Simple Ubuntu Server Installation
Server - Ubuntu

Regardless which option for installation you are interested in the first thing to do is to select a language which will be used for the installation.

Language Selection

 

The next screen will show you the first option is the installation of the Ubuntu server with the Cloud option, check for disk errors, testing memory, boot to the hard driv e and rescue as additional options.  Select the “Install Ubuntu server”.

Ubuntu Server Boot Menu

 

Install language is again presented.

Ubuntu Server Langauge

 

The country in which the installation will be placed is important for time zone and the system locale.  If you do not see the country you want select “other”.

Ubuntu Server Install Location

 

You will be presented the option to try your keyboard to verify the layout.  This only needs to be done when you are not sure the keyboard fits completely with the language that you are going to use.  Normally, the best option is to say “No” to this option.

The next screen shows the layouts of available keyboards.  You need to select the keyboard which matches your language...it seems simple but it will certainly be a disaster if you do not follow this simple procedure.

Ubuntu Server Install City

Next is keyboard layout...again just follow common sense.

Ubuntu Server Installation - Keyboard Layout

The next step is to try to install the network configuration using DHCP.  This is obviously a bad choice for a server so you will want to “Configure network manually”.  You will be presented with 4 windows which you will need to be careful how you enter information so that it is correct and you have a network connection.  Here is an example.

IP Address:  192.168.4.5
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.4.1
Nameserver: 192.168.4.250

The fully qualified domain name for the server, FQDN, is an important setting for the server which includes the hostname of the box and the domain which it is a part of.

Hostname: ubuntu
Domain: example.com

This creates the FQDN of ubuntu.example.com.

The clock is now automatically updated based on a time server to verify the time is correct and the time zone is verified.

After the install program has scanned the CD and set up your network,  it will bring you to the most important decision in the install process in terms of how you want the installtion to be completed and with what options.  In this section, each option will be taken separately in order to show specifically what you can do and how it may be done.

Use Entire Disk and Setup LVM - Ubuntu Server Installation

 

Simple Install

The option “Guided – use entire disk” is the easiest option for an install...and probably the worst for a server.  Certainly you will use the whole disk for the server install.  You can see in this example that the server is divided into two partitions, a / partition and a SWAP partition.  By default the operating system will all be on one partition, including the /boot directory, the /home directory and the /var directory, all which may be better served by being separate directories.

 

Cofirm You Want To Write To Disks - Ubuntu Server Installation

 

Advantages:

This creates an easy install.  It really does not offer much else.  If you are looking for a simple home server install or a test machine for Ubuntu this is OK, otherwise you are better off thinking about one of the more advanced options.

 

Disadvantages:

The biggest disadvantage is that the whole system is in one container or partition.  If that container fills up, the system crashes.   Regardless of how much planning you do, it seems that disks always fill up and space becomes and issue.  If you want to rebuild the server you have to build from a backup.