I need a solution like those of MS Windows 3.x and MS DOS, where you boot up the computer using DOS and if you want the GUI you just type the command win.
I need something like that with Ubuntu Server and any GUI environment. In other words, I need the computer boot up by default using Ubuntu server and works using the shell and if needed a GUI to do some tasks visually, I just type a command to load the GUI and then I could able to close (release resources used by GUI) it while the server shell still works.
Indeed, my first experience with Ubuntu was Ubuntu Server, from many years, but when I followed advises such as sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop, I always finished with a computer boots up the GUI by default and I don't want that. I need GUI on demand. Even editing grub will lead to need to reboot again.
I ask this question because I need to safe resources using the Ubuntu Server, but I need the ease of GUI during make major settings, such as, settings network, editing config files, etc.
Best Answer
Ultra-light window manager, that you can start and stop
You can install
xinit,fluxboxandxterm(plus the GUI programs that you want to use). Then you can start the graphics withstartx. Exit from thefluxboxwindow manager brings you back to the text screen.I made compressed image files, that provide shortcuts to such systems (32-bit and 64-bit Xenial systems), but of course you can make your own system or add this kind of graphics to an existing system.
See these links for more details,
help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/UEFI-and-BIOS/stable-alternative
dd_text_16.04-UEFI-n-BIOS_2017-01-15_intel-4-pendrive-7.8GB.img.xz
dd_X32-Txt-Startx-Intl_2016-12-11_4GB.img.xz