Install Ubuntu Server on Olares One 25 min
Replace the pre-installed Olares OS with a clean installation of Ubuntu Server on the primary NVMe SSD of Olares One.
This erases Olares OS
Installing Ubuntu Server on the primary drive permanently deletes Olares OS, local accounts, installed apps, settings, and data stored on that drive. Back up anything you need before continuing.
Learning objectives
By the end of this guide, you will learn how to:
- Create a bootable Ubuntu Server installation USB drive.
- Boot Olares One from the installation USB drive.
- Overwrite the primary drive and install Ubuntu Server.
Prerequisites
Hardware
- The primary NVMe M.2 SSD installed inside Olares One.
- A USB flash drive (8 GB or larger) for the installation media.
- A wired keyboard and mouse.
- A monitor connected to Olares One.
Step 1: Create a bootable Ubuntu Server USB drive
Download the Ubuntu Server ISO, version 26.04 LTS or later, from the official Ubuntu website.
Download and install balenaEtcher.
Insert the USB flash drive into your computer.
Open balenaEtcher and follow these steps:
a. Click Flash from file and select the downloaded ISO.
b. Click Select target and select your USB drive.
c. Click Flash! to write the installer to the USB drive.
Wait for the flashing and validation processes to finish, and then safely eject the USB drive.
Step 2: Boot from the Ubuntu Server USB drive
Insert the Ubuntu Server USB drive into the USB port on Olares One.
Power on Olares One, or restart it if it is currently running.
When the Olares logo appears, press the Delete key repeatedly to enter the BIOS setup.
Go to the Save & Exit tab.
Under the Boot Override section, select your USB drive from the list, and then press Enter.
The system restarts and boots from the USB drive into the Ubuntu Server installation interface.
Step 3: Install and configure Ubuntu Server
The text-based installation wizard guides you through replacing Olares OS on the primary drive.
In GNU GRUB, select Try or Install Ubuntu Server. Wait for the initial loading sequence to finish and the language selection screen to appear.
Select your language, and then press Enter.
Keep the default English US keyboard layout, and then press Enter.
On the Choose the type of installation screen, select Ubuntu Server, and then press Enter.
On the Network configuration screen, skip network configuration for now by selecting Continue without network at the bottom, and then press Enter.
TIP
Connecting to the network triggers automatic background downloads for patches and dependencies. This can significantly delay the installation and might cause the installer to hang due to network fluctuations. Skipping this ensures a rapid, completely local installation from the pure ISO image.
On the Proxy configuration screen, leave it blank unless your environment requires one, and then press Enter.
On the Ubuntu archive mirror configuration screen, keep the default Ubuntu archive mirror URL, ignore the "no network" warning, and then press Enter.
On the Guided storage configuration screen:
a. Ensure Use an entire disk is selected, and the primary disk containing Olares OS is displayed in the dropdown list below.
b. Go down to Set up this disk as an LVM group and clear the selection using the Space key.
TIP
Disabling LVM forces the installer to automatically create stable, straightforward standard ext4 partitions. This eliminates unnecessary complexity and ensures a clean, traditional partition layout.
c. Go to the bottom of the page, select Done, and then press Enter.
Verify the details on the Storage configuration summary screen. Under USED DEVICES, ensure the primary drive is in the "to be formatted" status, and then press Enter.
In the Confirm destructive action window, select Continue, and then press Enter.
On the Profile configuration screen, set up your account credentials, select Done at the bottom, and then press Enter.
On the Upgrade to Ubuntu Pro screen, select Skip Ubuntu Pro setup for now, and then press Enter.
On the SSH Configuration screen, select Install OpenSSH server to allow remote terminal management after connecting to the network later, and then press Enter.
The system begins deployment. Wait for the top banner to display Installation complete.
Select Reboot Now at the bottom, and then press Enter.
Remove the installation USB drive and press Enter when prompted. The system restarts automatically into your fresh Ubuntu Server environment.
Log in using the account credentials you set previously.