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
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 intercaces. 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.
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:
- Manually start /usr/bin/vmware-user
- Log out anf log back into your desktop session
- 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 &