How to Install GUI on Debian
Debian offers a variety of graphical environments, including full-featured desktop environments, lighter environments, and powerful window managers. In terms of look, functionality, and usability, the Debian desktop environment provides a coherent suite of applications. GNOME is the default desktop environment in Debian, but other environments are available too, such as KDE Plasma, XFCE, LXDE, and MATE. We’ll now install the desktop for your Debian system.
For Debian systems to be registered with VPSie, you need to create a VPSie account if you don’t have one already.
First we are going to update our system by running the following command:
# apt-get update && apt-get upgrade -y
Next, install the desktop environment:
# sudo apt -y install task-gnome-desktop
If you have successfully installed the desktop environment, run the following command to set a graphical login.
# sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
We will now commend a line in the file gdm-password. Run the following command to open it and comment(add # infront of the line) the line.
# sudo nano /etc/pam.d/gdm-password
We are ready to use the GUI now. Do a system reboot to finish the process:
# sudo reboot
Your Debian instance is configured with GNOME desktop, which has successfully installed, Explore it. It is our hope that you have enjoyed this article.
FAQ
A GUI, or Graphical User Interface, is a visual interface that allows users to interact with their computer using icons, buttons, and windows, rather than typing commands in a terminal. A GUI makes it easier for users to navigate and use their computer, especially for those who are not familiar with the command line.
Debian is a Linux distribution that is known for its stability and efficiency, but it does not come with a GUI installed by default. To install a GUI on Debian, you’ll need to first update and upgrade the system packages, then install a desktop environment or a window manager. Some popular desktop environments include GNOME, KDE, and XFCE, while window managers like Openbox and Fluxbox are lighter and faster alternatives.
To update and upgrade system packages on Debian, you can use the following commands in the terminal:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
The first command updates the package list from the repositories, while the second command installs the latest available versions of the packages on your system.
To install a desktop environment on Debian, you can use the following command in the terminal:
sudo apt-get install task-desktop
This command will install the default desktop environment, which is GNOME. If you want to install a different desktop environment, you can replace task-desktop with the name of the desktop environment you want to install, such as task-kde-desktop for KDE or task-xfce-desktop for XFCE.
To install a window manager on Debian, you can use the following command in the terminal:
sudo apt-get install <window-manager>
Replace <window-manager> with the name of the window manager you want to install, such as openbox or fluxbox.
To switch between desktop environments or window managers on Debian, you’ll need to log out of your current session and select the new environment or manager from the login screen. The login screen should show a list of available desktop environments or window managers that you can choose from.
To uninstall a desktop environment or window manager on Debian, you can use the following command in the terminal:
sudo apt-get remove <desktop-environment-or-window-manager>
Replace <desktop-environment-or-window-manager> with the name of the environment or manager you want to uninstall. This command will remove the packages associated with the environment or manager, but it will not remove any configuration files or user data.
It depends on your needs and preferences. If you’re comfortable using the command line and don’t need graphical applications, then you can use Debian without a GUI. However, if you prefer a visual interface or need to use graphical applications, then installing a GUI can be helpful.
