Ubuntu Server -- why so big?
I'm trying to setup Debian/Ubuntu distro, small size, text-only, no desktop, in VirtualBox. So, I tried "Ubuntu Server 25.10", because website says 2.5GB should be enough. Well, fresh install takes up 7GB. The only optional thing I included is ssh server. Am I doing something wrong? What do you remember when you setup your Ubuntu Server?
It this physical or a VM? I face the same issue on both sides, but I found that the pre-prepared cloud images for VMs are already configured much smaller Installing from scratch is not good enough apparently, or there is some flag in the installer that I am missing On Mon, Feb 2, 2026 at 1:11 AM William Park via Talk <talk@lists.gtalug.org> wrote:
I'm trying to setup Debian/Ubuntu distro, small size, text-only, no desktop, in VirtualBox. So, I tried "Ubuntu Server 25.10", because website says 2.5GB should be enough. Well, fresh install takes up 7GB. The only optional thing I included is ssh server.
Am I doing something wrong? What do you remember when you setup your Ubuntu Server? ------------------------------------ Description: GTALUG Talk Unsubscribe via Talk-unsubscribe@lists.gtalug.org Start a new thread: talk@lists.gtalug.org This message archived at https://lists.gtalug.org/archives/list/talk@lists.gtalug.org/message/CDOULZO...
William Park wrote:
I'm trying to setup Debian/Ubuntu distro, small size, text-only, no desktop, in VirtualBox. So, I tried "Ubuntu Server 25.10", because website says 2.5GB should be enough. Well, fresh install takes up 7GB. The only optional thing I included is ssh server.
Am I doing something wrong? What do you remember when you setup your Ubuntu Server?
Use Debian Trixie netinst cd iso image (800MB ish size). Very minimal iso but needs internet to grab additional packages. When installing, near the end is tasksel. deselect everything except "SSH Server" and "standard system utilities" and proceed with the install. You'll end up with 1GB of used space compared to Ubuntu Server which is 7GB as you mentioned. My take, ubuntu=debian+"special sauce" just go for the real deal... Debian. /Balrog
amvaron＠gmail.com wrote:
William Park wrote:
I'm trying to setup Debian/Ubuntu distro, small size, text-only, no desktop, in VirtualBox. So, I tried "Ubuntu Server 25.10", because website says 2.5GB should be enough. Well, fresh install takes up 7GB. The only optional thing I included is ssh server. Am I doing something wrong? What do you remember when you setup your Ubuntu Server? Use Debian Trixie netinst cd iso image (800MB ish size). Very minimal iso but needs internet to grab additional packages.
When installing, near the end is tasksel. deselect everything except "SSH Server" and "standard system utilities" and proceed with the install. You'll end up with 1GB of used space compared to Ubuntu Server which is 7GB as you mentioned.
My take, ubuntu=debian+"special sauce" just go for the real deal... Debian.
/Balrog
Replying to myself. Found that Ubuntu Server has 4GB of swap file on root (/swap.img). That's why it's 7GB in total. This swap size depends on your memory size where i have it at 4GB. Still, Ubuntu Server at 2-3GB size compared to Debian at 1GB. This is even less for Debian 6 (squeeze) at around 700MB years ago.
Yes, that was it. After adding on all the packages I want, Debian server is 2GB, and Ubuntu server is 4GB. Thanks. On 2026-02-02 13:55, Andre via Talk wrote:
Replying to myself. Found that Ubuntu Server has 4GB of swap file on root (/swap.img). That's why it's 7GB in total. This swap size depends on your memory size where i have it at 4GB. Still, Ubuntu Server at 2-3GB size compared to Debian at 1GB. This is even less for Debian 6 (squeeze) at around 700MB years ago.
participants (3)
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amvaron＠gmail.com -
Nick Accad -
William Park