ubuntu and Moodle

[TechMonkey]

Looking at setting up a Linux testing station to trial some apps like Moodle, Joomla and the like without having to use up a Windows license (and to get another linux station in the department ). Chose ubuntu as it seems to be flavour of the month and I need an easy entry but the server versions says no GUI is installed. Is a GUI available, it just isn't loaded by default or is it cmdline only? Will the desktop version be fine?

 

Ta

[Geoff]

Linux servers generally don't have guis. For several reasons:

 

1) They are usually 'headless'(no monitor, keyboard attached), stuck in a cupboard someplace and forgotten about.

2) You can do everything on the command line you could with a GUI, just faster. Assuming you know what to type.

3) You can do everything remotely you'd be able to do locally from the command line over SSH.

4) GUIs are a waste of resources which are better spent on serving clients webpages, email or whatever it is the machine is doing.

 

If you really want a point and click interface, try Webmin.

 

http://www.webmin.com/

http://invaleed.wordpress.com/2006/06/19/howto-install-webmin-ubuntu-dapper-drake-606/

[CyberNerd]

server version is a cut down desktop - theory being you only need to install the server with what you need - not what you don't need (like a gui)

just run "sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop" if you want to turn your server into a desktop

[TechMonkey]

But if I am just setting it up as a play around machine to test apps then will there be any major difference between Desktop and Server. Also taking into consideration that I have played with one other linux machine and a bit of mac!

[webman]

Essentialy, the differences between server and desktop is the combination of packages that are installed and tailored to that role. You can install whichever one you want and go from there, add and remove packages using the usual sudo apt-get .... Have a look at Ubuntu Guide for how to install Apache, PHP and MySQL.

[pcprofessor]

I run Ubuntu on my desktop and have compiled a document on how to install Moodle for testing purposes. If you PM me with your email I'll send you a copy.

 

Nick

[Geoff]

Any chance of putting transfering it to the wiki? That way everyone benifits.

[pcprofessor]

OK. that's done. I've put it under the HowTo section. I wrote it for Breezy so I hope it's still OK for Dapper. Let me know if not.

[ChrisH]

Just get the server iso select lamp install. Then install an ssh server through apt-get. Download bitvise tunnelier from http://www.bitvise.com. Put it on your windows workstation. Then ssh to your server and use sftp to copy the config files back and forth and edit the config files with your favourite, decent text editor the sftp them back. You also have the shell to use what ever commands you want.

Dont forget to apt-get update and apt-get upgrade as well after you have installed to bring everything upto date. Your more likely to get lost using the GUI than the cmd line tbh.

[Ric_]

@ChrisH: I prefer the PuTTY Suite of tools (just install and add the program directory to your path to run pscp - the scp prog - from the command line).

[webman]

WinSCP for copying files over SSH, it's great

[ChrisH]

Tunnelier is nice and easy to use for these poeple that think they need a GUI .

[mberry]

Nick Holme has posted a step-by-step set of instructions for installing moodle on ubuntu at http://www.schoolforge.org.uk/index.php/Installing_Moodle_on_an_Ubuntu_workstation although I suspect the security might need tightening up for a production installation.