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--- proxmox:guests_vms_and_containers:install_a_gui [2021/06/21 12:55] – [Proxmox - Guests (VMs and Containers) - Install a GUI] peter
+++ proxmox:guests_vms_and_containers:install_a_gui [2021/06/21 13:24] (current) – [To check what display manager is configured in your system] peter
@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
   * [[Proxmox:Guests (VMs and Containers):Install a GUI:Minimal GUI with display manager|Minimal GUI with display manager]]
   * [[Proxmox:Guests (VMs and Containers):Install a GUI:A more functional minimal desktop environment|A more functional minimal desktop environment]]
-  *
+  * [[Proxmox:Guests (VMs and Containers):Install a GUI:A full lightweight desktop environment|A full lightweight desktop environment]]
+  * [[Proxmox:Guests (VMs and Containers):Install a GUI:A full lightweight desktop environment with additional recommended applications|A full lightweight desktop environment with additional recommended applications]]
+  * [[Proxmox:Guests (VMs and Containers):Install a GUI:A full desktop with all the extras|A full desktop with all the extras]]
+----
+===== Quick Options =====
   * Ubuntu default desktop:  **sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop**
@@ Line 38: / Line 41: @@
 ----
-===== For a minimal install =====
+==== For a minimal install ====
 <code bash>
@@ Line 53: / Line 56: @@
 ----
-===== Other Options =====
+===== Install a display manager =====
+A Display Manager is responsible for starting the display server and loading the desktop while managing user sessions and authentication.
+By default, GNOME Desktop uses GDM3 as its display manager, but it is a bit heavy on the resources side.
-==== A more functional minimal desktop environment ====
+==== Install ====
+A lighter and more resource-friendly display manager can be used.
 <code bash>
-sudo apt install xorg
+sudo apt install lightdm
-sudo apt install --no-install-recommends lightdm-gtk-greeter
-sudo apt install --no-install-recommends lightdm
-sudo apt install --no-install-recommends lxde-icon-theme
-sudo apt install --no-install-recommends lxde-core
-sudo apt install --no-install-recommends lxde-common
-sudo apt install --no-install-recommends policykit-1 lxpolkit
-sudo apt install --no-install-recommends lxsession-logout
-sudo apt install --no-install-recommends gvfs-backends
 </code>
-<WRAP info>
+==== Start ====
-**NOTE:**
-  * **lxde-icon-theme** is needed for basic icons (there are alternatives).
+Start the display manager and load the GUI with the following command:
-  * **lxde-core** and **lxde-common** will install the basic lxde components.
-  * **policykit-1** and **lxpolkit** are needed to run pkexec.
-  * **lxsession-logout** is needed so that the logout menu works.
-  * **gvfs-backends** is needed if you want trash, network, devices etc. support at pcmanfm.
-</WRAP>
-----
-==== A full lightweight desktop environment ====
 <code bash>
-sudo apt install xorg
+sudo service lightdm start
 </code>
-Then choose one of these:
+==== To check what display manager is configured in your system ====
 <code bash>
-sudo apt install --no-install-recommends lubuntu-core
+cat /etc/X11/default-display-manager
 </code>
-OR
+returns:
 <code bash>
-sudo apt install --no-install-recommends xubuntu-core
+/usr/bin/lightdm
 </code>
-OR
+==== To shutdown the GUI ====
 <code bash>
-sudo apt install --no-install-recommends ubuntu-mate-core
+sudo service lightdm stop
 </code>
-<WRAP info>
-**NOTE:** Each of these metapackages is based on lxde.
-  * **xfce** and **mate** desktop respectively including dependencies such as alsa, lightdm etc. and with many more packages such as themes, configurations etc.
-</WRAP>
 ----
-==== A full lightweight desktop environment without minding the recommendations ====
+===== Add a non-root user =====
-Choose one of these:
+Many systems do not recommend or allow root login.
-<code bash>
+They also require that the user has a **home directory**.
-sudo apt install lubuntu-core
-</code>
-OR
 <code bash>
-sudo apt install xubuntu-core
+add user peter
-</code>
+add user peter sudo
-OR
-<code bash>
-sudo apt install ubuntu-mate-core
 </code>
 <WRAP info>
-**NOTE:**  Almost the same as the previous options (including full xorg installation) but with many more packages such as bluetooth, printers, scanner support, different themes and fonts, basic gnome tools etc.
+**NOTE:**  The sudo at the end adds the user, **peter**, to the sudo group.
 </WRAP>
 ----
-==== A full desktop with all the extras (better choose another option) ====
-Choose one of these:
+===== Tips =====
-<code bash>
+  * TIP1:  The **--no-install-recommends** options applies to all dependencies packages recursively.
-sudo apt install lubuntu-desktop
+    *  So first install the xorg package to make sure all graphic drivers and other packages are installed.
-</code>
-OR
+  * TIP2:  If network-manager and network-manager-gnome are installed, then it is best to use it to configure your network and delete everything at /etc/network/interfaces file (except the lo interface) in order to avoid conflicts.
-<code bash>
+  * TIP3:  If you need remote desktop via x11vnc then choose option 2 to 6 (You may also need to add option **-auth guess** and **-loopso** that vnc works before you login and after you logout).
-sudo apt install xubuntu-desktop
-</code>
-OR
+  * TIP4:  At options 2 to 6 if you wanna stop lightdm autostarting then run the command **sudo systemctl disable lightdm** and you can start it whenever you want with **sudo systemctl start lightdm**.
+    * To re-enable it run **sudo systemctl enable lightdm** and check it with **systemctl is-enabled lightdm**.
+      * If the re-enable does not work, and the is-enabled commands has output static run **sudo apt install --reinstall lightdm** to fix it.
-<code bash>
+  * TIP5:   You can install the specific desktop environment metapackage like lxde, xfce4, mate-desktop-environment, plasma-desktop, unity, gnome.
-sudo apt install ubuntu-mate-desktop
+    * However, you will need more packages than just xorg in most cases and these packages or metapackages might install packages that are not longer preferred by any Ubuntu flavor.
-</code>
+    * For example lxde installs wicd as recommendation when all flavors (including lubuntu) use network-manager and network-manager-gnome nowadays.
+    * To see differences between packages you can search here: http://packages.ubuntu.com/
-OR
-<code bash>
-sudo apt install ubuntu-gnome-desktop
-</code>
-OR
-<code bash>
-sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
-</code>
-OR
-<code bash>
-sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop
-</code>
-<WRAP info>
-**NOTE:**  This will install everything that the live cd of each Ubuntu flavor installs.
-  * This means even the media players or whatever they find useful for their flavor.
-</WRAP>
+  * TIP6: If upon boot you see the greeter and it throws you back to tty again, then simply restart the lightdm by firing **sudo service lightdm restart**.
 ----
-===== Add a non-root user =====
+===== How to remove the GUI from Ubuntu server =====
-Many systems do not recommend or allow root login.
-They also require that the user has a **home directory**.
 <code bash>
-add user peter
+sudo apt remove ubuntu-desktop
-add user peter sudo
+sudo apt remove lightdm
+sudo apt autoremove
+sudo service lightdm stop
 </code>
-<WRAP info>
-**NOTE:**  The sudo at the end adds the user, **peter**, to the sudo group.
-</WRAP>
 ----