11 Create an Ubuntu Desktop

Dante Rocca

Sometimes we need a Linux desktop with more power than Tiny Core Linux. Like other Linux flavors (known as distributions), Ubuntu’s primary strength is the command line interface. Ubuntu Desktop has a graphical interface already installed but we will use the terminal for the installation in this lab anyway.

Phase 0 – Professional Alignment

Enterprise networks rely on client workstations to administer infrastructure, access network services, and validate system functionality. In this chapter, you will install and configure an Ubuntu Desktop virtual machine, creating a versatile Linux workstation that will serve as an administrative and testing platform for future enterprise networking and cybersecurity exercises.

DCWF Work Roles

The knowledge and skills developed in this chapter align with the following Department of Defense Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF) work roles:

  • 531 – Systems Administrator
  • 511 – Network Operations Specialist
  • 451 – System Security Analyst

NICE Work Roles

This chapter supports competencies associated with the following NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity work roles:

  • Systems Administrator
  • Network Operations Specialist
  • Cyber Defense Infrastructure Support Specialist

Professional Skills

By completing this chapter, you will begin developing the ability to:

  • Deploy Linux desktop operating systems in virtual enterprise environments.
  • Configure virtual workstations for network administration and testing.
  • Integrate client systems into enterprise network topologies.
  • Verify operating system functionality and network connectivity.
  • Manage virtual machine resources to support enterprise operations.
  • Prepare Linux workstations for systems administration and cybersecurity tasks.

What You’ll Be Able to Do

After completing this chapter, you should be able to:

  • Install Ubuntu Desktop as a virtual machine using Oracle VirtualBox.
  • Configure the virtual machine with appropriate hardware and networking settings.
  • Verify that the Ubuntu Desktop system operates correctly within your virtual environment.
  • Integrate the workstation into your GNS3 laboratory for future networking exercises.
  • Validate network connectivity between the workstation and other enterprise devices.
  • Prepare a reusable Linux administrative workstation for subsequent networking, infrastructure, and cybersecurity labs.

 

Learning Objectives

  • Successfully download, install, and run Ubuntu Desktop in a GNS3 environment

Prerequisites

Deliverables

  • None – this is a preparatory lab that supports other labs in this book

Resources

Contributors and Testers

  • Mathew J. Heath Van Horn, PhD, ERAU-Prescott

Phase I – Download and Installation

Much like the Linux Server, installation is pretty straightforward. Be sure to work through the lab completely as the tools installed later will be used down the line.
  1. Download Ubuntu Desktop
  2. Start Oracle VirtualBox Manager
  3. Click on New
    Figure 1 - create a new virtual machine
    Figure 1 – Creating a new VM
    1. Pick a name, here we will use Ubuntu Desktop New
    2. Select a directory where you want the VM to be installed. Here, we used an external M2 drive
    3. Use the dropdown menu to select the Ubuntu Desktop ISO that you downloaded
    4. IMPORTANT! Click Skip Unattended Installation
    5. Click Next

      Create a new VM
      Figure 2 – Creating a new VM
    6. Change the base memory to 4096 MB and click next

      Same as instructions
      Figure 3 – changing the memory amount

      NOTE: The Ubuntu Desktop requires 4GB of RAM for installation. This, unfortunately, makes it more intense than other machines used in this book. If you need an Ubuntu Desktop that uses less RAM, we recommend version 22 instead of version 24.

    7. Leave the default Virtual Hard Disk settings and click next
      Setting the hard disk space
      Figure 4 – Creating a new VM
    8. Review the summary and click Finish
      Same as instructions
      Figure 5 – review the system
  4. Start the Ubuntu Desktop VM
  5. Hit enter to try or install Ubuntu
    Select Try or Install Ubuntu
    Figure 6 – Installing a Ubuntu Desktop
  6. When the ” Welcome to Ubuntu” window appears, select your language and click next
    Same as instructions
    Figure 7 – installing Ubuntu
  7. On the Accessibility screen, select any accessibility settings relevant to you. Once done, hit next
  8. Select your keyboard layout and hit next

    Same as instructions
    Figure 8 – continuing the installation
  9. On the Internet Connection screen, leave the Use wired connection radio button selected and hit next
    Same as instructions
    Figure 9 – use wired connection
  10. Select Install Ubuntu and hit Next
    Same as text
    Figure 10 – continue installation
  11. Select Interactive Installation and hit next
    Same as instructions
    Figure 11 – Interactive installation
  12. Select Default selection and hit next

    Same as instructions
    Figure 12 – select defaults

    NOTE: If desired, you may select Extended selection, but it isn’t required for the labs present in this book, and will take longer to install.

  13. Select any proprietary software you desire; none of them will be needed for labs in this book. Hit next
  14. Select Erase disk and install Ubuntu, then click next
    Same as instructions
    Figure 13 – erase the disk
  15. Enter a name, and the computer and username should be filled out automatically. Like every other machine, we will use the name student. Enter a password. As with every other machine, we use Security1 as our password. Click next
    Same as instructions
    Figure 14 – continue installation
  16. Select your time zone and location
    Same as instructions
    Figure 15 – select time zone
  17. Review your choices and click Install
    same as instructions
    Figure 16 – continue installation
  18. Once the installation is complete, click Restart now
    Same as instructions
    Figure 17 – restart
  19. Hit enter when prompted to boot into the machine

Phase II – Installing SSH

Secure Shell (SSH)  is a common remote shell and administration tool. It is used to securely remote login and command-line execution. We install it here for later use.

  1. Log in to the Ubuntu Desktop virtual machine
  2. Click the Canonical logo (show applications) button in the bottom left corner. In the search screen that appears, search for and open the terminal
    Find the terminal
    Figure 18 – Find terminal
  3. In the newly opened terminal, type the following command to install SSH

    sudo apt install ssh

  4. Enter y when prompted
  5. Once the installation is finished, SSH will be successfully installed
    Installation successful
    Figure 19 – Install SSH

Career Connection

Linux desktop systems are widely used by network engineers, cybersecurity analysts, DevOps engineers, and cloud administrators to manage enterprise infrastructure, troubleshoot network services, and perform security assessments. A Linux workstation provides powerful command-line tools and administrative utilities that are essential in modern enterprise environments. The skills developed in this chapter establish a professional workstation that will support many of the configuration, administration, and security tasks performed throughout the remainder of this textbook.

End of Lab

Feedback email
Figure 00 – Contact us via prmaster@erau.edu

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Mastering Enterprise Networks (3rd Ed) Copyright © 2026 by Mathew J. Heath Van Horn is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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