Here Is The Difference Of Ubuntu Desktop And Server

As we know Ubuntu is a little different. Within Ubuntu, there are two different versions: stable release and Long Term Service (LTS) iteration. Furthermore, Ubuntu is divided into Ubuntu Cloud, Ubuntu Core, Ubuntu Kylin, Ubuntu Desktop, and Ubuntu Server. Here are the differences between Ubuntu Desktop and Server

Difference

1. Graphic User Interface

The main difference in Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server is the desktop environment. While Ubuntu Desktop includes a graphical user interface, Ubuntu Server does not. That's because most servers run without headless. Instead of using a keyboard, mouse, and traditional monitor settings to interact with the machine, the server is usually managed remotely using SSH.
While SSH is built into the Unix-based operating system. Although some Linux server operating systems have a desktop environment, many do not have a GUI. For example, Linux by CoreOS containers are completely command-based. While the Ubuntu Server does not have a GUI, Ubuntu Desktop assumes that our machine uses video output. Therefore Ubuntu Desktop installs a desktop environment.

2. Application

In addition, Ubuntu Desktop contains applications that are suitable for general use: there is a suite of office productivity, multimedia software, and web browsers. We can also find Ubuntu Desktop with a little flavor. However, the Ubuntu Server also includes a standard package. It focuses on server requirements. As such, Ubuntu Server offers several packages such as e-mail server, file server, web server and samba server. Specific packages include Bind9 and Apache2. Whereas the Ubuntu desktop application is focused on use on the host machine, the Ubuntu Server package concentrates on enabling connectivity with clients as well as security.

3. Installation
Because Ubuntu Server doesn't have a GUI, the installation is different from Ubuntu Desktop. Installing Ubuntu Desktop is basically the same as installing other software. But Ubuntu Server uses a process-driven menu instead.

Equation

Kernel

After Ubuntu 12.04, Server and Desktop variants use the same kernel. Previously, Desktop and Server used a different kernel. Because Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server use the same kernel, we can add any package to any variant. This means that while the default installation varies, we can adjust our Ubuntu flavor to match. So we might start with Ubuntu Server and install a desktop environment if we decide we can't run it without headless. Or, we can start with Ubuntu Desktop and add the packages needed to create a server. Because Ubuntu Server and Desktop share the Ubuntu core kernel, the difference in the default installation does not prevent the installation of the software package.

Support

Likewise, support shifted with the release of 12.04. Before Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, the Desktop edition featured a three-year support cycle. Their Server Fellow benefits from a five-year support cycle. But with the debut of 12.04 LTS, both variants moved into the five-year support cycle.

Which Should We Use?

Considering differences and similarities, now a big question arises: should we use Ubuntu Server or Ubuntu Desktop? As long as we use the LTS version of Ubuntu, the Server or Desktop must function in a server environment. The main factors that separate the two are the GUI package and the default. Even so, the core of the Ubuntu kernel means we can install the same package on both flavors.