Cutting Ubuntu to the bone for Virtualbox VM

I've been looking around for a Linux variant which will install only the software I need rather than everything Ubuntu (for example) puts in by default. This is to create a virtual machine in Virtualbox which has bash, apache, python, perl, SQLite, openssh and a few other programs but nothing else. I'd prefer to go with Ubuntu if possible but another modern distro would do as well (I like using apt-get and yum rather than downloading/compiling etc).

So far, I've tried:

SuseStudio.com, which is probably the best so far.
Ubuntu 9.10, by pressing F4 to get the boot options on the install disc, but there is no minimal installation (oops! had the alternate disc instead of the server disc).
Arch Linux, slightly confusing install procedure but I might go back and try again.
Gentoo, started well but fairly soon the HD on the virtual machine went to 2Gb, even before the installation had started in earnest (I'd partitioned the disks is all).

I realise there are various "small" Linuxes around like Puppy, Feather, DSL, etc, but they seem to be aimed at desktop users or as a techie's toolkit, and I want a small-as-possible server distro which can be managed with tools like apt or yum or similar.

user32853

Posted 2010-03-31T10:01:10.553

Reputation:

There is a minimal installation in Ubuntu 9.10 - I've done about 10 of them. It's on the server disk. – Andy Shellam – 2010-03-31T10:43:09.733

Thanks Andy. How do I invoke it? I pressed F4 at the boot screen and it had options like "Command Line install" but nothing for "Minimal install", afaict. – None – 2010-03-31T11:14:19.377

1@user32853: are you sure you have the Server ISO? not the liveCD or alternate ISO. i've just run through the i386 server ISO and the "minimal install" is under the F4 menu on the boot screen. – quack quixote – 2010-03-31T11:38:05.170

Yeh, I had the alternate. Got the real deal now. Many thanks for everyone who commented. – None – 2010-03-31T11:40:34.853

if you want to build this vm programmatically, jeos and vmbuilder are good tools. https://help.ubuntu.com/9.10/serverguide/C/jeos-and-vmbuilder.html

– yanokwa – 2010-03-31T12:33:24.137

Answers

Um, I'm curious why you haven't looked at Debian? It's what Ubuntu is based on, and it can be installed with a minimal install.

Teddy

Posted 2010-03-31T10:01:10.553

Reputation: 5 504

Well, I didn't try it because I didn't know it would fit the bill, which is why I asked the question :-} But thanks, I will give it a try! – None – 2010-03-31T10:44:54.830

If you want a minimal Ubuntu install, try the Ubuntu Server edition. You don't even have to install X if you don't want to.

The server install is yet another disc from the Live CD or the Alternate Installer disc.

Broam

Posted 2010-03-31T10:01:10.553

Reputation: 3 831

You could always try JeOS I've been using it for a network monitoring VM.

user32876

Posted 2010-03-31T10:01:10.553

Reputation:

You can install Arch Linux core or netinstall, then add packets that only you want it's not so hard how can look at first time. There are very well written guide for that.

lfx

Posted 2010-03-31T10:01:10.553

Reputation: 298

Okay, I don't know how much space you've got but, I think installing Ubuntu completely will not hurt. I just installed ubuntu on a 10GB hd partition using virtualbox.

Also your Gentoo got stuck because you did not create the right HD for the install in VirtualBox.

You can Always go to File -> Virtual Media Manager and add remove HDD as you please. You also have the option for the virtual HDDs to increase as you use them so their actual size is very small.

BTW, on an unrelated note, if you didn't know you can use Deamon tools to mount your iso file as a drive and boot/install from that(you'll need to specify that in the settings of your os install in virtualbox).

DMin

Posted 2010-03-31T10:01:10.553

Reputation: 131

Download the Ubuntu server ISO.
During boot, press F4 and use "Minimal virtual machine".

In VirtualBox you need to modify the guest VM settings first if you want to use a "minimal virtual machine" (otherwise the Ubuntu guest will crash):

Enable PAE/NX
Delete the SATA Controller and use SCSI Controller to add the hard disk. Enable host I/O cache.

See https://askubuntu.com/questions/57336/minimal-system-or-minimal-virtual-machine-on-install/94952#94952

Hendy Irawan

Posted 2010-03-31T10:01:10.553

Reputation: 151