How to install XFCE Desktop in OpenBSD

To install XFCE Desktop

Xfce is an open - source, fast, lightweight, user friendly software for Unix/Linux distributions. The procedures to install XFCE Desktop is explained in detail in this article.

To install the XFCE Desktop environment in OpenBSD, use the following command.


Then install the display manager as follows.

Configure the x window system

Create a file called " .xinitrc" and add the following line into it.

exec startxfce4

Now create a file rc.local inside /etc/ directory to configure the system daemons.
Add the following lines into the file.

/usr/local/bin/slim -d

Then create a file rc.conf.local under the /etc/ directory.
Add the following lines to the file.

pkg_scripts=" dbus_daemon avahi_daemon" 
dbus_enable=YES

Reboot the system

After rebooting the Login screen appears. Enter the login credentials to proceed further.


Now, lets try to install some basic applications.

To install firefox

Run the following command to install firefox application into XFCE Desktop.

# pkg_add -iv firefox                                                           
Update candidates: quirks-2.241 ->  quirks-2.241
quirks-2.241 signed on 2016-07-26T16:56:10Z
firefox-47.0.1:mozilla-dicts-en-GB-1.3p1: ok
firefox-47.0.1:hunspell-1.3.2p2: ok
firefox-47.0.1:nss-3.24: ok
firefox-47.0.1: ok
Look in /usr/local/share/doc/pkg-readmes for extra documentation.
--- +hunspell-1.3.2p2 -------------------
Install mozilla dictionaries for extra hunspell languages.
e.g.
# pkg_add mozilla-dicts-ca 
Extracted 122645058 from 122646989

Then install thunderbird e-mail client.

# pkg_add -iv thunderbird                                                       
Update candidates: quirks-2.241 ->  quirks-2.241
quirks-2.241 signed on 2016-07-26T16:56:10Z
thunderbird-45.2.0: ok
Look in /usr/local/share/doc/pkg-readmes for extra documentation.
Extracted 110350235 from 110350597

Check to install VLC media player.

# pkg_add -iv vlc                                                              
Update candidates: quirks-2.241 ->  quirks-2.241
quirks-2.241 signed on 2016-07-26T16:56:10Z
vlc-2.2.4:libbluray-0.9.3: ok
vlc-2.2.4:libdvdcss-1.4.0: ok
&hellip 
&hellip 
&hellip 
vlc-2.2.4: ok
Extracted 209770142 from 209780087

Execute the below command to install Libre office.

# pkg_add -iv libreoffice                                                       
Update candidates: quirks-2.241 ->  quirks-2.241
quirks-2.241 signed on 2016-07-26T16:56:10Z
libreoffice-5.1.4.2p0v0:python-3.4.5: ok
libreoffice-5.1.4.2p0v0:libxslt-1.1.28p5: ok
&hellip 
&hellip 
&hellip 
libreoffice-5.1.4.2p0v0: ok
The following new rcscripts were installed: /etc/rc.d/saslauthd
See rcctl(8) for details.
Extracted 667101799 from 667111155