[ubuntu-uk] Desktop or Server?

[Matthew Macdonald-Wallace]

Quoting Tony Travis <a.travis at abdn.ac.uk>:

> Rob Beard wrote:
>> [...]
>> 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. :-)
>

> What irritates me is the implicit assumption that this is somehow the
> 'wrong' way to run a server: In my opinion, it is absurd to avoid using
> GUI tools to manage a server. Long ago, there might have been an issue
> about memory fooprint or disk space but these days it is not an issue.
> One of the arguments in favour of Windows on the server is that it's
> easier to manage because of the GUI tools. Of course 'real' Windows
> admins to everything from the command-line in Perl just like we do!

I'd argue that it's horses for courses.

I don't need an X server running on any of my servers because I don't  
provide any services that require it.  If I was running FreeNX or x2Go  
or any of the other RDP-style services for end users then I'd probably  
do user/group admin via the gui but some things I would still do at  
the console (editing of files in /etc for instance) because I prefer  
Vim over gedit (please, no flames on this... :P)

At the end of the day, as long as the system is secure and up to date,  
its personal preference IMHO.

M.
-- 
Matthew Macdonald-Wallace
matthew at truthisfreedom.org.uk
http://www.truthisfreedom.org.uk/