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Asked: 2024-09-25T09:40:29+05:30 In:

What steps should I follow to set up a minimal version of Ubuntu without any graphical desktop environment?

I’ve been wanting to dive into a more efficient computing setup, and I’m considering running a minimal version of Ubuntu without any graphical desktop environment. I know this can be a great way to save system resources and make my machine feel snappier, but I’m kind of clueless about where to start. I’m hoping to get some insights from those of you who’ve gone down this road.

First off, I guess I’d need to figure out how to get the ISO image on a USB stick for installation, right? I’ve heard there are a few methods to create a bootable USB, but I’m not sure which one is the easiest for someone who’s not particularly tech-savvy. Once that’s ready, what are the steps for actually installing it? Do I need to fiddle around with partitioning the hard drive, or does the installer take care of that for me?

Then comes the tricky part—setting it up without any GUI. I imagine this means I’ll need to get comfy using the terminal, which is a bit intimidating. Can someone break down what packages or software I should install after I’ve got the base system running? I’d love to hear about which command-line tools are essential for daily tasks. Are there any particular tweaks or configurations you recommend to optimize performance?

And what about network connectivity? I imagine I’d need to use commands to get that up and running, but I’m not entirely sure. Can someone walk me through connecting to Wi-Fi or setting up Ethernet?

Also, I’ve heard that having a minimal configuration can lead to security benefits, but is there anything specific I should do post-installation to secure the system?

I appreciate any tips or detailed steps you can provide! It can be overwhelming just thinking about it, so your experiences would really help me feel more confident moving forward with this project!

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    2 Answers


    1. To begin your journey with a minimal installation of Ubuntu without a graphical desktop environment, the first step is preparing a bootable USB drive. A user-friendly tool for this purpose is Rufus (for Windows) or Etcher (for macOS/Linux). Simply download the desired ISO from the official Ubuntu website, then launch the tool and select the ISO file alongside your USB drive. The process is straightforward; just follow the prompts until it finishes, after which you’re ready to boot from the USB drive. As for installation, boot from the USB, and when prompted, follow the onscreen instructions. The installer generally manages partitioning for you, allowing you to select your preferred installation type (Erase disk, Install alongside, etc.). If you’re comfortable with partitioning manually, you can opt for that method; however, the guided installation is typically sufficient for most users.

      Once you have your minimal Ubuntu system running, getting accustomed to terminal usage is indeed essential. For daily tasks, consider installing these command-line tools: vim for text editing, htop for system monitoring, wget for downloading files, and curl for API interactions. For networking, the command `nmcli` is useful for managing network connections—here’s how to connect via Wi-Fi: first, scan for networks with `nmcli dev wifi`, then connect using `nmcli dev wifi connect [SSID] password [password]`. To enhance security post-installation, you should set up a firewall using UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) with `sudo ufw enable`, and also consider disabling unnecessary services and removing unused packages. Regularly updating your system is crucial as well; use `sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade` frequently to maintain security and performance.







    2. Getting Started with Minimal Ubuntu


      Installing Minimal Ubuntu

      Getting started with a minimal version of Ubuntu is actually pretty exciting! For the first step, you’ll want to grab the ISO image from the official Ubuntu website. Once you have that, creating a bootable USB stick can be done easily with tools like Rufus (for Windows) or Etcher (cross-platform). They’re both user-friendly; just follow the prompts to select the ISO and your USB drive, and it’ll do the rest!

      Installation Steps

      After you get the USB ready, plug it into your machine and boot from it. You might need to change the boot order in your BIOS/UEFI settings. The installer will guide you through the process. If you choose the option to erase the disk and install Ubuntu, it will handle partitioning for you. Just make sure that you’re okay with losing any existing data on the disk because this will wipe it!

      Getting Comfortable with the Terminal

      Now, this is where it gets interesting! You’ll indeed be spending a lot of time in the terminal. After installation, you can start with these essential packages:

      • openssh-server – for remote access
      • curl – for downloading files
      • git – if you’re into coding
      • htop – a nice command-line tool to monitor system resources
      • vim or nano – text editors for coding or configuration
      • tmux – for terminal multiplexing (useful for multitasking)

      For performance tweaks, you can look into minimizing services that run on startup using systemctl.

      Setting Up Network Connectivity

      For internet connectivity, you can use nmcli to connect to Wi-Fi. Here’s a quick rundown:

      1. Check available connections: nmcli dev wifi
      2. Connect to a network: nmcli dev wifi connect "SSID" password "your_password"

      If you’re using Ethernet, it should connect automatically in most cases. If not, just ensure your Ethernet cable is plugged in, and check your connection status with ip a.

      Securing Your System

      Post-installation, it’s a good idea to secure your setup. A few tips would be:

      • Set up a firewall with ufw (Uncomplicated Firewall): sudo ufw enable
      • Regularly update your system: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
      • Create a non-root user for daily tasks to limit potential damage from malicious activities.

      It can be daunting at first, but you’ll get the hang of it! Just take your time and make sure to look up commands as you go. The community is super helpful too if you ever get stuck. Good luck!


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