Ubuntu LXDE Desktop

This is 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 here is to achieve these objectives:

• Use Ubuntu as a base system
• LXDE as light weight desktop environment
• Firefox, Network Manager as only necessary applications

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

Select display manager or use StartX if none available

~$ 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

Install startx if no display managers is available

sudo apt-get install xinit

Start LXDE

startx

Optional. If you have errors in xsession-errors to clear up

sudo apt-get install gtk2-engines-pixbuf

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 replace it with managed=true. Save and quit. Get back to LXTerminal and issue:

sudo service network-manager restart

After a short while you should see "Connection established" message above the Network Manager applet tray icon.

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

Running as VMware Guest

Install VMware tools using ESXi, VM Player or VM Workstation menu. Then copy mounted CD, extract and install tolls.

mkdir ~/vmtools
cp /media/username/* ~/vmtools/
cd ~/vmtools/
tar -xzvf ./VMwareTools-9.6.1-1378637.tar.gz
cd vmware-tools-distrib/

Run installation script with all default options

./vmware-install.pl

You need to restart X sessions before any mouse or graphic changes take effect. Invoking vm-tools:

/usr/bin/vmware-toolbox-cmd

TO enable advanced features rg guest resolution fit, drag and drop, copy/paste:

1. Manually start /usr/bin/vmware-user
2. Log out anf log back into your desktop session
3. Restart your X session

piotr@ubuntu:~/vmtools/vmware-tools-distrib$ ps -e | grep X
20929 tty7     00:00:20 Xorg
sudo kill PID_here_20929
startx &

References

• Lubuntu/Setup
• LXDE in Ubuntu
• Lubuntu/Documentation/MinimalInstall Network Manager section
• How to install Lubuntu Desktop Environment and ONLY the desktop environment?
• LXSession