How to install GUI desktop on a server?

Question

After installing Ubuntu server how do I install the desktop environment?

score 49 · Accepted Answer · edited May 01 '24 at 22:15

49

Depending on which desktop you wish to install, you install the the meta-package that installs all the necessary packages. You can use apt-get or aptitude to do this.

sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop

installs the Unity desktop

sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop

would install the KDE desktop

Other desktop meta-packages are xubuntu-desktop, ubuntu-gnome-desktop, lubuntu-desktop, and edubuntu-desktop.

Note: as default, apt install will also install all the recommended packages. Having recommended packages is usually desired for desktop users, but it may be undesired on a server since it's a lot of additional stuff.

edited May 01 '24 at 22:15

V. Bozz

319

answered Aug 12 '10 at 21:43

txwikinger

29,456

3

For onlookers, here's additional info I found useful that's on the same wavelength as the answer - http://www.ubuntugeek.com/install-gui-in-ubuntu-server.html – John K Aug 13 '10 at 03:30
1

typically you want the answer below that doesn't install recommended packages – Martin Rauscher Jan 05 '24 at 16:47

score 45 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 15 '16 at 13:44

45

If you wan to install a graphical desktop manager without some of the desktop addons like Evolution and OpenOffice, but continue to use the server flavor kernel use the following command

sudo aptitude install --without-recommends ubuntu-desktop

edited Jul 15 '16 at 13:44

Okezie

109

answered Oct 15 '10 at 19:55

hhlp

42,932

6

dam... started the install from the answer and scrolled down to this. :( – Meirion Hughes Jun 11 '14 at 08:29
my version of aptitude doesn't have that option. It does have --without-recommends – JHowIX Feb 03 '16 at 17:09
@JHowIX try using apt-get instead, that one worked for me. – AZhu Feb 06 '16 at 03:53
12

sudo apt-get install --no-install-recommends ubuntu-desktop or
sudo aptitude install --without-recommends ubuntu-desktop – Hover Ruan Apr 21 '16 at 02:31

score 10 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 26 '20 at 02:32

From Ubuntu 20.04, we could use sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop-minimal to minimal install ubuntu-desktop, it removes around 80 packages (and related cruft) from the default install, including Thunderbird, LibreOffice and so on.

The command could replace the old command sudo apt-get install --no-install-recommends ubuntu-desktop or sudo aptitude install --without-recommends ubuntu-desktop.

score 10 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 12 '10 at 21:35

10

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

answered Aug 12 '10 at 21:35

maco

16,162

myusuf3 · Answer 5 · 2010-08-13T00:02:40.543

9

If you just need to run virtual GUI (GUI exsists but you dont need to see it) on the computer for testing or other purposes.

sudo apt-get install xvnc4viewer

Is a setup I have.

:)

edited Aug 13 '10 at 00:02

answered Aug 12 '10 at 23:47

myusuf3

35,799

2

So, the server isn't running the desktop, but you can still VNC from a client machine and get a desktop? That would be perfect for my needs (dunno about the OP). – Scaine Oct 16 '10 at 08:34
yeah you see a graphical shell. – hookenz May 08 '14 at 03:42

How to install GUI desktop on a server?

5 Answers5