Ubuntu Desktop is the operating system’s graphical user interface (GUI) version, which is more user-friendly than the command-line interface. It is ideal for users who want to use a Linux-based system but are unfamiliar with command-line interfaces. When compared to installing Ubuntu Server, the command-line version of Ubuntu, installing Ubuntu Desktop on a DigitalOcean Droplet requires a few extra steps.
To Install Ubuntu Desktop on a DigitalOcean Droplet, follow these steps:
Step 1:
Make a new Droplet. You must first create a new Droplet in order to install Ubuntu Desktop on it. Log in to your DigitalOcean account, then click the “Create” button and choose “Droplets” from the dropdown menu.
You can choose the Droplet size, data center region, and distribution on the “Create Droplets” page. Choose Ubuntu as the distribution, as well as the Droplet size and data center region that best meets your needs. You can also add features such as backups, monitoring, and SSH keys.
After you’ve chosen your options, click the “Create Droplet” button to launch your new Droplet. DigitalOcean will send you an email with the IP address, username, and password for your Droplet. You’ll need these credentials to access your Droplet.
Step 2:
Log in to your Droplet You must connect to your Droplet via SSH in order to install Ubuntu Desktop. SSH (Secure Shell) is a secure protocol for connecting to remote servers. To connect to your Droplet, you can use any SSH client, such as PuTTY for Windows or Terminal for macOS.
To SSH into your Droplet, launch your SSH client and enter the IP address, username, and password provided by DigitalOcean in the email. You will be at the command prompt for your Droplet once you have logged in.
Step 3:
Upgrade your software. Before you begin installing Ubuntu Desktop, you must update your packages to the most recent version.To refresh your packages, enter the following command:
sudo apt-get updateThis command will refresh your system’s list of available packages and their versions. When the update is finished, use the following command to upgrade your packages to the most recent version:
sudo apt-get upgradeThis command will download and install any updates for the packages you have installed. This process may take several minutes depending on the number of packages that need to be updated.
Step 4:
Install Ubuntu Desktop
Run the following command to install Ubuntu Desktop on your Droplet:
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktopThis command will install all of the required packages for Ubuntu Desktop. This process may take several minutes to complete depending on the speed of your internet connection. When the installation is finished, you will have a graphical user interface on your Droplet.
Step 5:
Install a remote desktop server
By default, Ubuntu Desktop does not include a remote desktop server. To remotely access your Ubuntu Desktop, you must first install a remote desktop server. There are several remote desktop servers available, but xrdp is one of the most popular.
Run the following command to install xrdp:
sudo apt-get install xrdpThis command will install xrdp and its dependencies on your system.