====== Gui Desktops ======

**General Information**

Installing GUI desktops on a minimal base system. 

**Checklist**
  * Distro(s): Enterprise Linux 7
  * Other: Minimum install

----

====== CentOS 7 ======

**Pre-req**: If you have about a 10GB size partition for /, this will leave about 38% used when installing a GUI over a minimal base install.

----

===== Install GNOME =====

Install the GNOME Desktop
<code bash>
yum groupinstall "GNOME Desktop"
</code>
\\

===== Install KDE =====

Install the KDE Desktop
<code bash>
yum groupinstall "KDE Plasma Workspaces"
</code>
\\

===== Install XFCE =====

Install X Windows
<code bash>
yum groupinstall "X Window system"
</code>

Install XFCE
<code bash>
yum groupinstall xfce
</code>
\\

===== Install Mate =====

Install X Windows
<code bash>
yum groupinstall "X Window system"
</code>

Install Mate
<code bash>
yum groupinstall "MATE Desktop"
</code>
\\

===== Install Cinnamon =====

Install X Windows
<code bash>
yum groupinstall "X Window system"
</code>

Install a Login Manager
<code bash>
yum install lightdm
</code>
  * Note: gdm will also work.

Install Cinnamon Desktop
<code bash>
yum install cinnamon
</code>

----

===== Set Preferred Desktop =====

Set the preferred desktop system wide for all users.

**GNOME**
<code bash>
echo "DESKTOP=GNOME" > /etc/sysconfig/desktop
</code>

**KDE**
<code bash>
echo "DESKTOP=KDE" > /etc/sysconfig/desktop
</code>

----

==== Other Desktops ====

If using any other desktop besides GNOME or KDE, a few changes to a system config file need to be made.

  - vim /etc/X11/xinit/Xclients<code bash>
GSESSION="$(type -p gnome-session)"
STARTKDE="$(type -p startkde)"
STARTXFCE="$(type -p /usr/bin/xfce4-session)"
STARTCINNAMON="$(type -p /usr/bin/cinnamon-session)"
STARTMATE="$(type -p /usr/bin/mate-session)"

# check to see if the user has a preferred desktop
PREFERRED=
if [ -f /etc/sysconfig/desktop ]; then
    . /etc/sysconfig/desktop
    if [ "$DESKTOP" = "GNOME" ]; then
        PREFERRED="$GSESSION"
    elif [ "$DESKTOP" = "KDE" ]; then
        PREFERRED="$STARTKDE"
    elif [ "$DESKTOP" = "XFCE" ]; then
        PREFERRED="$STARTXFCE"
    elif [ "$DESKTOP" = "CINNAMON" ]; then
        PREFERRED="$STARTCINNAMON"
    elif [ "$DESKTOP" = "MATE" ]; then
        PREFERRED="$STARTMATE"
    fi
fi

if [ -n "$PREFERRED" ]; then
    exec "$PREFERRED"
fi
</code>
  - Set the preferred desktop
    - **XFCE**<code bash>echo "DESKTOP=XFCE" > /etc/sysconfig/desktop</code>
    - **Cinnamon**<code bash>echo "DESKTOP=CINNAMON" > /etc/sysconfig/desktop</code>
    - **Mate**<code bash>echo "DESKTOP=MATE" > /etc/sysconfig/desktop</code>

----