Complete Console Walkthrough
A detailed guide walking you through creating bootable media, configuring static or dynamic network connections, laying out storage with LVM, and setting up secure user profiles.
Unlike the desktop edition of Ubuntu, the server version does not boot into a graphical window layout. Instead, it utilizes a text-based installer interface called Subiquity. This program is fast, stable, and easily operated using your keyboard arrow keys, tab key, and spacebar. Follow these configuration steps to get your server running.
Step 1. Download the ISO and Prepare Bootable Media
Before you begin the installation process, you need to acquire the server installation files and flash them onto a bootable USB drive.
Acquire the latest server installation image. For the latest Long-Term Support release, you can grab the package files directly from our Ubuntu Server 26.04 download page.
Plug your USB drive into a client computer and write the ISO file to the disk. We recommend using free utility tools such as Rufus for Windows systems or BalenaEtcher for macOS and Linux machines. Writing the image will erase all data on the USB drive.
Step 2. Boot the Installer
Insert the prepared bootable USB drive into the target server machine, power it on, and access your system boot menu (usually by tapping F12, F11, or F8 during startup) to boot from the USB drive.
Once the installer loads, select your preferred language and configure your keyboard layout. Use your keyboard arrow keys to navigate the options and press the spacebar to select.
Choose between Ubuntu Server (installs the default set of packages and command-line utilities) or Ubuntu Server (minimized) (provides a bare-bones installation designed for cloud instances or custom storage-restricted setups). For general deployments, we recommend keeping the default full Ubuntu Server profile selected.
Step 3. Configure Network Interfaces
The installer automatically detects connected network interfaces and attempts to request dynamic IP settings (DHCP) from your router.
Servers should have persistent network locations. If you want to assign a static IP, highlight your active network interface, press Enter, select Edit IPv4, switch the configuration mode to Manual, and enter your local subnet, IP address, gateway, and primary DNS servers.
If your server is behind a corporate network proxy, enter the proxy details. Next, confirm the Ubuntu package archive mirror site. The installer automatically picks the closest geo-located mirror to maximize download speeds.
Step 4. Layout Storage Partitions
You must define how the installer partitions your local hard drives. The setup wizard provides automatic layout methods alongside manual partition settings.
Select Use an entire disk to automatically clear the drive and build system partitions. Ensure the box for Set up this disk as an LVM group is checked. Logical Volume Manager (LVM) enables you to resize partitions and extend filesystems without rebooting or formatting later.
If you are setting up network storage or software RAID arrays, choose Custom storage layout. You can manually partition drives, mount secondary filesystems (such as `/var` or `/home` directories on separate disks), or initialize software RAID arrays directly within the installer wizard.
Step 5. Configure Profile and Remote SSH Access
Setting up a main administrative user account and securing remote system access are critical for managing your machine.
Fill out your real name, the server hostname (e.g. `webserver-01`), your username, and a strong administrative password. You will use this account to run elevated commands using `sudo`.
Check the box to Install OpenSSH server. We strongly recommend importing your existing SSH public keys from GitHub or Launchpad. Importing keys enables secure public-key logins immediately and allows you to disable password-based logins for better server security later.
Step 6. Complete the Install and Restart
The installer displays a list of optional third-party packages (such as Docker, Nextcloud, or Kubernetes tools). Select any packages you want to bundle, or leave the options blank and proceed.
The installation begins in the background, showing package download and configuration logs. The installer automatically downloads security patches in the background to ensure your server starts with the latest security updates.
Once the screen displays Installation complete, select the Reboot Now option. Unplug your USB drive when prompted in the console, then press Enter to let the server boot into the newly installed operating system.
Now that your server is installed, you should configure automatic updates to apply security patches in the background without manual work. See our guide on how to enable automatic security updates on Ubuntu Server to secure your system.
Installation Video Walkthrough
Watch this step-by-step video guide to see the console-based installation process in real-time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ubuntu Server have a graphical installer?
No, Ubuntu Server uses a text-based installer called Subiquity. It runs in the console and is designed to be lightweight and simple to navigate using your keyboard.
What are the minimum system requirements for Ubuntu Server?
The minimum requirements are a 2 GHz dual-core processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 25 GB of storage space. For heavy workloads, we recommend 8 GB of RAM or more.
How long does standard support last for Ubuntu Server LTS?
Standard support for Long-Term Support (LTS) releases lasts for five years. You can extend this support to ten years for free on up to five personal systems by attaching your server to Ubuntu Pro.
Can I install Ubuntu Server on a Raspberry Pi?
Yes, official Ubuntu Server images are available for Raspberry Pi 3, 4, and 5. These are pre-installed images that you write directly to an SD card.
How do I access my server after installation is complete?
You manage Ubuntu Server via the command line. If you enabled SSH during the install process, you can log in remotely from your local machine using the command ssh username@server-ip.
Can I install a graphical desktop environment on Ubuntu Server later?
Yes, you can install a desktop interface by running sudo apt update followed by sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop. However, this is not recommended for production servers as it uses additional resources and increases security risks.
More Ubuntu guides: Automatic Security Updates · Samba File Server Setup · Ubuntu Keyboard Shortcuts · How to share files with Windows