Ubuntu Server Install Flavors
Server Installer Modes
Server installer currently provides options for:
* Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud
* Ubuntu Server
* Buried under -> Install a minimal virtual machine
We should expose all 3 of these in the syslinux menu:
1) Install Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud
2) Install Ubuntu Server Deluxe
3) Install Ubuntu Server Minimal
The Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud works as it has for the past few releases, installing all of the components necessary to host a cloud.
The key difference is in (2) and (3).
For years now, the Ubuntu Server has tried to perform a balancing act, aiming to provide a feature-ful, useful server while being as trim as possible. In doing so, we're failing to meet the needs of both camps, landing somewhere in the middle ground where few people are happy with the default package set.
To solve that, I suggest that we expose two different installer options right on the boot menu.
Ubuntu Server Deluxe would be a bit like the current default Ubuntu server install, but just slightly richer. This method installs a rich set of defaults useful to a large cross-section of Server users, including SSH-enabled-
Ubuntu Server Minimal is similar to JeOS, but actually even smaller. Here, we do not install recommended packages, language packages, perhaps purge documentation (leaving pointers to web accessible docs), prune unneeded kernel modules, etc. We can get this footprint down under 100MB. This installation is intended for power Server users, who want to completely customize their system after a minimal installation.
Blueprint information
- Status:
- Complete
- Approver:
- Robbie Williamson
- Priority:
- Undefined
- Drafter:
- None
- Direction:
- Needs approval
- Assignee:
- None
- Definition:
- Obsolete
- Series goal:
- None
- Implementation:
-
Blocked
- Milestone target:
- None
- Started by
- Dustin Kirkland
- Completed by
- Dustin Kirkland
Whiteboard
== Session Notes ==
Server Installer Modes
Server installer currently provides options for:
* Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud
* Ubuntu Server
* Buried under F4 -> Install a minimal virtual machine
We should expose all 3 of these in the syslinux menu:
1) Install Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud
2) Install Ubuntu Server Deluxe
3) Install Ubuntu Server Minimal
* will detect if running on an hypervisor and install appropriate kernel
(this has to be checked on VMware, virtualbox and Xen and make sure it works there as well)
* running in kvm, /proc/cpuinfo says: QEMU Virtual CPU
The Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud works as it has for the past few releases, installing all of the components necessary to host a cloud.
The key difference is in (2) and (3).
For years now, the Ubuntu Server has tried to perform a balancing act, aiming to provide a feature-ful, useful server while being as trim as possible. In doing so, we're failing to meet the needs of both camps, landing somewhere in the middle ground where few people are happy with the default package set.
To solve that, I suggest that we expose two different installer options right on the boot menu.
Ubuntu Server Deluxe would be a bit like the current default Ubuntu server install, but just slightly richer. This method installs a rich set of defaults useful to a large cross-section of Server users, including SSH-enabled-
Ubuntu Server Minimal is similar to JeOS, but actually even smaller. Here, we do not install recommended packages, language packages, perhaps purge documentation (leaving pointers to web accessible docs), prune unneeded kernel modules, etc. We can get this footprint down under 100MB. This installation is intended for power Server users, who want to completely customize their system after a minimal installation.
Options are:
Dustin's initial view: two options on the main ISO menu
See above
Thierry's view: pimp preseeding
Provide the ability to access preseeds on the network and expose more profiles this way.
* could be a way to measure popularity of profiles
* needs to work with alternate repositories including local ones (enterprises may not have internet access)
* I think I prefer Mathias's view now
Mathias' suggestion: <--- agreed suggestion
* Make the server installer a 2-stage installer
* 1st step, install a minimal server
* 2nd step, add whatever server tasks afterward
* Makes it look more like cloud images, which are all "the same" at first, and are customized afterward using cloudinit, apt, etc
* Potentially make demo ISOs if you need customized one-stop shop
* Integrated view across cloud-init/
* Blends into the enterprise way of doing things (plug into puppet for example)
* Any drawback ? apparently no !
OpenSSH by default ?
* what about a broken ssh on the cd?
* what about custom configured ssh? these people would probably preseed anyway, so only install ssh when a human is there doing the installation
* per https:/
the default install where the person installing did not explicitly opt into
installing a service requires techboard approval as well as sign off by a
member of the ubuntu-security team
* this will also require changing marketing materials
* vulnerabilities in ssh and underlying libraries would require a CD respin for
even non-LTS releases
SSH proposal:
* debconf question in the installer (outside of tasksel), "do you want to enable ssh on this system?", default is selected, user can unselect; default is off if running a preseeded install (need to preseed this on; assuming sophisticated users) (potentially restricting it to local subnet by default?)
* dustin to put together tech board proposal
* per discussion at http://
