Thread: freebsd 3.4 and x desktops

  1. #1
    essence of digital xddxogm3's Avatar
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    freebsd 3.4 and x desktops

    how do you select a default x desktop after installation?
    is there a line of code i can input into my shell to generate the option to select this?

    also can i run something on freebsd that is listed as a port for netbsd or openbsd?
    "Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence;
    supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."
    Art of War Sun Tzu

  2. #2
    Registered User Jaqui's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by xviddivxoggmp3
    how do you select a default x desktop after installation?
    is there a line of code i can input into my shell to generate the option to select this?
    if you installed a gui during installation it is already set up with freebsd's preferred default, the command startx will start it.

    if you chose to install only one gui, startx will start it.

    startx-kde
    startx-gnome
    startx-[whichever]
    usually will start the selected gui

    if you will be using gui only, change the default runlevel to 5, this will start the xserver and present a login screen automatically. this will default to last used gui after first login.
    on first login it defaults to the default freebsd gui

    Quote Originally Posted by xviddivxoggmp3
    also can i run something on freebsd that is listed as a port for netbsd or openbsd?
    you should be able to, as long as you have the dependancies installed.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Henager
    If the average user can put a CD in and boot the system and follow the prompts, he can install and use Linux. If he can't do that simple task, he doesn't need to be around technology.

  3. #3
    essence of digital xddxogm3's Avatar
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    startx-kde
    startx-gnome

    both fire error that invalid command.
    i had it install both during the initial installation

    post 500
    woo hoo
    Last edited by xviddivxoggmp3; 09-10-2005 at 01:47 PM.
    "Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence;
    supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."
    Art of War Sun Tzu

  4. #4
    Registered User Jaqui's Avatar
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    hmm start-kde
    start-gnome

    the syntax could be different with bsd.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Henager
    If the average user can put a CD in and boot the system and follow the prompts, he can install and use Linux. If he can't do that simple task, he doesn't need to be around technology.

  5. #5
    essence of digital xddxogm3's Avatar
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    startx
    does get a gui running, but it doesn't look anything like kde or gnome.
    and yes, some of the syntax is different then linux.
    the majority of it is the same, but it does have some quirky differences.
    the following is what i have tried so far.
    installed freebsd from the 3 cd pack.
    i have choosen to install kde and gnome with the freebsd pack.
    i have also tried to install kde and gnome from iso images downloaded from
    the gnome and kde sites. the first way said invalid commands when i attempted to do the following

    startx -gnome
    startx -kde
    startx-gnome
    startx-kde
    startx gnome
    startx kde

    according to the man pages one of these should have worked

    i have also received an error when trying the second option.
    when installing from the gnome disc i acquired from gnome site it runs up until it gets to the xserver, then it fires xserver install error.

    question: if startx alone brings up an older gui, doesn't that mean that my xserver was install correctly during the initial os install? i want to avoid reinstalling the os again, but i guess i can if need be.

    if anyone can help it would be appreciated. also i just noticed this is in the general discussion. I thought i posted this in the tech forum. can a moderator please move this post for me. thanks.
    Last edited by xviddivxoggmp3; 09-10-2005 at 01:49 PM.
    "Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence;
    supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."
    Art of War Sun Tzu

  6. #6
    Registered User Jaqui's Avatar
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    you can try editing the startx script, as root naturally.
    specify which gui you want to run.

    I would first try changing to runlevel 5 after logging in as root.
    this should give you an xserver login screen and allow the choice of gui.
    to switch runlevels, it's usually:
    Code:
     init 5
    then you can see if kde and gnome are working at all, before editing the startx bash script to pick the default gui
    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Henager
    If the average user can put a CD in and boot the system and follow the prompts, he can install and use Linux. If he can't do that simple task, he doesn't need to be around technology.

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    I tried to install freebsd once -- I tried for a week and never got it to work. So I reformatted the hard drive and installed Fedora (formerally Red Hat) in just a few hours. My FreeBSD book is now a lamp stand that is collecting dust.

  8. #8
    essence of digital xddxogm3's Avatar
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    i have had redhat 8 & 9, fedora core 3 & 4, slackware 9 & 10, debian, gnopix, and a few others i can not remember the name of on my system before this.
    i'm actually trying to get a three way boot.
    opendos, freebsd, and xp pro
    i need to make the transition from linux to Unix.
    I have been unable to find a job that accepts Linux as Unix experience.
    I have everything on freebsd working except the gui.
    i can code with all the utilities, i can network, etc.
    but i want the gui for some operations.
    another question i have.
    i wanted to install fluxbox onto freebsd, but it says it only has ports for netbsd and openbsd. does either one of these ports work on freebsd?
    "Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence;
    supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."
    Art of War Sun Tzu

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