You can make the move Ubuntu Linux Server in no time at all by following the steps in this hands-on guide where you'll learn how to install the software and start using your Linux server
Click the image above to go to the next slide
Making The Move: The Ubuntu Server Installation Process
Many of the steps to an Ubuntu Linux server setup are either trivial (e.g., selecting a language) or similar to the desktop installation process (e.g., choosing a time zone or providing information to set up a default user account). Others, however, are very different from the Ubuntu desktop setup process, and some require your careful attention.
At almost every step of the server installation process, you'll see a "go back" option on the screen. Choosing this option will not actually take you to the previous step; it will, rather, take you to a list of every step in the server installation process, listed sequentially. To make matters even more confusing, selecting an installation step from this list will not always give you the same view as you get by sticking with the default installation screens all the way through.
This fact can make some steps a bit more confusing; dropping back into the disk partitioning process from this list, for example, requires extra care to avoid making some regrettable (and irreversible) changes to a system's disk partitions. In other cases, however, using this list actually opens up some additional, and potentially very useful, server installation options -- more on this in a moment.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
Many of the steps to an Ubuntu Linux server setup are either trivial (e.g., selecting a language) or similar to the desktop installation process (e.g., choosing a time zone or providing information to set up a default user account). Others, however, are very different from the Ubuntu desktop setup process, and some require your careful attention.
At almost every step of the server installation process, you'll see a "go back" option on the screen. Choosing this option will not actually take you to the previous step; it will, rather, take you to a list of every step in the server installation process, listed sequentially. To make matters even more confusing, selecting an installation step from this list will not always give you the same view as you get by sticking with the default installation screens all the way through.
This fact can make some steps a bit more confusing; dropping back into the disk partitioning process from this list, for example, requires extra care to avoid making some regrettable (and irreversible) changes to a system's disk partitions. In other cases, however, using this list actually opens up some additional, and potentially very useful, server installation options -- more on this in a moment.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
Step 1: Disk Prep And Partitioning
Initially, this part of the installation process might look a lot like the one used for the desktop Ubuntu distro. For example, you'll be offered a choice between "guided" or "manual" partitioning; the former will use either an entire disk/disk partition or offer (if relevant) to use the largest contiguous block of free disk space.
Dig a little deeper, however, and the differences become obvious. First of all, the Ubuntu server installer will perform disk-preparation tasks during the installation process, rather than waiting to perform them as the final step. Before this happens, you'll be asked whether or not to proceed with this step; if you answer "no," the installer moves to a screen that lists an extensive set of options for changing the default partitioning scheme.
Click the image above to go to the next slide Alternative File-System Choices
These options include alternative file-system choices (by default, Ubuntu will install an ext3 file system and a Linux swap partition); optional file system mount-points; the ability to copy data from another, existing, partition; and many others. Needless to say, if you're not extremely comfortable with Linux file systems, mount-point conventions, disk-partitioning tools, and related topics, you'd be well-advised to avoid digging into these options and to rely upon the guided partitioning process as much as possible.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
Initially, this part of the installation process might look a lot like the one used for the desktop Ubuntu distro. For example, you'll be offered a choice between "guided" or "manual" partitioning; the former will use either an entire disk/disk partition or offer (if relevant) to use the largest contiguous block of free disk space.
Dig a little deeper, however, and the differences become obvious. First of all, the Ubuntu server installer will perform disk-preparation tasks during the installation process, rather than waiting to perform them as the final step. Before this happens, you'll be asked whether or not to proceed with this step; if you answer "no," the installer moves to a screen that lists an extensive set of options for changing the default partitioning scheme.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
These options include alternative file-system choices (by default, Ubuntu will install an ext3 file system and a Linux swap partition); optional file system mount-points; the ability to copy data from another, existing, partition; and many others. Needless to say, if you're not extremely comfortable with Linux file systems, mount-point conventions, disk-partitioning tools, and related topics, you'd be well-advised to avoid digging into these options and to rely upon the guided partitioning process as much as possible.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
Step 2: User-Data Encryption Options
By default, like Ubuntu Desktop, the Ubuntu Server installer requires that you create one user account. Ubuntu Server, however, offers an option its desktop sibling does not: The ability to create an encrypted private directory for this default account.
This is a good time time to reflect upon two important points. First, creating such encrypted private directories for every account created on the server is a good idea: Even if the server is attacked and compromised, these encrypted directories will protect all of the user data stored on the system.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
By default, like Ubuntu Desktop, the Ubuntu Server installer requires that you create one user account. Ubuntu Server, however, offers an option its desktop sibling does not: The ability to create an encrypted private directory for this default account.
This is a good time time to reflect upon two important points. First, creating such encrypted private directories for every account created on the server is a good idea: Even if the server is attacked and compromised, these encrypted directories will protect all of the user data stored on the system.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
Password Creation Policies
Second, remember that these encrypted directories are only as strong as the passwords used to protect them; it is essential to combine the use of encryption with strict password-creation policies. On the other hand, because the data in an encrypted private directory is lost forever if a user loses their password -- and because losing this data might hurt your business as well as the individual employee -- this might be a good time to consider various password backup and recovery options for encrypted Linux user directories.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
Second, remember that these encrypted directories are only as strong as the passwords used to protect them; it is essential to combine the use of encryption with strict password-creation policies. On the other hand, because the data in an encrypted private directory is lost forever if a user loses their password -- and because losing this data might hurt your business as well as the individual employee -- this might be a good time to consider various password backup and recovery options for encrypted Linux user directories.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
Step 3: Software Installation: Pick Your Package
One of the final Ubuntu server installation steps involves setting a software update policy and downloading various Linux server packages.
First, the installer will ask how it should handle system software updates. You can choose from three options here: no automatic updates (the admin will handle this manually); automatic installation of critical security updates; or an option to manage the system over the Web as part of Canonical's Landscape service.
Click the image above to go to the next slide Server Software Options
In addition, by default, the Ubuntu server installer only adds core system components. You can select from a list of additional server-software options, including a DNS server, a LAMP server stack (which installs the Apache Web server, MySQL database, and PHP scripting support -- the key components behind many database-driven Web sites), or file server (using Samba for Windows network interoperability), among other basic choices.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
One of the final Ubuntu server installation steps involves setting a software update policy and downloading various Linux server packages.
First, the installer will ask how it should handle system software updates. You can choose from three options here: no automatic updates (the admin will handle this manually); automatic installation of critical security updates; or an option to manage the system over the Web as part of Canonical's Landscape service.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
In addition, by default, the Ubuntu server installer only adds core system components. You can select from a list of additional server-software options, including a DNS server, a LAMP server stack (which installs the Apache Web server, MySQL database, and PHP scripting support -- the key components behind many database-driven Web sites), or file server (using Samba for Windows network interoperability), among other basic choices.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
More Software Server Options
The default list -- that is, the one that appears as you step through the "normal" server installation prompts -- is short and sweet. For some reason, accessing this step from the installer overview makes this list of optional software much longer. This more complete list offers options for installing either a GNOME or KDE desktop environment, downloading audio/video editing suites, alternative versions of Ubuntu such as Edbuntu, and many other choices.
At this point, you're finished with the setup process. The Ubuntu Server setup does not give you the same opportunity to review your choices, including your disk-management choices, that the Ubuntu Desktop installer provides. The good news is that if you made any mistakes configuring your disk-partition options, you might as well relax -- it's too late to do anything about them now.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
Click the image above to return to the first slide Start Running Your Ubuntu Server
Congratulations -- you're done with the basic setup required to start running server apps on your new Ubuntu system! You're also ready to take advantage of a key benefit every Linux server offers IT administrators: a vast assortment of robust, reliable, cost-effective server software.
As you get comfortable with your new Linux server, you may need these additional resources:
The default list -- that is, the one that appears as you step through the "normal" server installation prompts -- is short and sweet. For some reason, accessing this step from the installer overview makes this list of optional software much longer. This more complete list offers options for installing either a GNOME or KDE desktop environment, downloading audio/video editing suites, alternative versions of Ubuntu such as Edbuntu, and many other choices.
At this point, you're finished with the setup process. The Ubuntu Server setup does not give you the same opportunity to review your choices, including your disk-management choices, that the Ubuntu Desktop installer provides. The good news is that if you made any mistakes configuring your disk-partition options, you might as well relax -- it's too late to do anything about them now.
Click the image above to go to the next slide
Click the image above to return to the first slide
Congratulations -- you're done with the basic setup required to start running server apps on your new Ubuntu system! You're also ready to take advantage of a key benefit every Linux server offers IT administrators: a vast assortment of robust, reliable, cost-effective server software.
As you get comfortable with your new Linux server, you may need these additional resources: