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Versions

Ubuntu is available in three versions – desktop, server and "alternate install" – each of which fits onto one CD. The distribution supports x86 and x64 architectures. The server version also supports SPARC processors. The desktop version boots a live system, from which a graphical installation assistant sets up a Ubuntu desktop system on the hard drive. The server CD installs a trimmed down system especially for server use, completely omitting a GUI if required.

Installation takes place from the live system (click to enlarge)

Alternate install uses the text-based Debian installer with a few Ubuntu-specific extensions and allows special installations to be performed. This version is recommended for systems with 256MB RAM or less. It offers extended installation options, such as setting up software RAID or a Logical Volume Manager (LVM). Alternate install also sets up the standard Ubuntu desktop.

By default Ubuntu installs the GNOME desktop. Other environments, such as KDE, can be installed at a later date without difficulty. If you only want to use KDE you can download Kubuntu, which uses the KDE desktop by default.

For our tests, we took a look at the latest pre-release version of the x86 version of the standard DVD.

Installation

Both the standard installation using the live system wizard and the text-based installation are simple to use. The language and screen resolution can be set from the boot screen. The graphical installation assistant needs very little user input, offering only limited control options. If required it can partition the hard drive itself (it does this automatically if you're installing into unpartitioned disk space), but for LVM or software RAID you have to use the text-based installer. Both installation programs can shrink an existing Windows partition.

Logical volumes can only be set up with the text mode installer (click to enlarge)

The only flaw is that none of these installation options allow you to control what software is installed along with the operating system. Users who do not wish to use certain standard desktop applications will have to manually uninstall them once installation is complete.

Only the server installation allows users to select the software to be installed. At least in the DVD version, the development team seem to have allowed a bug to slip through. Not all server meta-packages can be set up from the tasksel selection tool – tasksel reports an error for some meta-packages such as DNS and Samba.

Next: 3D desktop, goodies

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