Ubuntu server 8.04(Hardy Heron) with X
This how-to aims towards installing a Graphical interface on Ubuntu Server 8.04, many believe this to be unnecessary and one should only use the CLI interface, I personally feel that sometime a GUI is preferred and therefor i present you with this how-to that will explain how to set up Gnome on Ubuntu Server.
1. Install clean Ubuntu Server with network enabled.
2. Enter sudo in interactive mode.
$ sudo -i
3. Edit /etc/apt/sources list and put a # before the cd source.
# nano /etc/apt/sources.list
#deb cdrom:[Ubuntu-Server 8.04 _Hardy Heron_ - Release i386 (20080318.1)]/ hardy main restricted
4. update package list and then upgrade your system.
# apt-get update
# apt-get upgrade
5. Disable internal speaker(Optional).
# nano /etc/rc.local
modprobe -r pcspkr
6. Install X with gnome as window manager, you can also use my script for this part, found here: Script
# apt-get install
xorg
gdm
gnome-core
ubuntu-artwork
synaptic
update-manager
gnome-app-install
gnome-menus
gnome-mime-data
gnome-mount
gnome-netstatus-applet
gnome-nettool
gnome-screensaver
gnome-system-monitor
gnome-system-tools
gnome-themes
gnome-utils
gconf-editor
gtk2-engines
language-pack-gnome-en
language-pack-gnome-en-base
network-manager
network-manager-gnome
vino
alacarte
fast-user-switch-applet
deskbar-applet
usplash-theme-ubuntu
file-roller
gparted
firefox
update-notifier
software-properties-gtk
7. Reinstall gnome-applets.
# aptitude install gnome-applets
8. Restart the server.
9. Login and go to System/Preferences/Main Menu and and make following shortcuts visable if not.
Application/Accessories/Archive Manager
Application/System Tools/Configuration Editor
System/Preferences/Control Center
10. Right-Click on the middle icon i the top bar between Firefox and Help, choose Remove from panel.
If you experience graphic glitches in the form of missing titlebar do the following:
- Right-click on the desktop and choose Visual Effects and then
click on Extra, now there will popup a message box stating
Failed to execute child process
“compiz” (No such file or directory)
just click Ok on it and your title bar will return, close desktop properties and your done.
If excluding things like fast-user-switch-applet or deskbar-applet during installation errors like this will occur when logging in for the first time:
The panel encountered a problem while loading
“OAFIID:GNOME_FastUserSwitchApplet”
Do you want to delete the applet from your configuration?
Or:
The panel encountered a problem while loading
“OFAIID:Deskbar_Applet”
Do you want to delete the applet from your configuration?
Just click Remove and they will dissapear and not bother you again.
May 20th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Thanks! A little bit of googling,an dI found exctly what I was looking for! Fingers crossed, I hope your “work in progress” is already complete enough. Kudoz.
May 21st, 2008 at 8:32 am
Yep it is stable enough to use, can be some minor software that is missing to make up the base installation, checking the final things right now but i don’t expect any changes to it. /soulskater
August 8th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Thanks =P
(the comment was too $hort i had to write this d:-)
August 8th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
You’re welcome.
August 25th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Only issue i see so far – unability to add menu items. Its rather strange – checkbioxes are there but clicking em does nothing.
August 25th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Hmm, ok that i have to check out, can’t remember getting that problem. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Thanks for the walk-through it was great and works great.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Thanks, DocChaser.
Hety, i was unable to reproduce your problem myself, it worked out of the box here.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:43 am
It’s work. Thanks
Only when I unplug the monitor, my box alway shutdown immediately after a minute.
Do you have ideas ?
September 9th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
You’re welcome.
Hmm, can’t say that i ever experienced that, check your energy saving functions both in BIOS and in Ubuntu.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
thank you but i have a problem.
i used the script file for installing but when i restarted my machine , it froze with the blank screen. I can do nothing but restart.
Any ideas?
November 14th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Haven’t had that problem, how far into the booting does this happen, is it when it switches to X? try to press CTRL+ALT-BACKSPACE buttons to exit X and see if it continues loading or has it done a complete hang?
June 25th, 2009 at 10:47 am
hi, I install the fedora 10 ,when I log in it ,it show me these error
please help me how to solve it ?Thank you
The panel encountered a problem while loading “OAFIIDeskbar_Applet”.
The panel encountered a problem while loading “OAFIID:GNOME_FastUserSwitchApplet”.
The panel encountered a problem while loading “OAFIID:GNOME_MixerApplet”.
The panel encountered a problem while loading “OAFIID:GNOME_MultiLoadApplet”.
The panel encountered a problem while loading “OAFIID:GNOME_Panel_TrashApplet
June 25th, 2009 at 10:48 am
If you can ,please send the solution to my email.
Thanks for your help.
I look forward your Letter.
June 26th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Hi
Yes that is true, this errors come due to the fact that gnome for some reason auto loads some features not installed, but you can safely ignore these.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:36 am
Good post,This was exactly what I needed to read today! I am sure this has relevance to many of us out there.
January 15th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
I like to boot to CLI and only start the gui when needed. What change can I make for it to work like that?
Thanks for a great howto.
January 16th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Hi, thanks.
To set default runlevel on your system you must edit /etc/inittab
# The default runlevel.
id:5:initdefault:
You’d change the ‘5′ to a ‘3′. Next time you reboot, your system will start in runlevel 3. There will be no display manager running in runlevel 3, because you turned it off. Therefore, runlevel 3 will become text only, and it will be the default. If that’s what you want to do.
I haven’t tested this myself so be careful when doing it.
To start graphical without reboot you should be able to write startx in the CLI.
For more explanation of runlevels se this page:
http://www.debianadmin.com/debian-and-ubuntu-linux-run-levels.html
/Marcus