How to Install a Desktop Environment on Ubuntu Server

Installing a desktop environment on Ubuntu Server transforms your server into a more user-friendly system with a graphical interface (GUI). While Ubuntu Server is typically managed via the command line, there are scenarios where having a GUI may be helpful, such as if you’re not comfortable with terminal commands or if you’re planning to use the server for development or other tasks that benefit from a graphical interface. This tutorial will walk you through every step of the process, providing detailed explanations of key terms and concepts.

Prerequisites

Before we start, ensure you have the following:

Ubuntu Server installed: A working installation of Ubuntu Server on your machine or virtual machine.
User privileges: You should have access to a user account with sudo (administrative) privileges.
Internet connection: An active connection to the internet, as you’ll need to download packages.

Explanation of some Terms related to Ubuntu Server

Server: A computer designed to provide services or resources to other computers on a network. Ubuntu Server is a version of Ubuntu optimized for these tasks, often without a graphical user interface.
Command Line Interface (CLI): A text-based user interface where users input commands via the terminal or shell. Ubuntu Server is primarily managed through the CLI.
Graphical User Interface (GUI): A visual interface that uses windows, icons, and buttons, making it easier for users to interact with the system without using commands.
Desktop Environment: A collection of software that provides a GUI. Examples include GNOME, KDE, XFCE, and LXDE. It includes the window manager, file manager, and essential applications that run within the GUI.
Sudo: A command that allows a permitted user to execute a command as the superuser or another user, granting elevated privileges necessary for system administration tasks.

Step 1: Update Your Ubuntu Server

The first step is to update your Ubuntu Server to ensure all software packages are up-to-date. Open the terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Apt: The Advanced Package Tool (APT) is used to install, update, and remove software on Ubuntu and other Debian-based systems.
Update: This command updates the list of available packages and their versions, but it does not install or upgrade any packages.
Upgrade: This command installs the newest versions of all packages currently installed.

Step 2: Install Tasksel

Tasksel is a tool that simplifies the installation of various software bundles, including desktop environments. By using Tasksel, you can install a complete desktop environment without manually selecting individual packages.

Install Tasksel with the following command:

sudo apt install tasksel

Tasksel: A Debian/Ubuntu tool used to install multiple related packages as a group or “task,” such as a desktop environment.

Step 3: Choose a Desktop Environment

There are several desktop environments to choose from, each with its strengths:

GNOME: The default desktop for Ubuntu Desktop. It’s modern, feature-rich, and user-friendly but may be resource-heavy.
KDE Plasma: A highly customizable and visually appealing desktop environment, but also heavier in terms of resource usage.
XFCE: Lightweight, fast, and easy to use, suitable for servers with limited resources.
LXDE: One of the lightest desktop environments, suitable for older machines or servers with very limited resources.

For this tutorial, we’ll install XFCE, as it’s lightweight and efficient, making it ideal for servers.

Step 4: Install XFCE Desktop Environment

You can use Tasksel to install XFCE by running the following command:

sudo tasksel install xubuntu-desktop

Xubuntu: A version of Ubuntu that uses the XFCE desktop environment. Installing this package will install XFCE along with some additional tools and applications typically found in Xubuntu.

Alternatively, if you prefer to install the desktop environment manually without using Tasksel, you can use this command:

sudo apt install xfce4

Step 5: Install a Display Manager

A Display Manager manages user sessions and allows you to log in via a graphical interface. Common display managers include LightDM and GDM. LightDM is a lightweight display manager, ideal for XFCE, and can be installed using the following command:

sudo apt install lightdm

During installation, you may be prompted to choose a default display manager. Select LightDM if prompted.

LightDM: A lightweight display manager for managing graphical login sessions.
GDM: GNOME Display Manager, heavier but more feature-rich, typically used with GNOME.

Step 6: Reboot the Server

After installing the desktop environment and the display manager, reboot your server:

sudo reboot

Once your server restarts, it will boot into the GUI. You’ll be greeted by the LightDM login screen, where you can log in using your existing user credentials.

Step 7: Launch the Desktop Environment

After logging in, XFCE will launch, and you will now have access to a full desktop environment on your Ubuntu Server.

Step 8: Accessing the GUI Remotely (Optional)

If you’re running Ubuntu Server on a remote machine and want to access the desktop environment, you can use a tool like VNC (Virtual Network Computing) to remotely connect to the GUI.

First, install a VNC server:

sudo apt install tightvncserver

Next, start the VNC server:

vncserver

You can now use a VNC client on your local machine to connect to the server’s IP address followed by the VNC port (usually 5901). For example:

192.168.1.100:5901

VNC: Virtual Network Computing is a protocol that allows you to remotely control another computer’s desktop environment.
IP Address: The unique address of your server on the network.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you’ve successfully installed a desktop environment on your Ubuntu Server. Whether you’re looking to make server management more user-friendly or need the GUI for specific applications, this guide provides a detailed understanding of each step and the underlying concepts. Ubuntu Server remains a powerful and flexible tool, and adding a desktop environment enhances its versatility.

Remember, using a GUI on a server can increase resource consumption, so ensure your server has adequate resources to handle the desktop environment along with your server tasks. For resource-limited servers, lightweight environments like XFCE or LXDE are recommended.