Install Cinnamon Desktop Environment on Rocky Linux 8 with Easy Steps

This guide, brought to you by Orcacore, will walk you through the process of how to Install Cinnamon Desktop Environment on Rocky Linux 8. Cinnamon is a free and open-source desktop environment designed for the X Window System. It builds upon GNOME 3 but embraces traditional desktop interface conventions, offering a familiar and user-friendly experience. While Cinnamon is the primary desktop environment for Linux Mint, it’s also available as an optional choice for various other Linux distributions and Unix-like operating systems.

Before we begin, ensure you have a non-root user account with sudo privileges on your Rocky Linux 8 server. If you haven’t already, you can follow our guide on Initial Server Setup with Rocky Linux 8 to configure this. This setup is crucial for performing the installation steps safely and efficiently. Let’s dive into the steps required to Install Cinnamon Desktop Environment on Rocky Linux 8.

1. Set up Cinnamon on Rocky Linux 8

The following steps outline the process of preparing your Rocky Linux 8 system for the Cinnamon desktop environment.

Add Epel Repository on Rocky Linux 8

The Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL) repository provides additional packages not included in the base Rocky Linux 8 distribution. To add the EPEL repository, execute the following command:

sudo dnf install epel-release -y

Enable PowerTools on Rocky Linux 8

The PowerTools repository contains development and system administration tools. Enable it using the following command:

sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools

Once enabled, update the system packages:

sudo dnf update -y

Add Cinnamon Repository on Rocky Linux 8

The Cinnamon repository isn’t included in the default Rocky Linux repositories. You’ll need to enable community-provided repositories to access the Cinnamon packages. The original article suggests using COPR repositories.

# sudo dnf copr enable stenstorp/cinnamon -y
# sudo dnf copr enable stenstorp/lightdm -y
# sudo dnf copr enable stenstorp/icon-themes -y

After enabling the COPR repositories, update your system:

sudo dnf update -y

Installing Cinnamon Desktop on Rocky Linux 8

Now you can install the Cinnamon desktop environment and its associated packages using the following command:

sudo dnf install cinnamon gnome-terminal gnome-system-monitor mint-themes mint-y-theme mint-*-icons -y

This command installs the core Cinnamon packages, the GNOME terminal and system monitor, and various Mint themes and icons to provide a visually appealing and consistent desktop experience.

Install LightDM Display Manager on Rocky Linux 8

The article recommends using LightDM as the display manager, as it can avoid potential issues with the default GDM (GNOME Display Manager). This is especially important for command-line servers. Install LightDM with the following command:

sudo dnf install lightdm-settings slick-greeter-cinnamon -y

Next, disable GDM and enable LightDM:

# sudo systemctl disable gdm
# sudo systemctl enable lightdm

If you are using a command-line server, set the default target to the graphical user interface:

sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target

Finally, reboot your server:

sudo reboot

2. Access Cinnamon Desktop Environment

After the reboot, you should be presented with the LightDM login screen. Select your user account and choose "Cinnamon" from the session options (usually accessible by clicking on an icon near the username field). This will log you into the Cinnamon desktop environment.

You should now have the Cinnamon Desktop user interface running on your Rocky Linux 8 desktop, offering a familiar and intuitive experience.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to Install Cinnamon Desktop Environment on Rocky Linux 8. Cinnamon provides a user-friendly and efficient desktop environment that is easy to navigate. It’s a great choice for users who prefer a traditional desktop experience with a taskbar, start menu, and system tray.

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Alternative Solutions for Installing Cinnamon on Rocky Linux 8

While the COPR repository method described above works, there are alternative approaches to Install Cinnamon Desktop Environment on Rocky Linux 8, which might be preferable depending on your specific needs and risk tolerance. It is important to be aware that enabling third-party repositories may introduce instability or security risks, so make sure that any repository you use is trustworthy and well-maintained.

Alternative 1: Using a Different COPR Repository or a Dedicated Repository

Explanation:

The original article uses specific COPR repositories (stenstorp). However, COPR repositories can be unreliable and might not always be up-to-date. A potentially better approach is to search for alternative, well-maintained COPR repositories, or if available, a dedicated repository specifically created for Cinnamon on Rocky Linux 8.

Before proceeding, thoroughly research any repository before adding it to your system. Check the repository’s maintainer, the frequency of updates, and user feedback. Look for repositories with a history of providing stable and secure packages.

Code Example:

This example shows how to search for available COPR repositories using dnf copr search.

sudo dnf copr search cinnamon

This command will list available COPR repositories related to Cinnamon. Carefully evaluate the results and choose a repository that appears reliable. Then, enable the selected repository (replace username/repository with the actual repository name):

sudo dnf copr enable username/repository -y

After enabling the chosen repository, proceed with the installation steps outlined in the original article, starting with the sudo dnf update -y command. Remember to verify that the packages you are installing are from the newly added repository.

Alternative 2: Building from Source (Advanced)

Explanation:

This method is significantly more complex and time-consuming but provides the greatest control over the installation process. It involves downloading the source code for Cinnamon and its dependencies and compiling them directly on your Rocky Linux 8 system.

Caution: This approach requires significant technical expertise and can be prone to errors. It is only recommended for experienced Linux users who are comfortable with compiling software from source. Moreover, managing dependencies can be challenging.

Steps (Outline):

Install Development Tools: Ensure you have the necessary development tools installed, including a C compiler (gcc), make, and other build tools.
```
sudo dnf groupinstall "Development Tools"
```
Download Source Code: Obtain the source code for Cinnamon and its dependencies (e.g., muffin, nemo, cinnamon-control-center, etc.) from the official Cinnamon GitHub repository or other reliable sources.
Install Dependencies: This is the most challenging part. You’ll need to identify and install all the required dependencies for each component. This often involves researching error messages and manually installing missing packages. Use dnf search to find the necessary packages.
Configure and Compile: For each component, navigate to the source code directory and run the configuration script (usually ./configure). Then, compile the code using make.
Install: Install the compiled code using sudo make install.
Configure Display Manager: As in the original article, you’ll likely need to configure LightDM as the display manager.

Code Example (Illustrative – Highly Simplified):

This example shows a very simplified outline of the steps involved in building Cinnamon from source. In reality, the process is significantly more complex and requires detailed knowledge of the build system and dependencies.

# Download the Cinnamon source code (replace with the actual download URL)
wget https://example.com/cinnamon-source.tar.gz
tar -xzf cinnamon-source.tar.gz
cd cinnamon-source

# Configure (this step often requires specifying paths and options)
./configure

# Compile
make

# Install (requires root privileges)
sudo make install

Important Considerations for Building from Source:

Dependencies: Managing dependencies is the biggest hurdle. You’ll need to carefully track down and install all required libraries and tools.
Compatibility: Ensure that the Cinnamon version you are building is compatible with your Rocky Linux 8 system and its libraries.
Maintenance: You’ll be responsible for manually updating and maintaining the Cinnamon installation.
Time and Effort: Building from source is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process.

These alternative methods offer different approaches to Install Cinnamon Desktop Environment on Rocky Linux 8. Choose the method that best suits your technical skills and requirements. Remember to prioritize security and stability when selecting repositories or building from source.