This section explains various aspects to consider before starting the installation.
Ubuntu 7.10 Server Edition supports three (3) major architectures: Intel x86, AMD64, and PowerPC. The table below lists recommended hardware specifications. Depending on your needs, you might manage with less than this. However, most users risk being frustrated if they ignore these suggestions.
Table 2.1. Recommended Minimum Requirements
|
Install Type |
RAM |
Hard Drive Space |
|---|---|---|
|
Server |
64 megabytes |
500 megabytes |
The default profile for the Ubuntu 7.10 Server Edition is shown below. Once again, the size of the installation will greatly depend on the services you install during setup. For most administrators, the default services are suitable for general server use.
- Server
-
This is a small server profile, which provides a common base for all sorts of server applications. It's minimal and designed to have the desired services added on top, such as file/print services, web hosting, email hosting, etc. For these services at least 500MB of disk space would suffice, but consider adding more space depending on the services you'd like to host with your server.
Remember that these sizes don't include all the other materials which are usually to be found, such as user files, mail, logs, and data. It is always best to be generous when considering the space for your own files and data.
-
Before you start, make sure to back up every file that is now on your system. If this is the first time a non-native operating system has been installed on your computer, it's quite 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 such as power loss to the system. The programs used in installation are quite reliable, and most have seen years of use, but they also perform destructive actions, and one mistake in use can result in loss of your valuable data.
If you are creating a multi-boot system, make sure that you have the distribution media of any other operating systems that are present on hand. Especially if you repartition your boot drive, you might find that you have to reinstall your operating system's boot loader, or in many cases the whole operating system itself and all files on the affected partitions.
