An Introduction to the Ubuntu Mini ISO: A Comprehensive Guide

Some Noticeable Information

The Ubuntu Mini ISO is not a stripped-back installation of Ubuntu, but rather a small download that allows users to select a version of Ubuntu to install.

The Mini ISO, which is currently in beta as of October 2023, experiences certain technical problems such as lock-ups occurring after selecting an installation version. While it may offer utility to certain individuals, the typical Ubuntu user can disregard it.

Middle Aged Spread

- Unlocking the Mystery Behind the Ubuntu Mini ISO

The size of the Ubuntu ISO images has been consistently increasing over the years. As more applications are included or removed, smaller packages are substituted with larger ones, resulting in the inevitable growth of the ISO.

A portion of this growth can be attributed to the utilization of Snaps for pre-installed applications. Although Snaps provide the advantage of avoiding dependency issues, they also contribute to the increase in size. Each Snap package includes its own isolated environment and duplicates dependencies like library files, leading to file redundancy.

Instead of implementing the idea of having only a minimalist version of Ubuntu as the default option in the installation program for Ubuntu 23.10, the Mantic Minotaur, the developers decided to flip the two installation options. As a result, the pre-selected minimal installation option now appears as the top choice. If you desire the comprehensive version with all applications included, you must deliberately select it during installation.

The Ubuntu Mini ISO appeared promising due to its ability to provide a minimalist Ubuntu experience without the need to download the large 5.2GB ISO image.

Downloading the Ubuntu Mini ISO

At the time of writing, the (beta) Manic Minotaur Mini ISO is just 87MB.

Immediately, it is evident that this is not a minimal version of Ubuntu. Regardless of its level of reduction, a functional instance of Ubuntu has not been squeezed into such limited space.

A compact download has been developed to facilitate the selection of an Ubuntu version for installation. Similar tools like Ventnoy already perform this function. Ventoy, however, offers the advantage of allowing multiple installation images to be stored on a USB drive. By booting from the drive, users can conveniently choose which image they wish to install.

This functionality may remind users of the Mini ISO, but there is a distinction. Unlike the Mini ISO, the installation images are not embedded within the Mini ISO itself. Instead, when booting from the Mini ISO, a menu is displayed, enabling users to select their desired Ubuntu version for installation. Subsequently, the chosen version is downloaded into RAM and chain-booted.

You’re then using the exact same installation image as if you’d downloaded it manually from the Ubuntu website, and booted from it.

This is what it looks like.

Using the Ubuntu Mini ISO

The file was downloaded from the Ubuntu website, then transferred to a USB drive and used for booting. However, an issue arose at this point. The test machine, which had 4GB of RAM, proved to be insufficient for this particular method. To successfully install the operating system when the entire Ubuntu Image is stored in RAM, a minimum of 8GB RAM is required. On the other hand, for a regular Ubuntu ISO image, 4GB RAM is sufficient for installation.

I didn’t have more RAM on hand, so I repeated the exercise using a virtual machine. It booted into a GRUB menu with a single option.

Selecting that option kicks off some terminal fly-by, then you see the list of Ubuntu versions available to you.

The Ubuntu Mini ISO 23.10 (Mantic Minotaur) is currently in beta and it did not provide me the option to install version 23.10. It is important to note that the listed versions of Ubuntu may be subject to change over time. As of now, Mantic Minotaur has not been released.

I selected Lunar Lobster, and pressed “Enter.” Eventually, the Ubuntu 23.04 installation media GRUB menu appeared.

We are now in familiar territory as we select the "Try or Install Ubuntu" option. This will launch the Live version of Ubuntu, using the in-RAM ISO image. Follow the standard configuration prompts to set your keyboard and other preferences.

You’re given the option to “Install Ubuntu” or “Try Ubuntu.”

Choosing “Install Ubuntu” kicks off the usual sequence of installation screens.

On the initial screen, you can select between regular Ubuntu, which includes a vast array of applications, or the minimal installation which offers only a select few essential applications. We are now on our way to completing the installation process.

It’s Only a Beta, But Still

As of October 2023, the Mini ISO remains a beta build. Despite being labeled as the 23.10 Mantic Minotaur Mini ISO, it is unclear if it will be ready for release alongside Ubuntu 23.10. However, there has been no official announcement regarding its expected release date.

The Mini ISO was more prone to failures than successes. The most common problem encountered was a freeze right after selecting an Ubuntu version for installation. Rest assured, these technical issues will be resolved. After all, this is an officially supported project by Ubuntu.

However, aside from these initial problems, I fail to see the necessity of this solution. Its only purpose is to allow you to have a compact USB drive that enables you to install various Ubuntu versions. There is no need to create a multi-boot drive or rely on tools like Ventoy.

The target computer must have an internet connection and sufficient RAM to use it. However, it is not ideal for revitalizing older hardware.

There is also no time saved in this process. Regardless, you will still need to download the complete regular ISO file. Additionally, if you plan on installing Ubuntu on multiple computers, you will have to wait for the ISO image to be downloaded on each one individually. While it is true that you do not need to write the downloaded images to a USB drive, the advantage gained is minimal since you have already gone through the writing phase by using the Mini ISO on a USB drive.

I questioned the possibility of transforming the Mini ISO into a network-based installer, but there is no necessity for it. An established and reliable network installer is already accessible.

I couldn't consider this as a portable rescue disk, either. In order to boot into a live environment, the machine you're attempting to recover must have an internet connection and ample RAM.

Waiter, This Isn’t What I Ordered

The announcement of the Mini ISO generated excitement and discussions in the Linux community. Many people anticipated a smaller ISO image that would install a stripped-down version of Ubuntu. There used to be an unofficial project that fulfilled this expectation, making some think that Canonical had adopted the idea officially. However, the Mini ISO does not provide the anticipated outcome.

There may be a use case out there for this tool, but it is unlikely to be one that the average domestic Ubuntu user faces.

Editor's P/S

The Ubuntu Mini ISO is an interesting concept that has the potential to be very useful. However, it is still in beta and has some technical issues that need to be worked out.

Overall, I think the Ubuntu Mini ISO is a great idea and I am excited to see how it develops in the future.