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Xfce embodies the traditional Unix philosophy of Modularity and Re-usability. XFCE can be installed on almost any version of Linux, including Rocky Linux. +The XFCE desktop environment was created as a fork of the Common Desktop Environment (CDE). XFCE embodies the traditional Unix philosophy of modularity and re-usability. XFCE can be installed on almost any version of Linux, including Rocky Linux. -This procedure is designed to get you up and running with Rocky Linux using XFCE. +It is also one of the easiest desktop environments to combine with alternate window managers, such as awesome or i3. This procedure, however is designed to get you up and running with Rocky Linux using a more typical XFCE installation. ## Prerequisites -* A Workstation or Server, preferably with Rocky Linux already installed. -* You should be in the Root environment or type `sudo` before all of the commands you enter. +* A Workstation or Laptop +* A desire to run XFCE as your desktop instead of the default GNOME desktop -## Install Rocky Linux Minimal +=== "9.0" -When installing Rocky Linux, we used the following sets of packages: + ## 9.0: Introduction -* Minimal -* Standard + The development team for Rocky Linux 9.0 have made installing XFCE, and other popular desktop environments, easy by including live images. A live image, for those that may not know what that is, is a bootable image that will load the OS without installation. Once loaded, you have the option to install it to your machine's disk drive and use it. -## Run System Update + ## 9.0: Get, Verify, and Write the XFCE Live Image -First, run the server update command to let the system rebuild the repository cache, so that it could recognize the packages available in that. + Prior to installation, the first step is to download the live image and write that to a DVD or a USB thumb drive. As stated earlier, the image will be bootable, just like any other installation media for Linux. You can find the latest XFCE image in the download section for Rocky Linux 9 [live images](https://dl.rockylinux.org/pub/rocky/9.0/live/x86_64/). + Note that this particular link assumes x86_64 is your processor's architecture. + + As of this writing, you can use either x86_64 or aarch64 architectures for this live image. Download both the live image and checksum files. -`dnf update` + Now verify the image with the CHECKSUM file using the following + (note this is an example! Make sure your image name and CHECKSUM files match): -## Enabling Repositories + ``` + sha256sum -c CHECKSUM --ignore-missing Rocky-9-XFCE-x86_64-latest.iso.CHECKSUM + ``` -We need the unofficial repository for XFCE in the EPEL, to run on Rocky 8.x versions. + If all goes well, you should see this message: -Enable this repository by entering: + ``` + Rocky-9-XFCE-x86_64-latest.iso: OK + ``` -`dnf install epel-release` + If the checksum for the file returns OK, you are now ready to write your ISO image to your media. This procedure is different depending on the OS you are using, the media, and the tools. We are assuming here that you know how to write the image to your media. -And answer 'Y' to install the EPEL. + ## 9.0: Booting -You also need the Powertools and lightdm repositories. Go ahead and enable those now: + This again is different by machine, BIOS, OS, etc. You'll need to make sure that your machine is set to boot to whatever your media is (DVD or USB) as the first boot device. You should be presented with this screen if you are successful: -`dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools` + ![xfce_boot](images/xfce_boot.png) -`dnf copr enable stenstorp/lightdm` + If so, you are on your way! If you want to test the media, you can select that option first, or you can simply type **S** to **Start Rocky Linux XFCE 9.0**. -!!! Warning + Remember, this is a live image, so it's going to take a bit of time to boot to the first screen. Don't panic, just wait! Once the live image is booted up, you should see this screen: - The `copr` build system creates a repository that is known to work for installing `lightdm`, but is not maintained by the Rocky Linux community. Use at your own risk! + ![xfce_install](images/xfce_install.png) -Again, you will be presented with a warning message about the repository. Go ahead and answer `Y` to the prompt. + ## 9.0: Installing XFCE -## Check The Available Environments and Tools in the Group + At this point, you can use the XFCE environment and see if you like it. Once you've decided that you would like to use it permanently, double-click the option to Install to Hard Drive. -Now that the repositories are enabled, run the following commands to check everything. + This will start a pretty familiar installation process for those who have installed Rocky Linux before. The first screen will be to select your default language: -First, check your repository listing with: + ![xfce_language](images/xfce_language.png) -`dnf repolist` + The next screen will have a number of things that you need to either verify or change. The options are numbered for reference: -You should get the following back showing all of the enabled repositories: + ![xfce_install2](images/xfce_install_2.png) -``` -appstream Rocky Linux 8 - AppStream -baseos Rocky Linux 8 - BaseOS -copr:copr.fedorainfracloud.org:stenstorp:lightdm Copr repo for lightdm owned by stenstorp -epel Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 8 - x86_64 -epel-modular Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux Modular 8 - x86_64 -extras Rocky Linux 8 - Extras -powertools Rocky Linux 8 - PowerTools -``` + 1. **Keyboard** - Take a look at this option and make sure that it matches up to the keyboard layout that you use. + 2. **Time & Date** - Make sure this matches up to your time zone. + 3. **Installation Destination** - You'll need to click into this option, even if it is just to accept what is already there. + 4. **Network & Host Name** - Verify that you have what you want here. As long as the network is enabled, you can always change this later if you need to. + 5. **Root Password** - Go ahead and set a root password. Remember to save this somewhere safe (password manager), particularly if it isn't something you will be using often. + 6. **User Creation** - Definitely create at least one user. If you want the user to have administrative rights, remember to set this option when creating the user. + 7. **Begin Installation** - Once all of the settings have been set or verified, go ahead and click this option. -Next run the following command to check for XFCE: + Once you do step 7, the installation process should start installing packages, as in the screenshot below: -`dnf grouplist` + ![xfce_install3](images/xfce_install_3.png) -You should see "Xfce" at the bottom of the listing. + After the installation to the hard drive is complete, you'll be faced with the following screen: -Go ahead and run `dnf update` one more time to make sure all of the enabled repositories are read into the system. + ![xfce_install_final](images/xfce_install_final.png) -## Installing Packages + Go ahead and click **Finish Installation**. -To install XFCE, run: + When you've done this, it will take you back to the live image screen. Reboot your machine and remove the boot media you used for the XFCE install. -`dnf groupinstall "xfce"` + Next you will get a login screen with the user you created above. Go ahead and enter your password, which will get you to the MATE desktop: -Also install lightdm: + ![xfce_desktop](images/xfce_desktop.png) -`dnf install lightdm` +=== "8.6" -## Final Steps + ## 8.6: Install Rocky Linux Minimal -We need to disable `gdm`, which gets added and enabled during *dnf groupinstall "xfce"*: + !!! note -`systemctl disable gdm` + Throughout this section, you will either need to be the root user or be able to sudo to elevate your privileges. -Now we can enable *lightdm*: + When installing Rocky Linux, we used the following sets of packages: -`systemctl enable lightdm` + * Minimal + * Standard -We need to tell the system after booting use only the graphical user interface, so for that set the default target system to the GUI interface: + ## 8.6: Run System Update -`systemctl set-default graphical.target` + First, run the server update command to let the system rebuild the repository cache, so that it could recognize the packages available in that. -Then reboot: + ``` + dnf update + ``` -`reboot` + ## 8.6: Enabling Repositories -You should end up with a login prompt in the XFCE GUI, and when you login, you will have all of the XFCE environment. + We need the unofficial repository for XFCE in the EPEL repository, to run on Rocky 8.x versions. + + Enable this repository by entering: + + ``` + dnf install epel-release + ``` + + And answer 'Y' to install it. + + You also need the Powertools and lightdm repositories. Go ahead and enable those now: + + ``` + dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools + dnf copr enable stenstorp/lightdm + ``` + + !!! Warning + + The `copr` build system creates a repository that is known to work for installing `lightdm`, but is not maintained by the Rocky Linux community. Use at your own risk! + + Again, you will be presented with a warning message about the repository. Go ahead and answer `Y` to the prompt. + + ## 8.6: Check The Available Environments and Tools in the Group + + Now that the repositories are enabled, run the following commands to check everything. + + First, check your repository listing with: + + ``` + dnf repolist + ``` + + You should get the following back showing all of the enabled repositories: + + ```bash + appstream Rocky Linux 8 - AppStream + baseos Rocky Linux 8 - BaseOS + copr:copr.fedorainfracloud.org:stenstorp:lightdm Copr repo for lightdm owned by stenstorp + epel Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 8 - x86_64 + epel-modular Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux Modular 8 - x86_64 + extras Rocky Linux 8 - Extras + powertools Rocky Linux 8 - PowerTools + ``` + + Next run the following command to check for XFCE: + + ``` + dnf grouplist + ``` + + You should see "Xfce" at the bottom of the listing. + + Go ahead and run `dnf update` one more time to make sure all of the enabled repositories are read into the system. + + ## 8.6: Installing Packages + + To install XFCE, run: + + ``` + dnf groupinstall "xfce" + ``` + + Also install lightdm: + + ``` + dnf install lightdm + ``` + + ## 8.6: Final Steps + + We need to disable `gdm`, which gets added and enabled during *dnf groupinstall "xfce"*: + + ``` + systemctl disable gdm + ``` + + Now we can enable *lightdm*: + + ``` + systemctl enable lightdm + ``` + + We need to tell the system after booting use only the graphical user interface, so for that set the default target system to the GUI interface: + + ``` + systemctl set-default graphical.target + ``` + + Then reboot: + + ``` + reboot + ``` + + You should end up with a login prompt in the XFCE GUI, and when you login, you will have all of the XFCE environment. ## Conclusion -XFCE is a light environment with simple interface for those who dislike eye-candy and bloat. This Tutorial will be updated with images soon, showing screenshots to give a visual example of the installation. +XFCE is a light environment with simple interface. It is an alternative to the default GNOME desktop on Rocky Linux. If you are running Rocky Linux 9.0, the developers have created a handy live image that speeds the installation process.