Spec me a lightweigh GUI to use with Ubuntu server?

DJMK4 · 23 Jan 2013 at 11:14

Hi all,

I am just in the process of carrying out an install of Ubuntu server for a Newsnab project I am starting for private use only.

However I am a little bit of a linux noob, have used it lightly in the past, but want something with the option of a GUI just incase I need to action something quickly and easily, but I will try and use the commands where possible

I have just tried installing a stripped down install of Ubuntu desktop, however not entirely liking it (looks a lot different than I remember it)

What the best GUI to use for someone like me using Ubuntu server?

JHeaton · 23 Jan 2013 at 11:23

Openbox. Simple and lightweight.

leezer3 · 23 Jan 2013 at 11:25

Slightly off the bat, but have you considered installing Webmin?
This'll let you do any common tasks in a web-browser, and any other commands etc. can be entered over SSH

No need to run a GUI you'll never use then!

-Leezer-

DJMK4 · 23 Jan 2013 at 11:42

Cool I will give these both a try.

DJMK4 · 23 Jan 2013 at 12:54

Just tried openbox, seems nice and lightweight, although I have just uninstalled it, going to check out KDE also.

uvarvu · 23 Jan 2013 at 13:46

KDE is quite heavyweight I think but it is very nice. You can choose to turn off the visual effects to save resources too.

DJMK4 · 23 Jan 2013 at 13:52

Yeah just installed it, it is quite heavy as you mention, running it on a ESXi VM, allocated 1GB ram.

You can tell its struggling straight after intall of KDE, takes a while to refresh between views etc.

Maybe looking at something a bit more lightweight, but have some extra features that Openbox offers (I dont want a lot

)

DJMK4 · 23 Jan 2013 at 14:30

Might give lubuntu Desktop a test to see if this is any quicker

SKILL · 23 Jan 2013 at 20:51

XFCE is a nice middle ground between the heavyweight Gnome/KDE desktops and the ridiculously lightweight open/fluxbox

DJMK4 · 23 Jan 2013 at 21:39

That looks a lot more like it, I will see how things go with lubuntu, if I dont like it I will remove and replace with this.

It's only for some quick access stuff if needed. I am using the terminal most of the time.

Deleted member 77746 · 23 Jan 2013 at 21:53

webmin is fantastic! So powerful!

KIA · 24 Jan 2013 at 13:01

SSH is always the fastest route.

NealR · 24 Jan 2013 at 13:11

Have to agree with above. If it is only running a web server setup, then why the need for a GUI?

Webmin is incredibly powerful

melvis · 10 Feb 2013 at 23:56

I agree with the above webmin or ssh, if your really set on a gui, then ratpoison is a good mega-lightweight wm

uniQ · 11 Feb 2013 at 09:25

+1 XFCE

inSilica · 11 Feb 2013 at 22:24

i3 tiling + tmux.

Doesn't matter if you're a noob or not

. We are all noobs in some area or another

Audigex · 12 Feb 2013 at 17:30

Webmin if you're happy to do everything over a browser, lxde otherwise.

SSH can do a lot but isn't for newbs - you'll just get frustrated having to do everything through SSH. Use a WM but try to do things with SSH if you can.

LXDE is very lightweight (lighter than XFCE) but still recognizably a desktop - I found ratpoison was a little too different for me.

Webmin can do almost everything you would want, although I'd learn how to use apt and use that for installing software.

Deleted member 77746 · 12 Feb 2013 at 21:32

Webmin, you can install it in 4 commands once you have edited the sources.list as per below....

# /etc/apt/sources.list
# deb h ttp://download.webmin.com/download/repository sarge contrib
# deb h ttp://webmin.mirror.somersettechsolutions.co.uk/repository sarge contrib

1) # wget http://www.webmin.com/jcameron-key.asc
2) # sudo apt-key add jcameron-key.asc
3) # sudo apt-get update
4) # sudo apt-get install webmin