, you probably want to just just install the servers you want anyway.
                        – Blaisorblade
                        Nov 18 '13 at 20:50






                      • 1




                        I've updated my answer. You use tasks (via tasksel) rather than meta-packages to install the server packages. Run sudo tasksel for user interface or install individual tasks via command line like sudo tasksel install lamp-server. List of other tasks available at help.ubuntu.com/community/Tasksel Note that these are groups of packages designed for a "starting point" server deployment. You may want to install packages on a more granular basis.
                        – thomasrutter
                        Nov 19 '13 at 0:34












                      • I totally spaced off taskel. Still valid in 16.04 LTS. Makes server packages easily installable as well as Desktop packages. +1
                        – Terrance
                        Jan 16 '17 at 15:39
















                      At least in 10.04, I can find no ubuntu-server package. Though it might have been cool, you probably want to just just install the servers you want anyway.
                      – Blaisorblade
                      Nov 18 '13 at 20:50




                      At least in 10.04, I can find no ubuntu-server package. Though it might have been cool, you probably want to just just install the servers you want anyway.
                      – Blaisorblade
                      Nov 18 '13 at 20:50




                      1




                      1




                      I've updated my answer. You use tasks (via tasksel) rather than meta-packages to install the server packages. Run sudo tasksel for user interface or install individual tasks via command line like sudo tasksel install lamp-server. List of other tasks available at help.ubuntu.com/community/Tasksel Note that these are groups of packages designed for a "starting point" server deployment. You may want to install packages on a more granular basis.
                      – thomasrutter
                      Nov 19 '13 at 0:34






                      I've updated my answer. You use tasks (via tasksel) rather than meta-packages to install the server packages. Run sudo tasksel for user interface or install individual tasks via command line like sudo tasksel install lamp-server. List of other tasks available at help.ubuntu.com/community/Tasksel Note that these are groups of packages designed for a "starting point" server deployment. You may want to install packages on a more granular basis.
                      – thomasrutter
                      Nov 19 '13 at 0:34














                      I totally spaced off taskel. Still valid in 16.04 LTS. Makes server packages easily installable as well as Desktop packages. +1
                      – Terrance
                      Jan 16 '17 at 15:39




                      I totally spaced off taskel. Still valid in 16.04 LTS. Makes server packages easily installable as well as Desktop packages. +1
                      – Terrance
                      Jan 16 '17 at 15:39





                      protected by jokerdino Sep 19 '16 at 13:28



                      Thank you for your interest in this question.
                      Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).



                      Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?



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