11.04 boots only to command line, is this right?

[jeliocranch]

Installed 11.04 server, setup as a host for VM's. My first experience with Server, but I've been using the desktop and UNR since 9.04.
When I boot it, I get only the command prompt, and can't seem to start any window manager.
Is this normal for Server? If not, what did I likely do wrong?
If Server is waiting for me to install my first machine, I'm not sure I know how to do that from the prompt (I've only done it once with Virtual Box, which was pretty much all gui).
Any help would be great!
cheers

[volkswagner]

Yes, server edition has no GUI.

You can run VirtualBox via a headless server.

This how to is for 9.04 so you may want to do some deeper searching.

http://www.howtoforge.com/vboxheadless-running-virtual-machines-with-virtualbox-3.0-on-a-headless-ubuntu-9.04-server

[haqking]

Installed 11.04 server, setup as a host for VM's. My first experience with Server, but I've been using the desktop and UNR since 9.04.
When I boot it, I get only the command prompt, and can't seem to start any window manager.
Is this normal for Server? If not, what did I likely do wrong?
If Server is waiting for me to install my first machine, I'm not sure I know how to do that from the prompt (I've only done it once with Virtual Box, which was pretty much all gui).
Any help would be great!
cheers


Servers are best run without GUI which is why it is that way.

If you really want the GUI then


sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop


however like i said best without a GUI, good chance to learn CLI ;-)

[Entilza]

Install this and enjoy :)

http://code.google.com/p/phpvirtualbox/

[jeliocranch]

Thanks for the info and suggestions. I think I'm a bit past complete noob for CLI, but I would take a long time to explore all the features of an OS if it was all I had. Still, I'll give 'er a go.
It all started when I screwed up unity on desktop by playing with things on Compiz I didn't understand. I thought I'd just install server rather than repair unity, so I could start learning.
I'm still dual booting windows 7, mostly for my wife, so I can function quickly when I need.

[jeliocranch]

While I'm among experts, my thought was to have Server as the Host OS, and run Linux and windows desktop os's as VM's, as I need to have both available and don't want to have to reboot to switch. I'm not running headless at all though: its my desktop PC.

Is this not a good application of server?

I tried virtualbox through 10.10 desktop, but it felt clunky, window sizing was bad, I/O confusing.

Could I admin the server using a web interface running from a VM on the same machine? seems convoluted.

[PierreRobiquet]

While I'm among experts, my thought was to have Server as the Host OS, and run Linux and windows desktop os's as VM's, as I need to have both available and don't want to have to reboot to switch. I'm not running headless at all though: its my desktop PC.

Is this not a good application of server?

I tried virtualbox through 10.10 desktop, but it felt clunky, window sizing was bad, I/O confusing.

You could do the same thing on any desktop PC, install you preferred OS and either use Ubuntu or Windows then install VirtualBox in top of that and install a VM with Linux or Windows.

I've never personally found Virtualbox to be very good and it has always lacked polish in my opinion as such I prefer VMware, you can use their VMware Player for free on both Windows and Linux.

[haqking]

While I'm among experts, my thought was to have Server as the Host OS, and run Linux and windows desktop os's as VM's, as I need to have both available and don't want to have to reboot to switch. I'm not running headless at all though: its my desktop PC.

Is this not a good application of server?

I tried virtualbox through 10.10 desktop, but it felt clunky, window sizing was bad, I/O confusing.

Could I admin the server using a web interface running from a VM on the same machine? seems convoluted.


You can admin the server using SSH, or ssh-X for local X server viewing (X server is loobacked so remote X commands run locally under your own X server). IF you administer across a WAN then ssh-X can be slow.

Or you can use webmin (http://www.ubuntugeek.com/webmin-installation-and-configuration-in-ubuntu-linux.html) for web based administration.

Hope this helps.

regards

haqking

[Entilza]

Is this not a good application of server?

I tried virtualbox through 10.10 desktop, but it felt clunky, window sizing was bad, I/O confusing.



Ok since this is just for desktop use you do not want to run ubuntu server with a headless windows7 virtual machine otherwise your desktops will all be remote desktops and be slow for any sort of graphical applications.

When you installed 10.10 virtual box did you also install guest additions? This way you get full screen.

Virtualbox is great software IMO.

You can also install Ubuntu as a virtual box through windows if you want to just explore around with Linux.