Xfce4 | Alpine Linux forums

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#1 Wed, 2016-06-01 02:30

jsalpha2

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I was excited to see the new version on Distrowatch. I have tried before with out success to install and add the Xfce desktop. I downloaded the new virtualbox ISO and once again, even after reading the relevant forum posts, the wiki and Googling, I can not get the desktop installed. This apk makes coffee is not funny after dozens of tries. I joined the forum to ask for help, so I am trying to be polite. I almost was unable to sign up, because I could not answer the question, where the answer was some words in the title bar. Took me a dozen tries with different words to get that one!
The standard setup-alpine has lots of questions that I don't know the answer to. Using the -q for quick helps. Then when I get to the command prompt. apk update, then what? apk xfce4...apk setup-alpine desktop...nothing works. Thanks

#2 Wed, 2016-06-01 06:56

AmatCoder

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apk not only makes coffee also writes the available commands when you fail to enter a valid command.
And the command to install is add so apk add xfce4 is the correct one.

But before you need install xorg. Read this page: https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/XFCE_Setup

#3 Wed, 2016-06-01 23:23

jsalpha2

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setup-xorg-base gives Warning: Ignoring/v3.4/main/86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz: no such file or directory Error unsatisfiable constraints.
apk add xfce 4 gives the same error message.? Thanks for the help.

#4 Fri, 2016-06-03 05:49 (Reply to #3)

AmatCoder

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Please, paste /etc/apk/repositories file contents here.

#5 Wed, 2016-07-13 08:39

jsalpha2

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apk add nano
nano /etc/apk/repositories
1. Un-comment the community in the repositories
Main and community are un-commented, the three edge repos are still commented out.
Close nano (up arrow + X means Ctrl + X)
2. apk update
3. apk add alpine-desktop
4. apk add xfce4

Reboot
Log in
StartX
Black Screen
Sigh.

#6 Wed, 2016-07-13 17:17

jsalpha2

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From the wiki: Start your desktop "rc-service lxdm start"
if you followed the directions step by step and installed slim try "rc-service slim start"
I tried again today in VMWare instead of VirtualBox and have made it to the desktop.
Next, try again in VirtualBox and then maybe a hard disk install.

#7 Wed, 2016-07-13 20:43

jsalpha2

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Screenshot from VMWare

http://imgur.com/gallery/MnFnODa

Can't figure out how to embed the picture.

#8 Sun, 2016-07-17 00:07

jc86

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Hi, did you get xfce4 working under virtualbox?
I'm also getting black screen.

#9 Sun, 2016-08-14 00:59

jsalpha2

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I got it working in VMWare. It is very similar to VirtualBox. After I got it running I found that I had no sound and did not know how to add it.
I see that version 3.4.3 is out now. I was trying to make this into a general purpose distro instead of a firewall, server distro. Good luck to the developers.
Best wishes.

#10 Wed, 2017-08-30 08:37

Inkognitov

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Hey there, just this past weekend I was able to get xfce4 successfully installed on the latest (3.6.2) kernel. I messed around on my own and wasted a lot of time, but I found this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_bsycXrFcI that outlines the basic steps to get it working.

Below are some basic instructions that are exactly what I did:

## Script to set up alpine linux: validated for Alpine Version 3.6.2 (Released Jun 17, 2017)
## Tested on August 28, 2017
 
### Installlation see: youtube.com/watch?v=1_bsycXrFcI
#  instructions from: mowson.org/karl/2016/2016-05-20_alpinelinux_vm_under_virtualbox/
# Basic Alpine Linux Install
#
# Start the VM.
# Login as root (no password required).
# Run "setup-alpine", and configure as follows:
#
# keyboard layout = "us"
# keyboard variant = "us"
# system hostname = whatever suits you
# initialise interface: "eth0"
# "dhcp"
# no manual network setup
# enter root password, as desired.
# timezone: "US/Pacific" (or whatever suits you)
# HTTP/FTP proxy URL: [none]
# Detect and add fastest mirror (f)
# SSH server: "openssh"
# NTP client: "chrony"
# install to disk: "sda"
# install type: "sys"
# erase & continue? Y
# Wait for it to install...
#
# Now run "poweroff" to shutdown the VM - this is necessary in order to reboot into the installed system, so we can install things there.
#
# Remove CD
#
# In the main VirtualBox window, right-click on the machine and choose "Settings". Reconfigure as follows:
#
# Storage
# in the Storage Tree, select the CD just under "Controller IDE".
# in the Attributes section, click on the CD icon at the far right.
# Choose "Remove disk from virtual drive", and click OK.
 
apk add vim
# uncomment all repositories in /etc/apk/repositories
apk update && apk upgrade
apk setup-xorg-base
apk add alpine-desktop
apk add xfce4
apk add thunar-volman
apk add faenza-icon-theme
apk add slim
rc-service dbus start
rc-update add dbus
rc-service udev start
rc-service add udev
rc-update add slim
reboot

Let me know if this helps you out, here are the results I got (obviously this is after I added some themes to make it look nicer): https://imgur.com/dMth3FE

For the record, I cannot get the vm to use my native screen resolution, it maxes out at 1024x768, if anyone finds a solution please let me know :)