Difference between revisions of "Ubuntu LXDE Desktop"
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Ubuntu 16.04, 18.04 | Ubuntu 16.04, 18.04 on Workstation 10.x | ||
<source lang="bash> | <source lang="bash> | ||
sudo apt-get install open-vm-tools* | |||
sudo apt-get install open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop open-vm-tools-dkms open-vm-tools-dev | sudo apt-get install open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop open-vm-tools-dkms open-vm-tools-dev | ||
</source> | </source> | ||
Notes: | |||
* Ubuntu 18.04 - package ''open-vm-tools-dkms'' cannot be located, most likely got merged into another one | |||
Other distros | Other distros | ||
Revision as of 09:37, 27 August 2018
Light Ubuntu LXDE desktop
This is a light weight Ubuntu desktop guide for everyone who wants install minimum packages but have Graphic User Interface. The alternative choice is Lubuntu which comes pre built using [LXDE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LXDE] (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) along with all recommended applications.
- The approach in this tutorial is to achieve following objectives
- Use Ubuntu as a base system
- LXDE as light weight desktop environment
- Firefox, Network Manager as only necessary applications
- LXDE environment makes following core applications
- Pcmanfm, a fast and lightweight files manager using gio/gvfs.
- Openbox, the fast and extensible, default windows-manager of LXDE.
- Lightdm, cross-desktop display manager using the simple GTK greeter
Installing LXDE on Ubuntu
Installed lubuntu-core
sudo apt-get install lxde-core
It then had none of the extra software install. Originally I tried with --no-install-recommends but this left it too bare and seemingly with missing dependencies. After doing this I installed lxappearance and obconf to allow me to change the themes easily
sudo apt-get install lxappearance obconf
Install firefox without any recommended software as the addons are for Gnome.
sudo apt-get install firefox --no-install-recommends
Start LXDE
Install startx if no display managers are available
sudo apt-get install xinit startx
Select session manager
~$ sudo update-alternatives --config x-session-manager [sudo] password for piotr: There are 3 choices for the alternative x-session-manager (providing /usr/bin/x-session-manager). Selection Path Priority Status ------------------------------------------------------------ * 0 /usr/bin/startlxde 50 auto mode 1 /usr/bin/lxsession 49 manual mode 2 /usr/bin/openbox-session 40 manual mode 3 /usr/bin/startlxde 50 manual mode Press enter to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number: 0
Optional. If you have errors in xsession-errors to clear up
sudo apt-get install gtk2-engines-pixbuf
Logging Out LXDE
To log out from the session you can run the command lxsession-logout. This will show you a dialog asking if you want to shutdown, reboot, change session, etc.
lxsession-logout
Change Resolution in LXDE
LXRandR is the standard screen manager of LXDE. It manages screen resolution and external monitors.
sudo apt-get install lxrandr x11-xserver-utils
After installation you will it in Start > Preferences > Monitor Settings. There is a bug when it runs in vmguest - 'Unable to find monitor information' therefore we needed to install x11-xserver-utils to have native xrandr helping detect the monitor information. If you installed vmtools screen will resize to the window size from now on.
- Troubleshooting
sudo lshw -numeric -c video xrandr -q
Installing Network Manager
Install Network Manager this will be around 155Mb but without --no-install-recommends it is only ~10Mb. Then you need to restart X session by logging out and in. You will see NM icon in right bottom corner.
sudo apt-get install network-manager
By default it does not control network interfaces. Network Manager needs configuring after bare LXDE has been installed: Unmanaged_Wired_Network. The nm-system-settings.conf is now called NetworkManager.conf as written below:
Change Network Manager settings Start an LXTerminal session, then issue:
sudo vi /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf
In section [ifupdown] find the line managed=false and change to true and restart NM service:
sudo service network-manager restart
After a short while you should see "Connection established" message above the Network Manager applet tray icon.
Installing vmware tools
Open VM Tools
This project open-vm-tools replaces vmtools distributed with older products. Follow steps below to install
Ubuntu 16.04, 18.04 on Workstation 10.x
sudo apt-get install open-vm-tools* sudo apt-get install open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop open-vm-tools-dkms open-vm-tools-dev
Notes:
- Ubuntu 18.04 - package open-vm-tools-dkms cannot be located, most likely got merged into another one
Other distros
#pre requisites sudo apt-get install autoreconf gcc build-essentials #install git clone https://github.com/vmware/open-vm-tools.git cd open-vm-tools/open-vm-tools sudo autoreconf -i ./configure --without-kernel-modules #requires apt-get install gcc ... and more make sudo make install sudo ldconfig
Check current version
/usr/bin/vmtoolsd --version # eg.VMware Tools daemon, version 10.2.0.1608 (build-7253323)
Obsolete - vmtools
It's not recommend to install vmware-tools' that come with any Vmware hypervisor installation on newer eg. 2016+ operating systems, instead choose open source Open vm tools".
You can initialise an install vmware-tools from ESXi, Vmware Player or Workstation menu. Then copy mounted CD, extract and install the tools.
mkdir ~/vmtools && cp /media/$USER/VMware\ Tools/* ~/vmtools/ && cd ~/vmtools/ sudo tar -xzvf ./VMwareTools-*.tar.gz sudo vmware-tools-distrib/vmware-install.pl #run installation script with all default options vmware-toolbox-cmd timesync enable #enable time sync with hypervisor
Restart X sessions before any mouse or graphic changes take effect. Invoking vm-tools:
/usr/bin/vmware-toolbox-cmd
To enable the advanced features like a guest resolution fit, drag and drop, copy/paste, do one of the followings:
- Manually start /usr/bin/vmware-user
- Log out and log back into your desktop session
- Restart your X session
$ ps -e | grep X 20929 tty7 00:00:20 Xorg sudo kill PID_here_20929 startx &
Installing Virtualbox guest additions
Be sure to install DKMS(Dynamic Kernel Module System) before installing the Linux Guest Additions
sudo apt-get install dkms
In the "Devices" menu in the virtual machine's menu bar, VirtualBox has a handy menu item named "Insert Guest Additions CD image", which mounts the Guest Additions ISO file inside your virtual machine. Then change directory to your CD-ROM and issue following command:
sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run