desktop app/config

[Sean Cavanaugh]

> Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:05:08 -0500
> From: jnatola at familycareintl.org
> To: jerrymc at msu.edu
> CC: questions at freebsd.org
> Subject: RE: desktop app/config
> 
> I think we went off  track a bit- I do know freebsd- my mail filter is a
> FreeBSD with clam exim and sa- but I NEVER use the gui's  - I want to setup
> some "recycled" machines with bsd and a gui that will be easy for a user to
> grasp- I have mac users and pc users here-
> 
> But thanks for all the tips- I currently use ee for editing 


I think what you are looking for overall would prob be a baseline install with either Gnome or KDE installed. Personally I prefer Gnome but KDE is more MSWindows like in its interface. You can go as far as to skin either of them to look like MSWindows.

setup a basic user with no system control and no password for users to log in with and change /etc/ttys so that ttyv8 is turned on and set to GDM or KDM (depending on which you want to use).

Definitely configure what additional software you need installed per your needs.

-Sean








> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jerry McAllister [mailto:jerrymc at msu.edu] 
> Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 12:00 PM
> To: Jean-Paul Natola
> Cc: questions at freebsd.org
> Subject: Re: desktop app/config
> 
> On Thu, Feb 19, 2009 at 10:27:30AM -0500, Jean-Paul Natola wrote:
> 
> > Hi all,
> > 
> > I'm replacing some machines and want to setup some stations in the library
> > running FreeBSD- 
> > 
> > What is the easiest for an XP user to get accustomed to and what config do
> I
> > need so that when the machine starts (power / boot)  it will automatically
> > launch the desktop gui
> 
> The easiest way to get used to it is to just fully install the latest FreeBSD
> (that is 7.1 at the moment) RELEASE, update it to RELENG_7 or RELENG_7_1
> so it has the latest patches.   Install Xorg for Xwindows so you will have
> graphics.  Then install a few handy ports from the /usr/ports tree.
> Some you will want are Firefox and Thunderbird and Openoffice, although
> you may want to install Openoffice from a binary package rather than
> from ports.   Openoffice is very big and building it can be daunting
> for a newbie.     Some other good candidates might be Apache and Perl
> and maybe a couple of games for fun.
> 
> Then, just start using it.   Learn to find things you need on the system.   
> and configure the network securely.   There is lots of documentation in
> the FreeBSD Handbook and other places online.   The more you do it, the
> more they make sense.
> 
> One thing to learn is using the  vi(1)  text editor.   There are many
> other editors, but for system management, vi is the omnipresent, ubiquitious
> one.  It is sometimes the only one available in times when bad things
> are happening.    It feels rather clunky when you first start to use it
> but it quickly becomes second nature.   The FreeBSD man page is pretty
> good on it.  I have a web page that simplifies it a little at:  
>   
>      http://z2.cl.msu.edu/~jerrymc/project/editvi/
>  
> There are a number of books available that help learning FreeBSD.
> 
> "FreeBSD Unleashed" and "Absolute BSD" are a couple of them
> The FreeBSD Handbook which is online at the FreeBSD web site and
> is installed if you want it when FreeBSD is installed is quite good.
> The FreeBSD site also has other documents and links listed.
> 
> At first, it will seem a little strange.   Generally FreeBSD is command
> oriented, not pointy/clicky oriented.   That is a much more powerful way
> to administer a system, but it takes more initial learning.
> 
> Ask questions.   People on the list have already heard all the common
> complaints and gripes that FreeBSD is not like MS-Win dozens of times.
> The usual response is "Thank God" or something similar.   Anyway, they
> are not interested in hearing whines again.   But, if you have a real
> question about 'how to do' something or even 'why is it done this way'
> and not just grousing, people on the list are usually very good about
> giving answers.   List people are very interested in helping people 
> learn, but not interested in people complaining.   
> 
> If it is a bug, post a pr.   If it is a feature request, remember that 
> FreeBSD is created and maintained by volunteers - very smart ones - but 
> they have limits on time and resources so your request may take a very 
> long time to get attention.   You may well learn how to do it yourself 
> and then submit it as an improvement before then.
> 
> Good luck and have fun.
> 
> ////jerry   
>    
> > 
> > thanx
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