Friday, May 20, 2011

Ubuntu server minimal gnome setup

If you set up Ubuntu server 10.04 LTS, you may be surprised to learn that it's a command-line system by default. If you'd like to set up some minimal GUI tools you'll need to add some packages.

First a command line cheat sheet:
  • apt-get update
    • Update the system's list of packages
  • apt-cache show package-name
    • Show what will be installed
  • dpkg -S pathname
    • Find out what package supplies pathname
  • apt-get install package-name
    • Install a package
Get started by installing the basics:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gnome-core \
                     gnome-themes-selected \
                     xserver-xorg \
                     x-window-system-core

You can now flip into X with "startx" and log out to return to the command line. If you'd also like the graphical login screen, add:
sudo apt-get install gdm
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start

Graphical packages that you may wish to add are:
  • gnome-system-tools
    • User management
  • update-manager
    • Update packages
  • synaptic
    • Find and add packages
Additional information can be found in the dated entry: How to install GNOME on Ubuntu Server

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