How to Install Ubuntu Server 10.10 One Step at a Time

This document will give you a quick rundown on how to install the Ubuntu Server 10.10 32bit version. It’s a pretty simple process, and this is referenced other places for projects that need an Ubuntu Linux server to work. If you have never installed it before, sometimes it’s just nice to see what you’re in for.

To start, you need to download and burn the Ubuntu Server ISO file. The current version can be downloaded here: Ubuntu Server

Once you have downloaded the ISO file, you will need to write the ISO image to a blank CD. Directions for this type of thing can be found in my article on “CD/DVD Burn Reference“.

Once you have the image on a disc, you simply put it into your computer and boot the image. You may need to alter your boot order before your computer will boot your cd. Some systems let you do this at each boot with a hot key in the bios and a selection menu. Others have to be set in the actual bios settings. You should be able to find some direction on this in your motherboard/pc manual. The process is similar on a lot of systems, but not identical. Each manufacturer may have different bios software.

Now that you have booted into your CD, you will be able to follow along with the following steps.

Select English, or if you prefer a different language, you can choose that. Press to do this.

Choose “Install Ubuntu Server” by pressing the key again.

Choose your language again. This is for the actual installation of Ubuntu. Press to select your desired language.

Choose your Country. Press .

The installer can detect your keyboard by having you input some keys from a list on the screen. It’s easier to just Choose No here and choose it from the list, especially if your using a standard keyboard from the USA. Press .

Press .

The installation will now procede with some installation steps.

Here you can choose the hostname for your new server. Press .

Next Choose the TimeZone, if its correct choose if not Choose and Select the correct one from the list.

At this time you will want to decide what you plan to do for your disk partitions. Use the info below for more details on each option:

Guided – use entire disk

Use the entire disk with basic partitions. Nothing special here, tried true basic install.

Guided – use entire disk and set up LVM

Use the entire disk to set up Logical Volume Management. This will let you add more disks to the system later on and add them into the existing file system without additional mount points. This is more flexible in that you can add additional storage if needed without reloading the OS.

Guided – use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM

Same as above but enables full disk encryption using a passcode to encrypt the drive. You will need to enter the passcode at every boot of the system. Good security for sensitive data.

Manual

You define the partitions however you feel fit. This is a do it yourself approach. You will need to know what you’re doing here and you probably wouldn’t be reading this in that event.

I would like some more security for my server, and I am choosing to go with the encryption option this time around.

If your server has more than one disk, you will have an option here. I do not. Choose the disk to install to and press .

It will calculate the partition details for you and you can choose to accept them. Move to and press .

If you decided to go with encryption, you will need to provide an encryption phrase. You will want to use something secure for a passphrase that is difficult to guess. Follow the on screen recommendations. The passphrase you enter here and in the next screen will be required for each system boot or reboot. If you did not choose to use encryption you will not see this screen.

You will need to enter the key again to verify it. If you did not choose to use encryption you will not see this screen.

Now we choose the size of the LVM partition. I will go with the default here. Press .

Accept the changes. Choose and press .

The system writes the partitions and creates the file systems prepping the disk for installation.

Next the installation takes place.

Enter the username for this account.

Enter your password you would like.

Re-enter the password.

Confirm the password.

Choose if you would like the home directory for your user account to be encrypted. This is your preference.

If you need a proxy, enter the details otherwise press .

Now it’s time to determine how your updates will be installed into the system. You can have it automatically install, or choose to manually install them. Last if you take part in the Landscape service from Canonical, you can manage updates through that service. Choose your options. I personally like to do updates manually so I can verify what changes happened when and then know what to revert should things not go well.

Choose the services you need for this server. It is likely you will want OpenSSH in addition to whatever other services you plan to run. This will allow for terminal access remotely should you wish to do some maintenance of this system without visiting it physically. It is also handy if you decide not to have a monitor, keyboard and mouse hooked up to it all the time. Make your choices and press .