Linux admins spend most of their time on working in a terminal; there are some who like to work on GUI instead of a terminal. By default, CentOS 7 installed as the minimal server, and user intervention is required to change the installation type. This guide will help you to install GUI on CentOS 7 on the top of the minimal server installation.
Before installing GUI, make a Local Yum Repository to avoid downloading packages from the internet.
READ: How to Configure YUM repository on CentOS 7 / RHEL 7
Optional: Run the following command to list down the available package groups for CentOS 7.
# yum group list
Output:
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror There is no installed groups file. Maybe run: yum groups mark convert (see man yum) Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile Available Environment Groups: Minimal Install Compute Node Infrastructure Server File and Print Server Basic Web Server Virtualization Host Server with GUI GNOME Desktop KDE Plasma Workspaces Development and Creative Workstation Available Groups: Compatibility Libraries Console Internet Tools Development Tools Graphical Administration Tools Legacy UNIX Compatibility Scientific Support Security Tools Smart Card Support System Administration Tools System Management Done
Step 1: Install Gnome GUI packages using the YUM command.
CentOS 7:
# yum groupinstall "GNOME Desktop" "Graphical Administration Tools"
RHEL 7:
# yum groupinstall "Server with GUI"
Step 2: Enable GUI on system startup. In CentOS 7 / RHEL 7, systemd uses “targets” instead of runlevel. The /etc/inittab file is no more used to change run levels. So, issue the following command to enable the GUI on system start.
# ln -sf /lib/systemd/system/runlevel5.target /etc/systemd/system/default.target
Step 3: Reboot the machine to start the server in the graphical mode.
# reboot
License Agreement:
Accept the license by clicking on the “LICENSE INFORMATION“.
Tick mark the “I accept the license agreement” and click on “Done“.
Click on “FINISH CONFIGURATION” to complete the setup.
You may need to do some post configuration tasks, like creating first user (local account), language, etc.
Then finally you will get the desktop.
That’s All. You have successfully installed GUI on CentOS 7 / RHEL 7.
