Are you thinking of changing your operating system? Maybe you’re tired of Windows or macOS and thinking about using the most popular Linux distribution, Ubuntu. So you’ve searched for the Ubuntu operating system and perhaps seen a confusing headline: Ubuntu Server vs. Ubuntu Desktop.
What are both operating systems? Which is best for me? Which is the safest? Which is best for technical beginners? All your queries will be answered at the end of this article. We know that security issues are the most important thing these days, so we have an excellent solution to guarantee your privacy and protect your data from any cyber-attacks. Let’s cover the basics before getting into the topic of Ubuntu Server vs Ubuntu Desktop.
What is Ubuntu Server?
Imagine there are two versions of Ubuntu, a server version and a desktop version. Each operating system is based on a server; Ubuntu Server is an operating system based on Ubuntu Server.
What can I do with an Ubuntu server?
You can also set up:
- Web server (apache2, NGINX, etc.)
- email server
- SQL Server
- proxy server
- DNS server
- Game servers (eg, Minecraft servers)
- FTP server
and many more!
The good news is that since Ubuntu Server is a Linux-based OS, you can run many virtualizations, such as KVM, OpenVZ, VirtualBox, and VMWare. While KVM is the default virtualization technology in Ubuntu, OpenVZ allows you to create multiple isolated virtual Linux servers. Check out KVM vs OpenVZ to find out which virtualization solution is best for your needs.
What is Ubuntu Desktop?
Ubuntu Desktop is a Linux-based operating system similar to Ubuntu Server with one key difference; It has an open-source GUI environment. You can think of Ubuntu Desktop as a host machine for an office productivity suite and multimedia software like VLC, Spotify, Chromium, Firefox, and more.
What is Ubuntu Pro Desktop?
Ubuntu Pro Desktop is an advanced version of Ubuntu Desktop that offers enterprise-grade security and management tooling. Here are some features of Ubuntu Pro Desktop:
- Enhanced Security Maintenance (ESM)
- Advanced Active Directory and LDAP integration
- NIST-certified FIPS crypto-module
- General criteria EAL2
- USG hardening with CIS and DISA-STIG profiles
- Kernel Livepatch
New enterprise customers can use Ubuntu Pro for free for a 30-day trial period.
Ubuntu Pro Price:
- Physical server: $500
- Desktop: $25
