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* word changes
* sentence simplification
* remove most (not all) passive voice
* sentence style capitalization on the headers
* "we" to "you" in most cases
* replace conjunctions with words
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Expand Up @@ -8,100 +8,101 @@ tags:
- desktop
---

# XFCE Desktop Environment
# XFCE desktop environment

The XFCE desktop environment was created as a fork of the Common Desktop Environment (CDE). XFCE embodies the traditional Unix philosophy of modularity and re-usability. XFCE can be installed on almost any version of Linux, including Rocky Linux.
The XFCE desktop environment, created as a fork of the Common Desktop Environment (CDE), embodies the traditional Unix philosophy of modularity and re-usability. You can install XFCE on almost any version of Linux, including Rocky Linux.

It is also one of the easiest desktop environments to combine with alternate window managers, such as awesome or i3. This procedure, however is designed to get you up and running with Rocky Linux using a more typical XFCE installation.
It is also one of the most accessible desktop environments to combine with alternate window managers, such as Awesome or i3. This procedure, however, will get you up and running with Rocky Linux and a more typical XFCE installation.

## Prerequisites

* A Workstation or Laptop
* A Workstation or notebook
* A desire to run XFCE as your desktop instead of the default GNOME desktop

=== "9"

## 9: Introduction

The development team for Rocky Linux 9 have made installing XFCE, and other popular desktop environments, easy by including live images. A live image, for those that may not know what that is, is a bootable image that will load the OS without installation. Once loaded, you have the option to install it to your machine's disk drive and use it.
The development team for Rocky Linux 9 has made installing XFCE, and other popular desktop environments, uncomplicated by including live images. For those that might not know what that is, a live image is a bootable image that will load the OS without installation. When loaded, you have the option to install it to your machine's disk drive and use it.

## 9: Get, Verify, and Write the XFCE Live Image
## 9: Get, verify, and write the XFCE live image

Prior to installation, the first step is to download the live image and write that to a DVD or a USB thumb drive. As stated earlier, the image will be bootable, just like any other installation media for Linux. You can find the latest XFCE image in the download section for Rocky Linux 9 [live images](https://dl.rockylinux.org/pub/rocky/9.2/live/x86_64/).
Note that this particular link assumes x86_64 is your processor's architecture.
Prior to installation, the first step is to download the live image and write that to a DVD or a USB thumb drive. As stated earlier, the image will be bootable, just like any other installation media for Linux. You can find the latest XFCE image in the download section for Rocky Linux 9 [live images](https://dl.rockylinux.org/pub/rocky/9.2/live/x86_64/). Note that this particular link assumes x86_64 is your processor's architecture.

As of this writing, you can use either x86_64 or aarch64 architectures for this live image. Download both the live image and checksum files.
As of this writing, you can use x86_64 or aarch64 architectures for this live image. Download the live image and checksum files.

Now verify the image with the CHECKSUM file using the following
(note this is an example! Make sure your image name and CHECKSUM files match):
Verify the image with the CHECKSUM file with the following

(note this is an example! Ensure your image name and CHECKSUM files match):

```
sha256sum -c CHECKSUM --ignore-missing Rocky-9-XFCE-x86_64-latest.iso.CHECKSUM
```

If all goes well, you should see this message:
If all goes well, you will see this message:

```
Rocky-9-XFCE-x86_64-latest.iso: OK
```

If the checksum for the file returns OK, you are now ready to write your ISO image to your media. This procedure is different depending on the OS you are using, the media, and the tools. We are assuming here that you know how to write the image to your media.
If the checksum for the file returns OK, you are now ready to write your ISO image to your media. This procedure differs depending on the OS, the media, and the tools. We are assuming here that you know how to write the image to your media.

## 9: Booting

This again is different by machine, BIOS, OS, etc. You'll need to make sure that your machine is set to boot to whatever your media is (DVD or USB) as the first boot device. You should be presented with this screen if you are successful:
This again is different by machine, BIOS, OS, and so on. You will need to ensure that your machine is set to boot to whatever your media is (DVD or USB) as the first boot device. This screen will show if you are successful:

![xfce_boot](images/xfce_boot.png)

If so, you are on your way! If you want to test the media, you can select that option first, or you can simply type **S** to **Start Rocky Linux XFCE 9.0**.
If so, you are on your way! If you want to test the media, you can enter that option first, or you can enter **S** to **Start Rocky Linux XFCE 9.0**.

Remember, this is a live image. It is going to take some time to boot to the first screen. Do not panic, just wait! When the live image boots, you will see this screen:

Remember, this is a live image, so it's going to take a bit of time to boot to the first screen. Don't panic, just wait! Once the live image is booted up, you should see this screen:

![xfce_install](images/xfce_install.png)

## 9: Installing XFCE

At this point, you can use the XFCE environment and see if you like it. Once you've decided that you would like to use it permanently, double-click the option to Install to Hard Drive.
At this point, you can use the XFCE environment. When you decide to use it permanently, double-click the option to Install to Hard Drive.

This will start a pretty familiar installation process for those who have installed Rocky Linux before. The first screen will be to select your default language:
This will start a pretty familiar installation process for those who have installed Rocky Linux before. The first screen will allow the selection your default language:

![xfce_language](images/xfce_language.png)

The next screen will have a number of things that you need to either verify or change. The options are numbered for reference:
The next screen will have some things that you need to verify or change. The options are numbered for reference:

![xfce_install2](images/xfce_install_2.png)

1. **Keyboard** - Take a look at this option and make sure that it matches up to the keyboard layout that you use.
2. **Time & Date** - Make sure this matches up to your time zone.
3. **Installation Destination** - You'll need to click into this option, even if it is just to accept what is already there.
4. **Network & Host Name** - Verify that you have what you want here. As long as the network is enabled, you can always change this later if you need to.
5. **Root Password** - Go ahead and set a root password. Remember to save this somewhere safe (password manager), particularly if it isn't something you will be using often.
6. **User Creation** - Definitely create at least one user. If you want the user to have administrative rights, remember to set this option when creating the user.
7. **Begin Installation** - Once all of the settings have been set or verified, go ahead and click this option.
1. **Keyboard** - Ensure that it matches up to the keyboard layout that you use.
2. **Time & Date** - Ensure this matches up to your time zone.
3. **Installation Destination** - You will need to click into this option, even if it is just to accept what is already there.
4. **Network & Host Name** - Verify that you have what you want here. Provided the network is enabled, you can always change this later if you need to.
5. **Root Password** - Set a root password. Remember to save this somewhere safe (password manager).
6. **User Creation** - Create at least one user. If you want the user to have administrative rights, set this option when creating the user.
7. **Begin Installation** - When completed and verified, click this option.

Once you do step 7, the installation process should start installing packages, as in the screenshot below:
When you do step 7, the installation process will start installing packages, shown in this screenshot:

![xfce_install3](images/xfce_install_3.png)

After the installation to the hard drive is complete, you'll be faced with the following screen:
After the installation to the hard drive is complete, you will see the following screen:

![xfce_install_final](images/xfce_install_final.png)

Go ahead and click **Finish Installation**.
Click **Finish Installation**.

When you've done this, it will take you back to the live image screen. Reboot your machine and remove the boot media you used for the XFCE install.
When you have done this, it will take you back to the live image screen. Reboot your machine and remove the boot media you used for the XFCE install.

Next you will get a login screen with the user you created above. Go ahead and enter your password, which will get you to the XFCE desktop:
Next you will get a login screen with the user you created above. Enter your password, which will get you to the XFCE desktop:

![xfce_desktop](images/xfce_desktop.png)

=== "8"

## 8: Install Rocky Linux Minimal
## 8: Install Rocky Linux minimal

!!! note

Throughout this section, you will either need to be the root user or be able to sudo to elevate your privileges.
Throughout this section, you will either need to be the root user or be able to `sudo` to elevate your privileges.

When installing Rocky Linux, we used the following sets of packages:

Expand All @@ -110,25 +111,25 @@ It is also one of the easiest desktop environments to combine with alternate win

## 8: Run System Update

First, run the server update command to let the system rebuild the repository cache, so that it could recognize the packages available in that.
First, run the server update command. The system will rebuild the repository cache. In this way, the system cab recognize the packages available.

```
dnf update
```

## 8: Enabling Repositories
## 8: Enabling repositories

We need the unofficial repository for XFCE in the EPEL repository, to run on Rocky 8.x versions.
You need the unofficial repository for XFCE in the EPEL repository, to run on Rocky 8.x versions.

Enable this repository by entering:

```
dnf install epel-release
```

And answer 'Y' to install it.
Answer 'Y' to install it.

You also need the Powertools and lightdm repositories. Go ahead and enable those now:
You also need the Powertools and lightdm repositories. Enable those now:

```
dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools
Expand All @@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ It is also one of the easiest desktop environments to combine with alternate win

Again, you will be presented with a warning message about the repository. Go ahead and answer `Y` to the prompt.

## 8: Check The Available Environments and Tools in the Group
## 8: Check the available environments and tools in the group

Now that the repositories are enabled, run the following commands to check everything.

Expand All @@ -163,17 +164,17 @@ It is also one of the easiest desktop environments to combine with alternate win
powertools Rocky Linux 8 - PowerTools
```

Next run the following command to check for XFCE:
Run the following command to check for XFCE:

```
dnf grouplist
```

You should see "Xfce" at the bottom of the listing.

Go ahead and run `dnf update` one more time to make sure all of the enabled repositories are read into the system.
Run `dnf update` one more time to ensure all of the enabled repositories read into the system.

## 8: Installing Packages
## 8: Installing packages

To install XFCE, run:

Expand All @@ -187,21 +188,21 @@ It is also one of the easiest desktop environments to combine with alternate win
dnf install lightdm
```

## 8: Final Steps
## 8: Final steps

We need to disable `gdm`, which gets added and enabled during *dnf groupinstall "xfce"*:
You need to disable `gdm`, which gets added and enabled during *dnf groupinstall "xfce"*:

```
systemctl disable gdm
```

Now we can enable *lightdm*:
Now you can enable *lightdm*:

```
systemctl enable lightdm
```

We need to tell the system after booting use only the graphical user interface, so for that set the default target system to the GUI interface:
You need to tell the system after booting to use only the graphical user interface. Set the default target system to the GUI interface:

```
systemctl set-default graphical.target
Expand All @@ -217,4 +218,4 @@ It is also one of the easiest desktop environments to combine with alternate win

## Conclusion

XFCE is a light environment with simple interface. It is an alternative to the default GNOME desktop on Rocky Linux. If you are running Rocky Linux 9, the developers have created a handy live image that speeds up the installation process.
XFCE is a light environment with a simplistic interface. It is an alternative to the default GNOME desktop on Rocky Linux. If you are running Rocky Linux 9, the developers have created a handy live image that speeds up the installation process.

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