How to setup lighter, faster & minimal Ubuntu

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ubuntu penguin march

There are many variants of Ubuntu. One of them is Ubuntu JeOS where JeOS stands for Just enough Operating System. JeOS is a lean version of Ubuntu server and optimized for running in virtual machines like VMWare. But it can also be used to setup your own Ubuntu that matches your taste without extra luggage. I will get you started by showing you how to setup minimal GUI. Later you can make customizations by installing applications that you like. So lets get started.

Download Ubuntu JeOS

Download Ubuntu JeOS iso image from following url and install it either in VMWare or VirtualBox.

Download Ubuntu JeOS

Installing GUI

This part of guide can be used to install GUI on ubuntu server. First update your apt cache by issuing following command.

sudo apt-get update

You may install either xdm/gdm/kdm for login manager. Since xdm is lighter than others I prefer installing it.

sudo apt-get -y install xdm

Install core of gnome with out any extra baggage.

sudo apt-get -y install gnome-core

Install xorg since gnome needs it.

sudo apt-get -y install xorg

Your gui setup is now complete but since we didn't install any theme default desktop is not that eye friendly. Just install Ubuntu human theme by issuing following command.

sudo apt-get -y install human-theme

Start xdm by issing following command.

sudo /etc/init.d/xdm start

Your basic Ubuntu desktop now ready without extra baggage like open office and other applications. This basic setup works nicely in either VMWare or VirtualBox. Remember to install either VMWare or VirtualBox guest addons to speedup your virtual machine.

Art work used in this post is cc licensed and you can get it from flickr.

Comments

Spoon said…
Thanks for this post.. Few doubts.
1. Is JeOS intended only for Servers? or also for personal usage (such as laptops)?
2. I have already installed the standard ubuntu in my laptop. if I follow the steps in this post, would it remove the already installed packages?
3. I use my laptop mainly for browsing, viewing videos in you-tube, running some java applet applications in browser. If I install JeOS can I still continue these operations?
4. If at all I require to open some docs using open-office, would it be still possible?
June 23, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Vamsee said…
JeOS is intended for running inside Virtual Machines. Installing this version on physical machine is not productive because this version doesn't ship with all the necessary drivers and helper tools.

A lite version for ubuntu called Ubuntu Lite was proposed.

http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/412/

Or you have to remaster your won installation image.
June 23, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Anonymous said…
The link changed:
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/jeos/releases/hardy/release/jeos-8.04.1-jeos-i386.iso
August 19, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Anonymous said…
shadow is correct. Those looking for a really light Ubuntu should check out Fluxbuntu.
October 31, 2008 at 1:21 AM
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