linux_wiki:gui_desktops

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 the GNOME Desktop

yum groupinstall "GNOME Desktop"


Install the KDE Desktop

yum groupinstall "KDE Plasma Workspaces"


Install X Windows

yum groupinstall "X Window system"

Install XFCE

yum groupinstall xfce


Install X Windows

yum groupinstall "X Window system"

Install Mate

yum groupinstall "MATE Desktop"


Install X Windows

yum groupinstall "X Window system"

Install a Login Manager

yum install lightdm
  • Note: gdm will also work.

Install Cinnamon Desktop

yum install cinnamon

Set the preferred desktop system wide for all users.

GNOME

echo "DESKTOP=GNOME" > /etc/sysconfig/desktop

KDE

echo "DESKTOP=KDE" > /etc/sysconfig/desktop

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

  1. vim /etc/X11/xinit/Xclients
    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
  2. Set the preferred desktop
    1. XFCE
      echo "DESKTOP=XFCE" > /etc/sysconfig/desktop
    2. Cinnamon
      echo "DESKTOP=CINNAMON" > /etc/sysconfig/desktop
    3. Mate
      echo "DESKTOP=MATE" > /etc/sysconfig/desktop

  • linux_wiki/gui_desktops.txt
  • Last modified: 2019/05/25 23:50
  • (external edit)