I am in constant search for production desktop setup. Currently my first choice is Ubuntu 8.04 LTS. Occasionally, I like to try other things and see how things are developing around. One of the most popular server distros is CentOS. Very stable and robust. Checked an article on howtoforge website (Perfect Desktop with CentOS) and decided to give it a try.
Notes Format
This entry will be more in a form of notes for myself and feel free to ask if there is a need for clarification. The notes were entered as I was doing things. They may not appear to be in perfect order and not all the steps were done the same day.
Installation Notes
1. Download and create net install ISO (image is around 7MB).
2. Boot with the new CD, when asked for network repository for the install, put the following:
mirror.centos.org
centos/5.2/os/i386
When asked for the software select only "Desktop" option at this time. The setup will download all the needed software and install it for you. This step may take around hour or so. After the setup, you will be asked for root password and additional users.
3. Reboot and login into the newly install CentOS. Update is here not expected since the install should have downloaded the latest packages. However, you can open the terminal and run:
yum update
4. In Nautilus file manage, change preferences to explorer view and I like icon size at 75%.
5. Install Midnight Commander and htop, in terminal issue the following command as root:
yum install mc htop
6. To install Sun Java, download Linux binary install from java.sun.com. In my case I downloaded JDK (not JRE). Run the binary setup. As root, move the whole newly created Java folder to /opt/jdk1.6.0_11.
Add newly installed Java to alternatives:
/usr/sbin/alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /opt/jdk1.6.0_11/bin/java 2
/usr/sbin/alternatives --config java
Same applied to Java compiler (if JDK is installed):
/usr/sbin/alternatives --install /usr/bin/javac javac /opt/jdk1.6.0_11/bin/javac 2
/usr/sbin/alternatives --config javac
Add symbolic link to mozilla plugin:
cd /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins ln -s /opt/jdk1.6.0_11/jre/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.so
Create java.sh file:
gedit /etc/profile.d/java.sh
Add the following into the file:
export J2RE_HOME=/opt/jre1.6.0_11 export PATH=$J2RE_HOME/bin:$PATH
7. For latest Netbeans, go to www.netbeans.org, and download Linux binary install. In terminal run the following commands:
cd Desktop
su
chmod a+x netbeans-6.5-ml-java-linux.sh
./netbeans-6.5-ml-java-linux.sh
This should find installed Java JDK and install Netbeans 6.5 into /usr/local folder.
8. Webcore fonts (aka standard Microsoft truetype fonts):
http://avi.alkalay.net/software/webcore-fonts/webcore-fonts-3.0-1.noarch.rpm
Save the RPM file on Desktop. Doubleclick on the file. It will prompt for root password to perform RPM install. Accept and let install.
9. Configure repositories (aka repos)
yum install yum-priorities yumex
Check the following file
nano /etc/yum/pluginconf.d/priorities.conf
Verify the following content (should be there already)
[main]
enabled=1
10. Adobe Acrobat Reader repo:
rpm -Uhv http://linuxdownload.adobe.com/adobe-release/adobe-release-i386-1.0-1.noarch.rpm
Download Acrobat Reader RPM from Adobe website:
10. RPMforge repo:
http://apt.sw.be/redhat/el5/en/i386/RPMS.rpmforge/rpmforge-release-0.3.6-1.el5.rf.i386.rpm
Install additional packages:
yum install libdvdcss libdvdread libdvdplay livdvdnav lsdvd mplayerplug-in mplayer mplayer-gui compat-libstdc++-33 flash-plugin gstreamer-plugins-bad gstreamer-plugins-ugly libquicktime htop
Answer with "y" and let yum install these from RPMforge repos.
11. Install additional codecs:
http://www1.mplayerhq.hu/MPlayer/releases/codecs/mplayer-codecs-20061022-1.i386.rpm
http://www1.mplayerhq.hu/MPlayer/releases/codecs/mplayer-codecs-extra-20061022-1.i386.rpm
Download these and then click on them to install.
12. Skype:
Download RPM from Skype website and install.
13. aMSN:
install tk GUI toolkit package (tk) with yum or Yum Extender
go to aMSN project web page and download an installer for 8.4 Tcl/Tk version
http://www.amsn-project.net/linux-downloads.php
chmod a+x amsn-0.97.2-1.tcl84.x86.package
./amsn-0.97.2-1.tcl84.x86.package
Click Y to allow download of support code and continue.
First time you run aMSN it will ask for TLS. Before trying to login, set Firefox as default browser in Preferences. Then try to login and let aMSN download TLS and install it for you.
Additional packages from RPMforge you might need for aMSN webcam and audio:
dkms-gspca libsnack
14. Opera:
Go to Opera website and download RPM for RHEL 5 and install it.
Additional programs of interest for a desktop:
xchat scribus inkscape
15. Scilab
goto Scilab webpage and download binary tar.gz file. Unpack to Desktop (creates folder scilab-5.0.3) and move the whole folder to /usr/local/.
Add menu item to enable start from menus. An icon can be found in shared folder.
Conclusion
I tried the setup on several PCs (P4 Compaq, P4 Dell Inspiron, Dell Vostro 1400 laptop). I actually got pretty warmed up with the idea to adopt the thing.However, a variety of small issues such as sound card detection, bluetooth detection, and occasional slow down with Firefox made me wait for little newer version. I always loved Red Hat based distros Fedora and CentOS, but for serious desktop use Fedora seems to be too edgy and CentOS too conservative.
References
http://fundaism.blogspot.com/2008/08/microsoft-fonts-on-centos.html
http://jaysonrowe.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/centos-as-a-workstation/
http://www.howtoforge.com/installation-guide-centos5.1-desktop
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