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I want to run Ubuntu on a dedicated NAS I am building.

95% of the time I want to run it in as low power mode as possible (although I do want to run Crashplan on it), so I'd like to disable most X services and therefore the X window manager environment.

However sometimes when I log in, instead of using ssh, I'd quite like the ability to run the window manager and have a (Unity?) desktop. Is there an easy way to achieve all this?

user68186
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James B
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1 Answers1

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You can install a simple window manager into Ubuntu Server, and start it only when you need it. I think it might be enough to install fluxbox, xinit, xterm (and the packages that they want)

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install fluxbox xinit xterm

and you can start the graphical window manager with

startx

The following link is describing a system, where this is available via a text mode menu

help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/UEFI-and-BIOS

but you can do it manually like it is described in this answer.

Community
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sudodus
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    I like fluxbox too. Here are links to 2 screenshots of fluxbox running in Ubuntu: https://askubuntu.com/questions/835609/basic-desktop-environment/835632#835632 http://i.imgur.com/vRsx9EH.png – karel Jul 22 '17 at 07:43
  • That's great - thank you. Will mark as correct once I've had a chance to experiment – James B Jul 22 '17 at 20:35