Ubuntu Server is a free, open source platform that does more than you might think. With the ability to act as an internal corporate server or expand and scale to meet enterprise-level requirements, this operating system can do it all.
This cheat sheet is an easy way to stay up to date on Ubuntu Server. We will update this guide periodically as news and updates for Ubuntu Server become available.
See also: Tools and tips for creating data backups on Linux servers (TechRepublic Premium)
summation
What is Ubuntu Server? Ubuntu Server is a server operating system developed by Canonical and open source programmers around the world that works on virtually any hardware or virtualization platform. It provides websites, file sharing, and containers, and allows you to extend your company’s services with an incredible cloud presence.
Why is Ubuntu Server important? Ubuntu Server works well in the cloud. For small businesses looking for a cost-effective server solution, we believe Ubuntu should be your first stop. It’s difficult to determine the exact number of users running Ubuntu in the cloud because major cloud providers don’t always share detailed OS usage statistics. However, Canonical says Ubuntu is estimated to account for more than 40% of all Linux workloads on major public clouds such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
Who does Ubuntu Server affect? According to W3Techs, as of November 2024, 53.6% of “all websites that use an operating system that we know of” are using Linux. Breaking down these percentages, when it comes to websites using the various subcategories of Linux, Ubuntu is comfortably at the top at 16.4%. Debian comes in second place with 8.9%.
When was Ubuntu Server released? Ubuntu Server was first released on October 20, 2004, and has been steadily improved and expanded since then.
How do I get started using Ubuntu Server? Download a copy of the latest release and burn it to a disc or create a bootable USB drive, insert the bootable media into your server and install. If your business can afford $9 for a single download, you can also check out TechRepublic Premium’s Ubuntu Server Installation Checklist.
See also: All cheat sheets on TechRepublic
What is Ubuntu Server?
Ubuntu states that it is currently officially compatible with five processor architectures: x86_64 (aka AMD64), ARM64 (aka AArch64), PowerPC64 (aka POWER), System z (aka S390X), and RISC-V. Previously supported architectures include x86, PowerPC, and SPARC64.
Ubuntu is a server platform that anyone can use for: Some examples include:
- Website.
- FTP.
- Email server.
- File and print servers.
- Development platform.
- Container deployment.
- Cloud service.
- Database server.
Ubuntu Server has the following minimum requirements:
- ram: 1024 MB.
- Minimum RAM recommended: 3 GB or more.
- Minimum storage capacity: 5GB (ISO installation)
- Minimum storage capacity: 4 GB (cloud image).
- Recommended minimum storage capacity: 25 GB or more.
One advantage that makes Ubuntu Server attractive is its cost-effectiveness. Anyone can download a copy of the latest version of Ubuntu Server and deploy it for free (excluding hardware and time) on as many systems as they need.
See also: Windows, Linux, and Mac Commands Everyone Should Know (Free PDF)
If you run a small company and are looking for an easy to deploy file server or web server, we believe Ubuntu Server can handle it and more. If you’re an enterprise-level company looking to scale OpenStack Cloud, a large render farm, or a Hadoop cluster, Ubuntu has you covered. For those who want to use Ubuntu as a guest in a virtual environment, Ubuntu Server is certified for AWS, Microsoft Azure, IBM, and HPE Cloud.
Because Ubuntu Server is open source and free to download, businesses don’t have to worry about lack of support. You can purchase enterprise-level support for the platform. Ubuntu Pro (formerly Ubuntu Advantage) has a 30-day trial for businesses.
Ubuntu Pro pricing is as follows:
(Software only) |
(Open all year round) |
(Open all year round) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop or WSL (workstation/year) |
|||
| Servers with unlimited VMs (machines/year) |
Why is Ubuntu Server important?
Over the past few years, the cloud has become a central focus for IT and users, and this shift has greatly benefited Canonical and Ubuntu. Since the launch of Infrastructure as a Service, Ubuntu has become one of the largest players running these services in the cloud. In my opinion, Ubuntu is popular with administrators and DevOps engineers who want to deploy OpenStack.
And then there’s Docker, which I categorize as one of the most popular container deployment platforms on the market. We believe that Ubuntu Server makes Docker setup so easy that container deployments can become a reality for IT professionals at almost any level. Containers can be a huge help in extending your company’s offerings to your employees, clients, and customers.
Reference: How-to guide for Linux administrators (free PDF)
I think another advantage Ubuntu Server has over many other platforms in its class is its snap package capabilities. Snap packages are universal packages that contain all necessary dependencies and can be installed with a simple command (e.g. sudo snap install nextcloud). Snaps can also be easily updated with a single command (sudo snap refresh), reducing administrative tasks.
If the features of Ubuntu Server aren’t enough to get you excited, think about the statistics. As of July 2024, Ubuntu is the third most popular operating system distribution among developers worldwide, according to Statista. As for unusual symmetry, 27.7% of developers use it for professional use and 27.7% for personal use. Unsurprisingly, Windows was the most popular, followed by MacOS.
Who does Ubuntu Server affect?
Ubuntu Server impacts everyone: IT professionals, developers, CFOs, and end users.
Let’s consider one element of Ubuntu Server: the cloud. According to a May 2024 report, Gartner predicted that global end-user spending on public cloud services will increase 20.4% from $561 billion in 2023 to $675.4 billion in 2024.
- OpenStack is one of the best cloud computing platforms.
- Ubuntu Server is one of the most popular operating systems on OpenStack.
In conclusion, it seems likely that Ubuntu Server will not only dominate the cloud but will also become a major force leading IT in the future.
If your business has not yet deployed Ubuntu Server, be patient. It will be distributed soon. As businesses and users become more dependent on the cloud, Ubuntu Server will become more necessary. Fortunately for IT professionals, this platform makes container and cloud rollout incredibly simple.
When was Ubuntu Server released?
Ubuntu Server was first released on October 20, 2004. As with all subsequent releases, Ubuntu images can be downloaded for desktop or server platforms.
Server releases use the same repositories as desktops, so there was continuity between editions from the beginning. Ubuntu Server has always been released by default without a GUI due to shared repositories. A graphical environment installation is possible.
Ubuntu Server has come a long way from its humble beginnings. When Ubuntu Server was first released, it was widely considered an option for mail, FTP, and web servers. Now there are no limits.
What are the competitors of Ubuntu Server?
Competition in server platforms is fierce, with open source and proprietary solutions available. The main competitors for market share are:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
- Defensive.
- CentOS.
- FedoraServer.
- Windows Server.
Among the products above, only CentOS and Fedora Server are free.
How do I get started using Ubuntu Server?
If you are installing Ubuntu Server via bare metal or virtual host, you will need to download the Ubuntu Server ISO image and burn that image to a CD/DVD or create a bootable USB flash drive. Insert the media into the target hardware and boot. Installing the operating system is as easy as any other OS.
If cloud deployment is the path you have chosen, we recommend logging into your deployment dashboard to view the deployment process for that cloud service.
Regardless of the path, starting Ubuntu Server is fairly easy. Since you’ll be working primarily from the command line, it’s a good idea to use a tool like apt-get to speed things up. You might also find it helpful to refer to TechRepublic Premium for guides on configuring networking and Ubuntu Server security tips.
