Appendix. Installing Linux
This appendix covers the basic install of Ubuntu Linux version 14.04 LTS on a single physical server. Even if you’ve worked with Linux in the past, you might want to review this tutorial, if only to understand the underlying system configuration used for the examples in the book.
Ubuntu Linux Version 14.04 LTS
In connection with version 14.04, the acronym LTS means Long Term Support. There will be support for the 14.04 branch of Ubuntu until at least April 2019.
Although Linux is used as an underlying operating system throughout this book, this is not a book on Linux. This appendix is included to provide simple install instructions for those without Ubuntu Linux experience. These instructions will walk you through every step in the installation process.
The install process is trivial if you know how to answer the questions asked by the installer. This appendix provides common answers for each configuration step in the process. If at any time you get turned around in the process, simply start over. An entire install can be completed in 15–20 minutes once you know what you’re doing. If you run into hardware-specific problems, or you want to learn more about the process, take a look at the Ubuntu community page: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation.
You’ll need a few items to get started. First, you’ll need some physical hardware. This could be a full-blown server or simply an old desktop or laptop.