Ubuntu Server 14.04 and Mate

Start with a fresh Ubuntu Server install. During install select Openssh server and Samba File server. (Samba helps integrate into a Windows network even if you never share)

Then run:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
reboot

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If seeing the error:
no talloc stackframe at ../source3/param/loadparm.c:4864, leaking memory

Fix:

sudo pam-auth-update
...and uncheck "SMB password synchronization"

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Optional:
Consistent Network Device Naming. To prevent renaming of Ethernet cards:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

change:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="biosdevname=0"

save and then:
sudo update-grub

reboot
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And now for Mate:

sudo apt-add-repository -y ppa:ubuntu-mate-dev/ppa
sudo apt-add-repository -y ppa:ubuntu-mate-dev/trusty-mate

sudo apt-get update

minimal:
sudo apt-get install --no-install-recommends mate-desktop-environment-core
sudo apt-get install mate-themes firefox gksu ttf-ubuntu-font-family ttf-lyx ntp
sudo apt-get install system-config-samba software-center file-roller
sudo apt-get install gparted gnome-disk-utility git gedit synaptic
sudo apt-get install msttcorefonts

Options:
sudo apt-get install backintime-common backintime-gnome
sudo apt-get install nullmailer mailutils smartmontools smart-notifier