Trying to install xfce4 on Ubuntu server 18.04.1

Question

I've been a long time user of xubuntu and finally bit the bullet and installed the server version as I am running this PC mainly for fileserver and streaming purposes.

That said, I'm trying to install xfce4 as the GUI, but even though every webpage states just use apt-get or just apt install xfce4 am met with the following:

Reading package list... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: unable to locate package xfce4

This seems to be the same for any files pertaining to xubuntu.
I'm guessing there may be something lacking in my resources list,

But if this is the case....why do so many webpages just advise to install xfce4 and then lightdm??

I'm a stubborn @#£11!! and have no intention to go back to an xubuntu install as it takes an age to remove all the shash I don't want, so would rather get it right first time...

Solution

You need to enable the universe repository:

sudo add-apt-repository universe
sudo apt update

Comments

[Jan Matulewicz]

I can't even install Joe my goto file editor either...

[K7AAY]

May I be so bold as to suggest you visit askubuntu.com/questions/1026862/cant-load-xfce-de for a solution?

[guiverc]

Those packages are in 'universe', and it's not enabled by default in 'server', so must be enabled first, see help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories/Ubuntu

[Jan Matulewicz]

Thank you guiverc....I looked at the command line version of this page and added the universe repo via nano, my thanks.

[markling]

universe repository already enabled in 18.04

[Sony Santos]

This worked for me. It was not enabled in default DigitalOcean image.