Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've installed Linux. Needless to say, it numbers well into the thousands. I've installed Linux distributions of all types, ranging from mobile editions all the way up to server clusters (and everything in between). Also: Ready to ditch Windows for good? This is the Linux distro I recommend for beginners There's one type of installation that I've had to use on several occasions: the minimal install. A minimal Linux installation is exactly what it sounds like: an installation that installs a minimum of software. These bare-bones installs only include the core components to allow the operating system to function, such as the boot loader, the kernel, the networking stack, the shell, the command line interface (CLI), basic GNU utilities, and a package manager. A minimal installation does not include a desktop environment, GUI apps, sound server, or productivity tools.…