ED 33: Ubuntu Linux Desktop (10 pts extra)

What You Need

Purpose

To prepare a virtual machine running Ubuntu Linux with a graphical desktop.

Preparing an Ubuntu Server Virtual Machine

Download an Ubuntu installer ISO appropriate for your prcessor type from: https://ubuntu.com/download/server

Create a new virtual machine and install Ubuntu from the ISO. Make sure the disk is at least 100 GB in size.

Upon reboot, you see a black console with the Ubuntu version at the top, as shown below.

Press Enter to see the login prompt.

Log in with the username and password you chose during installation.

Then execute this command: 

sudo apt update
Enter your password when you are prompted to.

Execute this command: 

sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
Enter Y to install the software.

When the installation stops, execute this command: 

sudo reboot
When the system reboots, log in to the graphical desktop, as shown below.

It may take a few minutes to reboot, and it may take several minutes, or a second reboot, to see the graphical desktop after logging in.

Installing VMware Tools

If you are using VMware, this is necessary to copy and paste into the virtual machine.

On the Ubuntu desktop, click the button at the lower left with a lumpy circle icon.

Search for Term.

Open Terminal, and execute these commands, one at a time: 

sudo apt autoremove open-vm-tools -y
sudo apt install open-vm-tools-desktop -y
sudo apt install open-vm-tools -y
sudo reboot
After the reboot, log in again.

Fixing Slow Bootup (Optional)

On my Mac M4 system, it took more than a minute each time to configure networking.

To fix that, execute this command: 

sudo systemctl edit systemd-networkd-wait-online.service
Add these lines, as shown below. 
[Service]
ExecStart=
ExecStart=/lib/systemd/systemd-networkd-wait-online --timeout=5

Type Ctrl+X, Y, Enter to save the changes.

Preventing Screen Blanking (Optional)

By default, the system will lock the screen after five minutes of inactivity.

To prevent that, on the Ubuntu desktop, click the button at the lower left with a lumpy circle icon.

Search for Settings.

Open Settings. In the left pane, click Power.

Change "Screen Blank" to Never.

Flag ED 33.1: Release (10 pts)

Execute this command: 
lsb_release -a
The flag is covered by a green rectangle in the image below.

Posted 3-1-26
Link to vmware download instructions added 3-2-26
Image of console and disk size instruction added 3-3-26