Linux Server w/ GUI??

[mugsy27]

hey guys...im a complete linux nube, and just got into ubuntu! i liked it so much im thinking of scrapping everything MS at my house.

I currently have win 2k3 running as a domain controller / file print sharing.

does linux have a distro for server that is similar (with gui)?
i will also need it to supply dns,dhcp,ftp, etc.

i want to get better with the cmd line, but would like the gui so i can get up and running...then learn and experiment from there.

any suggestions??

TIA!

[oz]

Pretty much any distro can have a GUI.

I think there's even a distro specified as Ubuntu Server, but I've never tried it.

For command line, check out:

LinuxCommand.org: Learn the Linux command line. Write shell scripts.

[mugsy27]

i downloaded the ubuntu server version and installed it (even tried it as a lamp server).

when it boots, it goes to cmd line, asks me to logo with username then password. after i do that it just stays at the cmd prompt at [username]$

do i have to type something to get it to boot to a gui?

[devils casper]

GUI ( X Server ) isn't pre-installed in Server edition of Ubuntu. You have to install it manually.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

But it will be Ubuntu Desktop + Server now.

[flipjargendy]

I am currently running Ubuntu Server and ran into many problems installing. I used the alternate CD because the LiveCD would not load. While trying to install the alternate CD I continually got the error that the installer could not find a system to be installed. After downloading Ubuntu Server six times and then re-burning it I found that the problem was not with the disc. I also found that if I restart the installation and do the same thing a number of times Ubuntu Server will eventually install. It seems like a random occurrence of whatever was happening. I re-installed Ubuntu Server twice and the same thing happen both times.

Even though you're new to Linux I would suggest using Debian, which Ubuntu is based off of. You can download a Minimal CD/Net Install CD and probably have no problem. Because Ubuntu is Debian based you will still be able to use apt-get to update and install. To install a GUI on Debian I believe you would type:

apt-get install x-window-system-core xserver-xorg gnome-desktop-environment

...but it's worth looking into the exact command if you end up going with Debian.

I will be switching over to Debian sometime soon. I can't wait!

[Felarin]

For a simple lightweight GNOME installation.

NOTE THAT THIS IS FOR YOUR SPECIFIC INSTALLATION ON

UBUNTU SERVER 7.04 - Feisty Fawn

And from the way i see it

It will work the same on

UBUNTU SERVER 7.10 - Gutsy Gibbon

Do the following.

sudo apt-get install xorg gnome gdm gdm-themes

Note that you may have to edit

/etc/rc.local

and add in this line to make it startup GUI all the time when you boot up

just before exit

/etc/init.d/gdm start


This will give you a simple minimal GNOME installation

As for it to be a file server

sudo apt-get install samba smbclient smbfs

You can then configure samba to be your PDC as i have at my home

For it to be dns

sudo apt-get install bind

Thats if you only chose the lamp option
If you chose the DNS option during installation, it will install bind

You can edit this config file directly or install webmin and use that instead.

To install ftp server

sudo apt-get install vsftpd

To install ftp client

sudo apt-get install filezilla

To install dhcp server

sudo apt-get install dhcpd

You may have to install your graphic drivers or edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf to match your graphic drivers in order to start X. This is only for some isolated cases.