Installation Overview¶
This section provides comprehensive guidance for installing Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS with security and reliability as primary considerations.
Installation Philosophy¶
A secure system begins with a secure installation. The choices made during installation—partition layout, encryption, boot configuration—establish the foundation for all subsequent hardening.
Key Principles¶
- Minimal attack surface - Install only what's needed
- Defense in depth - Multiple layers of protection from the start
- Encryption by default - Protect data at rest
- Verified boot - Ensure system integrity from power-on
Section Contents¶
| Page | Description |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Pre-installation planning, hardware verification, download verification |
| Secure Boot | UEFI Secure Boot configuration and key management |
| Disk Partitioning | LVM, LUKS encryption, partition layout strategies |
| Installation Walkthrough | Step-by-step installer guide with security focus |
| Post-Install Checklist | First boot essentials and initial hardening |
Quick Path¶
For experienced administrators:
- Download and verify ISO
- Enable Secure Boot
- Configure LUKS + LVM
- Run through installer
- Complete post-install checklist
Installation Types¶
Minimal Server (Recommended)¶
The minimal installation provides:
- Base system packages only
- SSH server (optional during install)
- No graphical environment
- ~2 GB disk footprint
This is the recommended approach for production servers.
Standard Server¶
Includes additional packages for common server tasks:
- Network utilities
- Basic system monitoring
- Additional shells and editors
Cloud Image¶
Pre-built images for cloud deployments:
- cloud-init enabled
- Smaller footprint
- Optimized for virtual environments
This Guide's Focus
This guide focuses on physical server installation with manual partitioning and full disk encryption. For cloud deployments, see Ubuntu Cloud Images.
Hardware Requirements¶
Minimum¶
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| CPU | 1 GHz+ (64-bit) |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Disk | 2.5 GB (minimal), 5 GB (standard) |
| Network | Ethernet adapter |
Recommended for Production¶
| Component | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| CPU | 2+ cores, hardware virtualization support |
| RAM | 4 GB+ |
| Disk | 25 GB+ SSD, separate /boot partition |
| Network | Dedicated management interface |
Pre-Installation Decisions¶
Before starting the installer, determine:
- Disk layout - How will storage be partitioned?
- Encryption - Will you use LUKS for data-at-rest protection?
- Network - Static IP or DHCP during install?
- Hostname - System name following your naming convention
- User account - Initial administrator username
Next Step¶
Begin with Preparation to verify hardware compatibility and download the installation media.