Server and Desktop Differences

Server and Desktop Differences

There are a few differences between the Ubuntu Server Edition and the Ubuntu Desktop Edition. It should be noted that both editions use the same apt repositories. Making it just as easy to install a server application on the Desktop Edition as it is on the Server Edition.
The differences between the two editions are the lack of an X window environment in the Server Edition, the installation process, and different Kernel options.

Kernel Differences:

• The Server Edition uses the Deadline I/O scheduler instead of the CFQ scheduler used by the Desktop Edition.
• Preemption is turned off in the Server Edition.
• The timer interrupt is 100 Hz in the Server Edition and 250 Hz in the Desktop Edition.
• The Server Edition is optimized for i686 processors while the Desktop Edition is optimized for both the i586 and i686.
• Virtualization is better supported in the Server Edition through the enabling of IPC namespaces, and the Xenhypervisor.
• Multiple routing tables for the IPv6 protocol are also supported in the Server Edition.
• For 32-bit systems the Server Edition is configured to use PAE which allows addressing up to 64GB of memory while the Desktop Edition is configured for 4GB.

	When running a 64-bit version of Ubuntu on 64-bit processors you are not limited by memory addressing space.

To see all kernel configuration options you can look through /boot/config-2.6.22-server. Also, Linux Kernel in a Nutshell is a great resource on the options available.

Backing Up

• Before installing Ubuntu Server Edition you should make sure all data on the system is backed up. See Chapter 16,Backups for backup options.
  If this is not the first time an operating system has been installed on your computer, it is likely you will need to re-partition your disk to make room for Ubuntu.
  Any time you partition your disk, you should be prepared to lose everything on the disk should you make a mistake or something goes wrong during partitioning. The programs used in installation are quite reliable, most have seen years of use, but they also perform destructive actions.