[ubuntu-uk] Desktop or Server?

[Rob Beard]

On 12/11/2009 13:49, Paul Roach wrote:
>
> I'm afraid to say I follow the rest of the herd with this - and I've 
> not come across an administrative function yet that "requires" a gui 
> on an Ubuntu server.  If I need to move files around and i feel it 
> will be quicker graphically I just ssh://ipaddress within nautilus and 
> copy files around that way.  Updates and installations are easily 
> achieved with Apt-get/Aptitude - and it's even possible to remotely 
> install a distro using ssh, by converting the swap partition to ext2 
> and installing to that - all at the command line....
>
> The only example I can think of where a graphical environment would 
> need to be installed would be Tony's example - using FreeNX to create 
> a terminal server.
>
> That said - if you must install a graphical environment - I'd install 
> the server version first and add the desktop (preferably a lightweight 
> one) rather than installing the Desktop edition along with all it's 
> bloat...

The only time I would install a complete desktop on a server is if it is 
to run as an LTSP server.  Then it can need everything a desktop 
requires.  When I last installed an LTSP server I was also pleased to 
see that FreeNX works with it as well. :-)

Rob