Ubuntu Server is a free, open source platform that does more than you think. With its ability to serve as an internal company server or scale completely to meet enterprise-level needs, this operating system can do it all.
This cheat sheet is an easy way to get up to speed with Ubuntu Server. We will update this guide periodically as news and updates about Ubuntu Server are released.
SEE: Tools and tips for backing up data on Linux servers (TechRepublic Premium)
Executive summary
What is Ubuntu server? Ubuntu Server is a server operating system, developed by Canonical and open source programmers around the world, that works with almost any hardware or virtualization platform. You can offer websites, file shares, and containers and expand your company's offering with an incredible cloud presence.
Why is Ubuntu server important? Ubuntu Server works well in the cloud. For small and medium-sized businesses looking for a cost-effective server solution, I think Ubuntu should be your first choice. It is difficult to determine the exact number of users running Ubuntu in the cloud because major cloud providers do not always share detailed operating system usage statistics. However, Canonical says that Ubuntu is estimated to power more than 40% of all Linux workloads on major public clouds, such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
Who is affected by Ubuntu Server? According to W3Techs, as of November 2024, Linux is used by 53.6% of “all websites whose operating system we know.” If we break down that percentage, when it comes to websites using the various subcategories of Linux, Ubuntu sits comfortably at the top, with 16.4% using it. Debian is doing quite well in second place with 8.9%.
When was Ubuntu Server released? Ubuntu Server was first released on October 20, 2004, and I believe it has been constantly improving and expanding its reach since then.
How do I start using Ubuntu Server? Download a copy of the latest version, burn it to a disc or create a bootable USB drive, insert the bootable media into your server, and install it. You can also check out TechRepublic Premium's Ubuntu Server Installation Checklist if your company can afford $9 for a single download.
SEE: All TechRepublic cheat sheets
What is Ubuntu server?
Ubuntu explains that it currently officially supports 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 the following. Some examples include:
- Websites.
- FTP.
- Email server.
- File and print server.
- Development platform.
- Container deployment.
- Cloud services.
- Database server.
Ubuntu Server has these minimum requirements:
- RAM: 1024 MB.
- Suggested minimum RAM: 3 GB or more.
- Minimum storage: 5 GB (ISO installations).
- Minimum storage: 4 GB (images in the cloud).
- Suggested Minimum Storage: 25 GB or more.
One benefit that makes Ubuntu Server so attractive is its cost-effectiveness. Anyone can download a copy of the latest version of Ubuntu Server and deploy it to as many machines as needed, at no cost (less hardware and time).
SEE: Windows, Linux, and Mac Commands Everyone Needs to Know (Free PDF)
If you run a small business and are looking for an easy-to-deploy file server or web server, I think Ubuntu Server could handle that and much more. If you're an enterprise-level company looking to scale an OpenStack cloud, massive compute farm, or Hadoop cluster, Ubuntu has you covered. For those looking to work with Ubuntu as a guest in a virtual environment, Ubuntu Server has been certified for AWS, Microsoft Azure, IBM, and HPE Cloud.
Just 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 (previously known as Ubuntu Advantage) has a 30-day trial for business.
The price of Ubuntu Pro is as follows:
(software only) |
(24/7) |
(24/7) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop or WSL (job/year) |
|||
| Server with unlimited VMs (machine/year) |
Why is Ubuntu server important?
In recent years, the cloud has become a central point of focus for IT and users, and that shift has been a boon for Canonical and Ubuntu. Since infrastructure as a service took off, Ubuntu has become one of the largest players in running these services from the cloud. In my opinion, Ubuntu is popular among DevOps administrators and engineers looking to implement OpenStack.
Then there's Docker, which I rank as one of the most popular container deployment platforms on the market. I think Ubuntu Server makes setting up Docker incredibly easy, to the point that almost any level of IT professional can make container deployment a reality. Containers can be a huge help in expanding your company's offering to staff and customers.
SEE: Practical guide for Linux administrators (free PDF)
I think another advantage that Ubuntu Server has over many other platforms in its class is the instant package feature. Snap packages are universal packages that contain all necessary dependencies and can be installed with a simple command (such as sudo snap install nextcloud). Snapshots can also be easily updated with a single command (sudo snap refresh), so there are fewer administrative tasks.
If Ubuntu Server's features aren't enough to sell you, think about the statistics. According to Statista, as of July 2024, Ubuntu is the third most popular operating system distribution among developers around the world. In an unusual case of symmetry, 27.7% of developers use it for professional use, while 27.7% use it for personal use. As expected, Windows was the most popular, followed by MacOS.
Who is affected by Ubuntu Server?
Ubuntu Server impacts everyone from IT professionals, developers, CFOs, and end users.
Let's consider an element of Ubuntu Server: the cloud. According to a May 2024 report, Gartner predicted that global end-user spending on public cloud services would grow 20.4% to a total of $675.4 billion in 2024, up from $561 billion in 2023.
- OpenStack is one of the leading cloud computing platforms.
- Ubuntu Server is one of the most popular operating systems for OpenStack.
I think the bottom line is that Ubuntu Server not only dominates the cloud but will continue to be a major force in IT leadership.
If your company hasn't deployed Ubuntu Server yet, be patient: it will. As businesses and users become more reliant on the cloud, Ubuntu Server will be even more necessary. Fortunately for IT professionals, the platform makes deploying containers and clouds incredibly easy.
When was Ubuntu Server released?
Ubuntu Server was first released on October 20, 2004. As with all releases since then, Ubuntu images can be downloaded from a desktop or server platform.
The server version uses the same repositories as the desktop version, so from the beginning there has been continuity between editions. Ubuntu Server has always been released without GUI by default due to shared repositories. It is possible to install a graphical environment.
Ubuntu Server has come a long way from its humble beginnings. When Ubuntu Server was initially released, it was widely considered an option for mail, FTP, and web servers. Now, the sky is the limit.
What are the competitors of Ubuntu Server?
Competition in the server platform is fierce, with proprietary and open source solutions available. The main competition for market share is:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
- SUSE.
- CentOS.
- Fedora Server.
- Windows Server.
Of the above offerings, only CentOS and Fedora Server are free.
How do I start using Ubuntu Server?
If you install Ubuntu Server without an operating system or using a virtual host, you must download an ISO image of Ubuntu Server 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 operating system, if not easier.
If your path of choice is a cloud deployment, you'll want to log into your deployment dashboard and walk through the process of deploying that cloud service.
No matter what your path is, getting started with Ubuntu Server is pretty straightforward. From the beginning, you'll be working from the command line, so it's wise to get up to speed with tools like apt-get. It will also be helpful to check out TechRepublic Premium for a guide to setting up networks and tips for securing Ubuntu Server.
