Trying to install Xfce on Ubuntu Server 18.04 but no GUI on reboot

Question

When I run

sudo apt-get update 
sudo apt-get upgrade 
Sudo apt-get install xfce4

On Ubuntu server 18.04, it says it installed all the packages but when i reboot i still don't have a GUI! What am i doing wrong???

The other post is using

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends xubuntu-core

I'm very unclear why

sudo apt-get install xfce4

Is not giving me a GUI. I don't want my server to be turned into a full-blown desktop (I don't want a bunch of software and applications that I don't need ) GUI I just want the base of Xfce. Unless I'm missing something here and

sudo apt install --no-install-recommends xubuntu-core

is just the base, either way please explain, why I install xfce4 but still don't see a GUI? Is there something else that I need to install prior to this?

Here is another example when I tried this method I still got no GUI.

Also in the page that you say is duplicate in the third post down the answer is to run

sudo apt-get install xfce4

to install Xfce desktop and that doesn't work for me.

Have you tried to run startx? To have it started automatically, I suppose you should install xubuntu-core. — Melebius, May 23 '18 at 12:58
You have installed something, but that does not mean that it automatically starts! See here: https://wiki.xfce.org/faq Try the command startxfce4 — Organic Marble, May 23 '18 at 12:59

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered May 23 '18 at 13:58

3

You are not doing anything wrong, just not quite done yet.

Install a "Display Manager".

In short the display manager is the GUI login screen that will load the requested "Window Manager", like XFCE, with the entered user credentials.

answered May 23 '18 at 13:58

jc__

198

thats what i was doing wrong i was under the understanding that the display manager was part of the desktop enviroment thanks so much. – Heavenlykid May 23 '18 at 14:18
Really glad it helped. What display manager did you end up using? – jc__ May 25 '18 at 13:48
3

I recommend to [edit] this answer to expand it with specific details about how to do this. (See also How do I write a good answer? for general advice about what sorts of answers are considered most valuable on Ask Ubuntu.) – David Foerster May 26 '18 at 17:46
@DavidFoerster you're welcome to complete the answer by editing or making new one – Md. A. Apu Oct 23 '20 at 06:58
@APu So are you. :-] (Do you see the problem now?) – David Foerster Oct 23 '20 at 12:27

Trying to install Xfce on Ubuntu Server 18.04 but no GUI on reboot

1 Answers1