Install Ubuntu Server

Ubuntu Server is a free operating system made for running things like game servers. We’ll install it on your spare computer. Don’t worry if you’ve never done anything like this. Follow along step by step and you’ll be fine.

This wipes everything on the spare computer, so make sure there’s nothing on it you want to keep.

Step 1: Download Ubuntu Server

1. On your normal computer, go to the Ubuntu Server download page.
2. Download Ubuntu Server 26.04 LTS. You’ll get a file ending in .iso. It’s a big download, so give it a few minutes.

The “LTS” version gets updates for years, which is exactly what you want for a server you’ll leave running.

Step 2: Put it on your USB stick

You need a small free tool to copy Ubuntu onto your USB stick so the computer can start from it. Any of these work, pick whichever fits your computer:

• Raspberry Pi Imager (Windows, Mac): friendly and simple. Choose “Use custom” and pick the .iso you downloaded.
• balenaEtcher (Windows, Mac, Linux): just as easy.
• Rufus (Windows only): a popular lightweight option.

Then:

1. Plug in your USB stick.
2. Open the tool, choose the Ubuntu .iso file, choose your USB stick, and start.
3. Wait for it to finish. This erases the USB stick, which is expected.

Step 3: Start your spare computer from the USB

1. Plug the USB stick into your spare computer.
2. Turn the computer on and immediately tap the key that opens the boot menu. It’s usually F12, F2, Esc, or Del. The right key often flashes on screen for a second when it powers on.
3. In the boot menu, choose your USB stick.

If it boots into the old operating system instead, restart and try the key again. It can take a couple of tries to catch the timing.

Step 4: Run the installer

Ubuntu’s installer walks you through a series of screens. For most of them the default is fine and you just continue. It’s plain text on a colored background, and you move around with the arrow keys and Enter (there’s no mouse). Here’s the whole path, screen by screen.

Language. Pick yours and continue.

Keyboard. The default usually matches the language you picked. Continue.

Type of install. Choose the standard Ubuntu Server, not the minimized version. Leave the third-party drivers box unchecked.

Network. Since you’re plugged in with a cable, it connects on its own. If it shows an address (the 192.168... line here), you’re good. Continue.

Proxy and mirror. The next two screens are for setups most people don’t have. Leave them both exactly as they are and continue past each one.

Storage. Choose Use an entire disk, then leave Set up this disk as an LVM group unchecked. That option only hands your server a small slice of the drive to start with, so unchecking it gives you the whole disk right away with nothing to expand later.

The next screen shows a summary, then a box asks you to confirm. This is the step that wipes the computer. Choose Continue.

Profile. Enter your name, a name for the computer, a username, and a password. Write the username and password down somewhere safe. You’ll need them to log in later.

Ubuntu Pro. Choose Skip for now. It’s an optional extra you don’t need for this.

SSH. Turn on Install OpenSSH server. This lets you control the server from your normal computer later, which is much easier than typing on the server itself. You can skip importing keys.

Featured software. Don’t select anything here. Just continue.

The install runs for a few minutes. When it says Installation complete, choose Reboot Now.

When it asks, pull the USB stick out and press Enter.

Step 5: Log in

After it restarts, you’ll see a plain text screen asking you to log in.

1. Type the username you chose and press Enter.
2. Type the password and press Enter. The password won’t show as you type, that’s normal.

If you land on a line ending in $, you’re in. Your computer is now a server.

That’s the hardest part behind you. Next, you’ll connect it to Server Reforged.