My Experiences with Ubuntu Server (fence of text warning)

[dachapa]

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been trying to catch up with the MIS 3310 class, and while I'm still behind, I have come a long way. However, even after my simple experiences with Ubuntu Server edition, my opinion to picking Windows stands. The following are some things I have come come to experience while setting up my LAMP server on Ubuntu.

First, and I think the most important feature the Ubuntu Server edition lacks is a Graphical User Interphase, or GUI. After I Googled and looked through many topics on the Ubuntu forums, and other open source boards, I figured out that applications such as GNOME, and Ubuntu Desktop exist; however, I also read that installing either or, would decrease your server speed, and if you are recycling an old computer, speed is already a problem. The solution I thought was best was installing the application Webmin, however, this did not require the usual “sudo apt-get install webmin” since every time I tried the command, it failed. I had to download the Debian file (.deb) by typing a “wget” command, and typing the direct link to the newest version of Webmin. Afterwards, I tried to install Webmin by opening the package, but was not able to. I had to perform a series of trial and error, and as I typed “sudo apt-get update” and “sudo apt-get upgrade” into the command line, I was somehow able to install Webmin after all. It took me hours, and jumping from How To to How To in order to reach a solution. Webmin allows me to access and configure different files on my server from any computer in my Local Area Network (LAN), so one can say it works as a GUI almost. Only difference from a GUI is that, Webmin access the computer from another computer, whereas a GUI you configure the computer from within it. It is not such a bad thing since most GUI's for Ubuntu come with additional applications and software that will slow down you server. All the trouble it took me to be able to manage to configure my Server's options from a “simpler” way made me be confident that I much rather have a Ubuntu Server bistro with a GUI, but since there is none, perhaps for the average user it is better to stick to a Windows Server, or a Mac Server. Another option however, is using your Ubuntu Desktop as a server, or rather, just going for another Linux desktop bistro that include fewer applications. After all, a person owning a server would not have the need to play “Solitaire” on their server.

Another quick complain I still hold is the command line. It is very time consuming to be looking up for commands every time I want to take an action on my server. Instead of just clicking a button to say “shut down” if I want to turn off my computer for the day for whatever reason, I had to look it up on Google, and found I had to type “sudo shutdown -P now.” Now, you can call me spoiled, but time is money, and I do not like spending extra minutes trying to figure out how to turn off my computer. A simple “sudo shutdown” would have sufficed.

I rather use Windows rather than the free choice software. It does not make seem at first glance to pay for something when you can obtain something similar and “more efficient” for free, but after experiencing Ubuntu Server, I'll stick to what I know. Ubuntu programmers out there, I suggest the following, create a Ubuntu Server bistro with a simple, very basic GUI, and you may convert me to the “light side.”

(Note: This is not another why Linux does not do what Windows does topic, I am aware of this. I just wanted to share my experiences with other newbs like myself.)

[daark.child]

If Windows suites your needs, then I guess thats the best tool for the job in your situation.

Typically Linux (and Unix) servers are strictly CLI only because the GUI is considered an extra overhead which can affect a servers performance and potentially introduce security issues. There is nothing to stop you from installing a GUI if you wish, but you could easily do the same things in the CLI, if you get familiar with it before trying to run a Linux or Unix server. It also seems like you needed to be familiar with the way that packages are managed on Debian based distros. Installing webmin is as simple as downloading the deb file from webmin.com and doing

sudo dpkg -i webmin-VERSION.deb

To access webmin you would then need to go to https://localhost:10000 or http://localhost:10000. From a remote machine enter the hostname e.g. https://hostname:10000 and http://hostname:10000

Browsing through documentation is also important. The steps I mentioned above for setting up webmin are in the webmin docs.

If this was your first time setting up a Linux server, you probably should have bought a book e.g. Beginning Ubuntu Server Administration From Novice to Professional and you could have saved yourself the time you spent doing trial and error.

[oz]

Welcome to the forums, dachapa!

I agree with daark.child that each user should use whatever works for him/her. Linux is not the solution for everyone, and it's very likely that it never will be.

Windows related products often do more of the hand-holding that some users like, and expect. Many of the current Linux distributions do some of this as well, but probably not to the extent that Windows does. Linux is designed and intended more for those users that prefer to have a better and deeper understanding of the operating system, and desire to maintain a closer working relationship with it.

As for working under the command line, those users that are very familiar with it usually prefer working there over using any GUI options, so it's a very good thing, in my option, that they still have the option to use it. Keep in mind that many users consider GUI tools to be an unneeded factor that only complicates things, overall.

If you should decide to try Linux again in the future, we will still be around here to offer any help that you might need, but best of luck in the interim with your Windows efforts.

[elija]

As someone who administered both Windows and Linux (by coincidence Ubuntu) servers in the real world I feel somewhat qualified to comment here. Here's hoping I'm not feeding the troll but let us assume not.

I have administered Windows servers for about 5 years and Ubuntu Servers for about 18 months. I remember well the sense of frustration when I first encountered the Linux terminal with it's arcane commands. At first I hated it.

Now, having spent the time to learn the bits I have needed to (I'm learning more all the time as and when I need to) I find the cli much more efficient for server management and a gui much for efficient for programming and other day to day desktop tasks. To the point that on my Xubuntu development machine I open a terminal to perform server config!

No more moving my hand from the mouse to the keyboard and back again, simply type a couple of deft commands and maybe edit a file. Sorted.

I do feel for you though. It is scary at first. As has been said you can install a light weight gui by using the command

sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop

However, I would recommend sticking the the cli - you will come to love it. It may take a while still some people do prefer Windows and that's OK. If it works for you - it works for you.

[glaston]

You could also install the GUI you want, perform your tasks in it, but configure the server to boot into console mode so that when you aren't working with it the GUI isn't still running.

Ease into the transition between GUI and CLI.