Gentoo Linux KDE Install

Content:

1. X-Windows

The Xorg X11 X-windows server is the one recommended by Gentoo.

# emerge xorg-x11                                                   (Install it)
# env-update                                       (Update the system variables)
# source /etc/profile
# Xorg -configure                                                 (Configure it)
# nano -w /root/xorg.conf.new                      (Edit the configuration file)
# X -config /root/xorg.conf.new                                        (Test it)
# mv /root/xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf   (Move it to the standard location)
# startx                                                               (Test it)

2. KDE

KDE is a graphical desktop environment for Linux and Unix workstations.

# emerge kdebase-startkde                      (Install the base KDE components)
# emerge kicker kmenuedit                                  (Install the taskbar)
# emerge kate kcontrol knetattach konqueror konsole kpdf    (Install additional)
# env-update; source /etc/profile                  (Update the system variables)
# su <user>                                           (Test it as non-root user)
$ echo "exec startkde" > ~/.xinitrc                        (Configure X startup)
$ source /etc/profile                              (Update the system variables)
$ startx                                                             (Start KDE)
$ exit                                                            (Back to root)
# ls /etc/X11/Sessions                                    (Look for KDE version)
# nano -w /etc/rc.conf                      (Modify XSESSION and DISPLAYMANAGER)
# rc-update add xdm default                      (Set graphical session at boot)
# reboot                                              (Reboot and login as root)

With Control Center modules > System Administration > Login Manager, set the login background picture and the users shown at login.

With Control Center modules > Peripherals > Mouse, select double-click to open files and folders.

With rc-update add lisa default, you can browse SAMBA (and other) servers in konqueror with the prefix lan:/. A quick go in the control center / Internet & Network / Local Network Browsing, tab LISa Daemon allows to specify the usage of eth0 to connecto to the LAN. A SAMBA server can also be browsed with the command xfsamba, after having once done an emerge xfsamba.

Editing /usr/kde/<n.m>/share/config/kdm/kdmrc allows to change some settings, as for example allowing root login.

3. VNC

VNC provides a remote graphical display system. TightVNC is an enhanced version of VNC which is supported by the Gentoo portage system.

# emerge tightvnc                                                   (Install it)
# su <user>                                                         (User setup)
$ vncpasswd                                                       (Set password)
$ vncserver                                                          (Launch it)
$ vncserver -kill :1                                                   (Stop it)
$ nano -w ~/.vnc/xstartup                             (Configure it: startkde &)
$ vncserver                                                            (Test it)
$ vncserver -kill :1                                                   (Stop it)
$ exit                                                            (Back to root)

If the VNC client screen stays gray, call a source /etc/profile before starting the server.

4. Truetype fonts

Add some nice fonts to your system.

# emerge corefonts                                        (Microsoft's TrueType)
# emerge freefonts                            (a collection of free Type1 Fonts)
# emerge sharefonts                             (a collection of TrueType fonts)

Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf to take these fonts into account.

5. FireFox

The Firefox web browser allows fast web browsing. It also provides a better browsing of my TV programme.

# USE="-hal" emerge mozilla-firefox                                 (Install it)

6. FTP

A nice KDE FTP client is Kasablanca.

# emerge kasablanca                                                 (Install it)

Add the program in the K-menu.

7. Acrobat reader

Acrobat reader allows to view PDF files.

# emerge acroread                                                   (Install it)

8. Image viewer

Quick Image Viewer allows to make slideshows.

# emerge qiv                                                        (Install it)

The program can be started from a console window or an SSH connection. In those cases, the display to use has to be defined using the environment variable DISPLAY.

# export DISPLAY=":0.0"                                 (Choose the main screen)
# qiv -amfisd3 <directory>                   (Launch the slideshow, full screen)

You can remotely control your X-terminal with the help of the xautomation tools.

# emerge xautomation                                                (Install it)
# xte 'mousemove 1024 768'                                              (Try it)
# xte 'key q'                                            (Terminate the program)