3.2 Server vs. Desktop Editions

Clearly a decision between the Desktop and the Server Edition images needs to be made before installation can begin. If you would like to try Ubuntu before installing it, then the Desktop option is the best solution since it allows you to boot Ubuntu from the installation media without first installing it on a disk drive. As shown in Figure 3-1, this option also allows the installation to be initiated from within the live session:

Figure 3-1

If the graphical desktop environment is not required, and the destination system does not have internet access or a graphical console then the Live Server ISO image is recommended since this allows a fully functional server to be built without the need to download any additional packages.

Regardless of the chosen installation method, packages can be added to and removed from the system after installation to configure the system to specific needs.