Install Gnome GUI on AlmaLinux 8 | Easy Steps

This guide is designed to walk you through the process of How To Install Gnome GUI on AlmaLinux 8. GNOME is a prominent free and open-source desktop environment utilized across various Linux operating systems. The Linux desktop environment encompasses everything you visually interact with on your screen.

The GNOME Desktop Environment boasts a streamlined, modern, and highly customizable interface prioritized for simplicity and ease of use. Key features of GNOME include:

User-Friendly Interface: GNOME offers an intuitive and clean design, making it easy for users of all levels to navigate.
Customization: Extensive options are available to tailor the desktop to your preferences, including themes, extensions, and settings.
Modern Design: GNOME embraces a contemporary look and feel, providing a visually appealing and engaging user experience.
Accessibility: GNOME prioritizes accessibility features, making it suitable for users with diverse needs.
Extensibility: The GNOME Shell Extensions provide a way to customize and extend the functionality of the desktop environment.
Integrated Applications: GNOME comes with a suite of integrated applications for common tasks such as file management, web browsing, and document editing.

The install Gnome GUI on AlmaLinux 8 process is simplified by leveraging the Server with GUI group environment. The following steps, suitable for the Orcacore website reader, will guide you through the installation.

Before you begin to install Gnome GUI on AlmaLinux 8, ensure you’re logged into your server as a non-root user with sudo privileges. If you need assistance with this, refer to our guide on Initial Server Setup with AlmaLinux 8.

Follow the subsequent steps to search for the available environment package and initiate the Gnome installation.

Steps To Install Gnome GUI on AlmaLinux 8

Step 1 – Search For the Server with GUI on AlmaLinux 8

First, update your local package index using the following command:

sudo dnf update -y

By default, the packages required to install the Gnome Desktop environment are readily available in the default AlmaLinux repository.

To discover the available groups, execute the following command:

sudo dnf group list

**<span><mark>Output</mark></span>**
Available Environment Groups:
<mark><strong>   Server with GUI
</strong></mark>   Server
   Workstation
   Virtualization Host
   Custom Operating System
...

The output presents a list of installable groups for your Linux system. The "Server with GUI" group is the key to installing the stable version of Gnome on your server.

Step 2 – Install Server With GUI Package on AlmaLinux 8

Now, simply run the command below to install Gnome GUI on AlmaLinux 8:

sudo dnf groupinstall "Server with GUI"

This process may take some time to complete, depending on your network speed and system resources.

Step 3 – Set Graphical Interface on AlmaLinux 8

Next, you need to configure the system to boot into the graphical interface instead of the command-line interface. Use the following command for this:

sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target

**<span><mark>Output</mark></span>**
Removed /etc/systemd/system/default.target.
Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/default.target → /usr/lib/systemd/system/graphical.target.

Finally, reboot your server to access the Gnome graphical login screen instead of the command line.

reboot

That’s all there is to it!

Conclusion

You have successfully learned to install Gnome GUI on AlmaLinux 8. You can now utilize the desktop environment and visualize everything on your screen. Setting up the GNOME Desktop on AlmaLinux 8 is a straightforward procedure that equips your system with a potent and user-friendly graphical environment. GNOME’s comprehensive features and customization capabilities render it an excellent choice for both productivity and general usage.

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Alternative Solutions for Installing Gnome GUI on AlmaLinux 8

While using the "Server with GUI" group is a convenient and straightforward approach, there are alternative methods to achieve the same result, offering more granular control or catering to specific needs. Here are two alternative solutions:

Solution 1: Installing the Minimal GNOME Desktop Environment

This approach allows you to install a base GNOME desktop environment and then add specific packages as needed. It gives you more control over what gets installed, potentially resulting in a leaner system.

Step 1: Install the Minimal GNOME Group

Instead of "Server with GUI", install the "GNOME Desktop" group, and the "GNOME" group. This will install the core GNOME components.

sudo dnf groupinstall "GNOME Desktop" "GNOME"

Step 2: Set Graphical Target

As before, set the graphical target as the default.

sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target

Step 3: Install Additional Packages (Optional)

After rebooting, you’ll have a minimal GNOME desktop. You can then install additional packages based on your requirements. For example, to install common utilities like gnome-terminal and nautilus (the file manager), use:

sudo dnf install gnome-terminal nautilus

This method is advantageous if you want to customize your GNOME installation precisely. It avoids installing unnecessary packages that might come with the "Server with GUI" group.

Solution 2: Using Tasksel (Similar to Debian/Ubuntu)

Although AlmaLinux doesn’t natively use tasksel like Debian-based systems, you can achieve a similar outcome by manually installing the relevant packages that tasksel would typically install for a desktop environment. This approach involves identifying the key packages and installing them directly.

Step 1: Identify Required Packages

First, we need to identify the core packages that make up a functional GNOME desktop environment. This includes the GNOME core, display manager, and essential utilities. While there’s no single command to list all these packages explicitly, we can infer them from the "GNOME Desktop" group and common practices. Key packages include:

gnome-shell: The core GNOME interface.
gdm: The GNOME Display Manager (login screen).
nautilus: The file manager.
gnome-terminal: The terminal emulator.
gnome-control-center: System settings.
mutter: The GNOME window manager.

Step 2: Install the Packages

Install these packages using dnf:

sudo dnf install gnome-shell gdm nautilus gnome-terminal gnome-control-center mutter

Step 3: Enable and Start GDM

Enable and start the GDM service to manage the graphical login:

sudo systemctl enable gdm
sudo systemctl start gdm

Step 4: Set Graphical Target (if not already set)

If you haven’t already, set the graphical target:

sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target

Step 5: Reboot

Reboot your system to boot into the GNOME desktop environment.

reboot

This method requires a deeper understanding of the packages involved but offers fine-grained control over the installation process. It’s particularly useful if you’re familiar with how desktop environments are structured and want to customize your installation extensively. It also might be useful if you have specific troubleshooting to do.