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Installing-GUI-on-CentOS-Minimal-Installation.md

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Installing GUI on CentOS Minimal Installation

CentOS Minimal provides a minimal set of packages, which is ideal for servers without a graphical user interface (GUI). If you need a GUI on your CentOS minimal system, you can install it manually. Below are the necessary steps to install the GNOME Desktop Environment and other useful packages.

Installing GNOME Desktop Environment

Step 1: Check Available Package Groups

First, list all available package groups to verify that the GNOME Desktop group is available.

yum grouplist
  • This command displays all available package groups, including GUI-related ones.
  • The "GNOME Desktop Environment" group is provided by the baseos and appstream repositories.

Step 2: Install GNOME Desktop Environment

Install the GNOME Desktop Environment group packages.

yum group install "GNOME Desktop Environment"
  • This command installs all necessary packages for GNOME.
  • Ensure that both baseos and appstream repositories are enabled.

Configuring the System to Boot into GUI

Step 1: Check Current Default Target

Verify the current default system target (startup mode).

systemctl get-default
  • Possible Outputs:
    • multi-user.target — Boots into command-line mode (no GUI).
    • graphical.target — Boots into GUI mode.

Step 2: Set Default Target to Graphical

Set the system to boot into the graphical interface by default.

systemctl set-default graphical.target
  • Sets graphical.target (GUI mode) as the default startup mode.
  • After reboot, the system will start with a graphical login screen.

Step 3: Start GUI Immediately Without Rebooting

To switch to GUI mode without rebooting:

systemctl isolate graphical.target
  • Immediately starts the GUI.
  • Note: This is temporary; after reboot, the system will use the default target set previously.

Starting GUI Manually

If the default target is not set to graphical and you wish to start the GUI manually:

startx
  • Initializes an X session and starts the default window manager or desktop environment.
  • Useful if you prefer to boot into command-line mode but occasionally need a GUI.

Reboot the System

After making changes, it's recommended to reboot the system to apply all settings.

reboot

Alternative Desktop Environments

You can install other desktop environments based on your preferences.

Install KDE Plasma Workspaces

yum group install "KDE Plasma Workspaces"

Installing Additional Packages on Minimal Installation

Enhance your minimal CentOS installation by installing additional useful packages.

Install Development Tools

yum group install "Development Tools"
  • Installs essential development tools like compilers and debuggers.

Install System Tools

yum group install "System Tools"
  • Installs various system utilities for system administration.

Install Shells

Install Bash Shell

yum install bash*

Install Z Shell (zsh)

yum install zsh*

Install Vim Editor

yum install vim

Install Network Tools

yum install net-tools
  • Provides traditional networking tools like ifconfig and netstat.