Ubuntu Server 24.04 - GUI Installation

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1

Hi, all,

I’m trying to install Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS on a VM in Azure, then install the GUI.

I’ve successfully created the VM, but the issue is after I’ve ran the following commands to install the GUI, there is no GUI after the reboot.

The command that I used is the following: sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop

I am using an SSH connection to the VM to run the commands and try to install the GUI.

Any help is appreciated!

2

Did you check in:

systemctl status gdm.service

And this please:

 systemctl get-default

I assume you have enough space for your VM correct?

3

just wondering if your expectations are to see the GUI when you remote in?

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4

Yes, I am expecting to see the GUI.

Unless I’m mistaken and that’s not how it works.

5

Yes, the VM does have enough space.

Got this for systemctl status gdm.service

ubuntuadmin@UBUSYSLOG:~$ systemctl status gdm.service
● gdm.service - GNOME Display Manager
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/gdm.service; static)
Active: active (running) since Fri 2025-02-21 18:16:24 UTC; 46min ago
Process: 1199 ExecStartPre=/usr/share/gdm/generate-config (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
Main PID: 1216 (gdm3)
Tasks: 4 (limit: 9519)
Memory: 4.6M (peak: 5.3M)
CPU: 77ms
CGroup: /system.slice/gdm.service
└─1216 /usr/sbin/gdm3

Feb 21 18:16:24 UBUSYSLOG systemd[1]: Starting gdm.service - GNOME Display Manager…
Feb 21 18:16:24 UBUSYSLOG systemd[1]: Started gdm.service - GNOME Display Manager.
Feb 21 18:16:35 UBUSYSLOG gdm3[1216]: Gdm: on_display_added: assertion ‘GDM_IS_REMOTE_DISPLAY (display)’ failed
Feb 21 18:16:35 UBUSYSLOG gdm-launch-environment][1303]: pam_unix(gdm-launch-environment:session): session open>
lines 1-15/15 (END)…skipping…
● gdm.service - GNOME Display Manager
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/gdm.service; static)
Active: active (running) since Fri 2025-02-21 18:16:24 UTC; 46min ago
Process: 1199 ExecStartPre=/usr/share/gdm/generate-config (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
Main PID: 1216 (gdm3)
Tasks: 4 (limit: 9519)
Memory: 4.6M (peak: 5.3M)
CPU: 77ms
CGroup: /system.slice/gdm.service
└─1216 /usr/sbin/gdm3

Feb 21 18:16:24 UBUSYSLOG systemd[1]: Starting gdm.service - GNOME Display Manager…
Feb 21 18:16:24 UBUSYSLOG systemd[1]: Started gdm.service - GNOME Display Manager.
Feb 21 18:16:35 UBUSYSLOG gdm3[1216]: Gdm: on_display_added: assertion ‘GDM_IS_REMOTE_DISPLAY (display)’ failed
Feb 21 18:16:35 UBUSYSLOG gdm-launch-environment][1303]: pam_unix(gdm-launch-environment:session): session opened for user gdm(uid=125) by (uid=0)

And for systemctl get-default:

ubuntuadmin@UBUSYSLOG:~$ systemctl get-default
graphical.target

6

I do not have server install. Is this local or remote? Security is an issue if remote.

You may want to look at x2go. But x2go is extremely network efficient, unlike the other options. However, x2go doesn’t work with Gnome3+ or KDE-Plasma DEs.

Those newer users with server may install just a gui. Ubuntu Server + lxde or openbox or fluxbox
Examples:

sudo apt-get install lxde
sudo apt-get install xfce

7

Don’t quote me but (as I don’t run a VM) but I “think” that a remote desktop will need to be setup as well.

What I would try is to connect the monitor , keyboard mouse to the VM machine crank it up to see if a GUI comes up.
Then take it from there if the GUI is in fact is working as I think you actually probably set it up.
As I write this I’m sure there is a way to establish the remote desktop locally easier than maybe remotely via ssh.
Think about it if I ssh into any machine be that a desktop, CLI server, whatever … I get a CLI terminal interface. which is why there is a package available to remote into desktops.

8

I don’t think there are tutorials for such a setup on Azure, but there is a very old one for AWS:

You will likely need to do something similar to make it work in an Azure cloud instance…

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