How To Install FreeBSD With XFCE 4 [2021] reddit / freebsd ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nexenta81 · 2021-03-18 11:05 Hi friends, here is another guide on how to [**install FreeBSD with XFCE 4**](https://leonardcucos.com/how-to-install-freebsd-with- xfce-4-2021/) desktop environment. This XFCE 4 guide uses a different method than the *desktop-manager installation* used in my previous [**FreeBSD with KDE PLasma 5**](https://leonardcucos.com/how-to-install-freebsd-with-kde- plasma-5-2021/) post. Any advice on how I can improve it further is highly appreciated \[even the harsh ones\] :-) This guide is geared more towards FreeBSD beginner users, but any feedback from the more advanced users is highly appreciated. *And before you decide to take that flame-thrower out, please note that my website is clear of ads, and my sole intention is to bring my humble contribution to the FreeBSD community.* ***UPDATE:*** I made some changes to the initial FreeBSD with XFCE 4 installation guide and I included all your awesome suggestions in this post in it \[with credit to the community\]. I also expanded the guide to include a full FreeBSD installation before installing and configuring XFCE, just to be easier to follow by the new FreeBSD users. Again, **thanks a lot for the tips and support!** Stay safe. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ranadoo31 · 2021-03-18 11:32 >DBUS and HAL (HAL Daemon) are services required by the X server and other programs related to X (XFCE, Gnome, KDE, etc.). X does not require HAL and I'm not sure any of those others do. It's also questionable if all those need DBUS either, like XFCE, but I could be wrong with the others. If you're only editing one line, why install nano at all? Just use vi. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nexenta81 · 2021-03-18 11:41 Thanks for the feedback - I appreciate it! I get a black screen if I run Xorg without a HAL daemon. Still intrigued on why but will keep investigating. On the nano, indeed. Easier to just vi, which is there by default. I will change it in the guide. Cheers! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- stillcantpickaname · 2021-03-18 19:54 Option "AutoAddDevices" "false" disables hal for the x-server, hal can still be needed in some cases but it's been depreciated. You'll probably need to install keyboard/mouse drivers, and/or evdev ---------------------------------------------------------------------- kyleW_ne · 2021-03-19 01:59 Great article! Please don't take offense, but I prefer to start xfce4 with startx and not use a login manager like slim. This way if I am updating to a new version of FreeBSD and my graphics drivers are broken I still get shell access. Other than that great contribution to the community! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nexenta81 · 2021-03-19 02:38 Thank you! And there is no offense. Your reply is constructive criticism and is always welcome :D I will add a note with this comment in the article - it is a good point! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nexenta81 · 2021-03-19 02:41 This is a good tip! I had some issues in the past (2 years ago) when not using HAL, but things might have changed since. I will check it out and update the guide! Thanks a lot for your reply! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- waitman · 2021-03-19 03:59 You should consider adding 'xfce-goodies'. ​ OPTIONS_DEFAULT= ARCHIVE BATTERY CALCULATOR CLIPMAN CPUGRAPH DASHBOARD \ DATETIME DICTIONARY DISKPERF FSGUARD GENMON GIGOLO \ MAILWATCH MEDIATAGS MENULIBRE MOUNT NETLOAD PAROLE \ POWERMANAGER RISTRETTO SCREENSAVER SCREENSHOOTER \ SMARTBOOKMARK STOPWATCH SYSTEMLOAD TASKMANAGER TERMINAL \ THEMES TIMEOUT TIMER VCS VERVE WAVELAN WEATHER WHISKERMENU \ XFBURN XKB ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nexenta81 · 2021-03-19 04:16 Oh, that's cool man! Awesome tip! Will add it once I get home from work. I was initially shy of posting my articles here \[not knowing how the community will react\], but I can say, FreeBSD community truly impresses me every day - to say the least! Thanks a lot for this tip! Guide updated! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- procrastinator7000 · 2021-03-19 06:42 > Just use vi. Just shave your neck. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- goldfluss · 2021-03-19 08:10 Default should be ee (easy editor) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- stillcantpickaname · 2021-03-19 09:10 to be a little more clear, it doesn't disable hal. it disables the probe that causes that behavior. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nexenta81 · 2021-03-19 09:17 Cool tip! I will add this to my guide. Thanks a lot! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- goldfluss · 2021-03-19 10:00 Thanks for your work ! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2021-03-19 10:10 [deleted] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nexenta81 · 2021-03-19 10:35 Your comment is much appreciated! :-) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HamKat473 · 2021-03-19 13:22 If you're looking for an editor with similar simplicity to nano, ee (Easy Editor) is included in the base install. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nexenta81 · 2021-03-19 14:16 Thank you for your reply - appreciate it! Indeed. ee and vi are installed by default on FreeBSD. However, for new users is a bit tough to get their head around both - I used them instead nano. Another, more technical reason is that is a bit challenging to explain both ee and vi in a post without becoming a tutorial :-) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- timault84 · 2021-03-22 23:52 Thank you for sharing this article. I myself have never used freeBSD. I have been a linux user for many years, and am starting to reconsider my options. Reading your article has so shown me that it's an easier install than I was expecting. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nexenta81 · 2021-03-23 04:17 Thank you for your kind words - is highly appreciated! Yes, been a Linux user for many years too and when I saw how easy is to get FreeBSD up and running, I had to tell the world so I started a blog. The FreeBSD team is looking more into desktop usage for the OS starting with Release 13 so things will happen for FreeBSD in the near future :D ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nickbernstein · 2021-03-24 19:32 Just in case you weren't aware: Ctrl-alt-F# key will change your screen to vty#. If your x ever blows up, hit something like ctrl- alt-F1 and you'll get to the first virtual console port. I always forget if x runs on 7 or 9, so I end up just going through the f keys to get back to it. Nothing against startx, but if you wanted a login manager, but also wanted to retain the ability to get to a command prompt, that's how I've always done it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nexenta81 · 2021-04-17 09:53 Update: Guide tested and updated for [FreeBSD 13](https://leonardcucos.com/how-to-install-freebsd-13-0-with-kde- plasma-5/) Enjoy! :-) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- wo0ki · 2021-06-13 23:04 The link in the original post is no longer live. The correct link is [https://leonardcucos.com/how-to-install-freebsd-13-with- xfce-4-2021/](https://leonardcucos.com/how-to-install-freebsd-13-with- xfce-4-2021/) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nexenta81 · 2021-07-03 04:22 Should be alive now. Thanks for the notification - appreciate it! :-) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- millerrvp · 2023-01-03 19:43 >install FreeBSD with XFCE 4 Is there an update for 13.1? "how to" Links no longer work.