r/Ubuntu • u/cuban-chinese-4551 • 8h ago
Lighter Ubuntu install?
Is it possible to install Ubuntu server and then install gnome-shell package?
I'd like to set up an Ubuntu installation only with necessary software. Trying not to have so much ram usage.
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u/Curious_Elk_4281 8h ago
Download the minimal ubuntu server installation ISO.
If you want gnome:
apt-get install ubuntu-desktop
if you want KDE:
apt-get install kubuntu-desktop
If you want LXDE:
apt-get install lxde
These are meta packages which will install all the separate dependencies for you including a desktop manager like sddm so you have a fully working GUI install after doing the minimal text based installation.
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u/jld1532 7h ago
Question - do you have to do anything special for wifi drivers etc or is it pretty much ready to go out of the box?
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u/Curious_Elk_4281 7h ago
Most modern distros have a decent range of driver support for wifi/network adapters.
If you run into a scenario where linux doesn't pick up your wifi driver you can try to use ndiswrapper to install the driver using a windows version of your specific network adapter's driver (.inf file).
If you google ndiswrapper examples you should be able to find the sequence of commands you would use to wrap the .inf file and load the module into the kernel. Obviously you would first download the driver in windows (or another machine) and locate the .inf file.
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u/thatguysjumpercables 8h ago
You can also install XFCE or LXQt desktop environments, they're much less resource intensive.
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u/poughdrew 7h ago
Yup, this is what I used for AWS Ubuntu instances where we still needed some GUI tools.
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u/guiverc 8h ago
If you want to save RAM, don't run a desktop, WM or GUI.
If you do need a GUI, just use a WM (Window Manager), as even desktops use WMs; just adding more features to the basic features instead of handling only windows which the WM does.
Install what you need only; but do note that the use of metapackages will mean future release-upgrades are easier, as if you do use specific packages, you'll need to ensure there aren't changes between releases that will cause you problems; these are handled for you when metapackages are used.
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u/zamroni777 6h ago
I made guide for lightweight Linux gui remote desktop.
If it's for single gui session, you can skip the x2go part
https://ma-zamroni.blogspot.com/2022/05/free-fast-and-secure-linux-remote.html
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u/JourneymanInvestor 7h ago
Yes and it works great. Back in 2020 I built a new home server with Ubuntu Server minimal edition and installed XFCE on it. I wanted a light minimal desktop since I needed to run a few GUI apps on the server so a pure minimal server wouldn't meet my needs but I also didnt want all the bloat that comes with a full desktop edition
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u/BranchLatter4294 5h ago
You could do that. Or you can just do the regular desktop minimal install.
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u/Ok-Anywhere-9416 22m ago
The default Ubuntu installation is literally base Ubuntu + stripped down GNOME + a couple of plugins and one browser. And it's incredible that sometimes I still read "ubuntu is bloated".
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u/dthrdr 5m ago
Seeverbinsuslksmwoll miss desktop power management and such. Don’t go that route.
What is not minimal enough about the minimal desktop install option in the installer? It will only install a browser pretty much. No office etc.
If you want a more stripped version don’t use server to build up from. Just roll your own iso and make sure you pull in the power management packages and such that server meta packages will not install.
Not to mention lots of other stuff you’ll be dealing with manually post install. Like codecs, proper hardware accelerated graphics etc etc
Maybe you can use tasksel on a server install but really not the right way to do this.
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u/ArtAccomplished2188 8h ago
Yeah that works, server + gnome-shell gives you pretty minimal desktop. you will miss some default apps like file manager, terminal and settings but you can install them separate. ram usage will be lower but dont expect miracle, gnome still eats a bit