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sudodus
Asked: 2021-10-05 02:13:07 +0800 CST

How to make a portable Ubuntu server

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It can be useful to have an Ubuntu Server in an SSD connected via USB or in a fast USB pendrive and run it in different computers. The wired network system of Ubuntu Desktop and the community flavours works [without tweaks] in different computers, but the Ubuntu Server seems dedicated to the computer, where it was installed.

How can I make [at least the wired] network system of Ubuntu Server portable between computers?

networking

1 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Portable Ubuntu Server

    Network

    I applied the method by N0rbert to Ubuntu Server installed from the file

    ubuntu-20.04.3-live-server-amd64.iso

    The following method makes the installed server's network portable between computers. I installed it in a Toshiba laptop and tested it in a Dell Latitude E7240 and a Lenovo V130.

    The main difference compared to the method by N0rbert is that the package network-manager must be installed (before tampering with the network system).

    sudo apt install network-manager

    Restore Network Manager renderer:

    cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/netplan/01-network-manager-all.yaml 
# Let NetworkManager manage all devices on this system
network:
  version: 2
  renderer: NetworkManager
EOF

    Apply netplan configuration with:

    sudo netplan apply

    Restart NetworkManager

    sudo service network-manager restart
sudo service NetworkManager restart

    I ran also the following command to restore contents of /etc/network/interfaces (without checking if it was necessary)

    cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/network/interfaces
# interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
EOF

    More details in order to make the installation portable

    Custom Portable Ubuntu system

    This method can also be used to create a custom portable Ubuntu system, not only a server, but also a custom desktop system for example with a simple window manager (like fluxbox).

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