Enabling Kde in FreeBSD 8.0

Alexvader · 01-08-2010, 12:51 PM

Hi Forum

So, I have installed FreeBSD 8.0 in a laptop, and I want startx to start kds, is it enough to put

kde_enable="YES" in /etc/rc.conf ...?

As I ask this I do not yet have an inernet connection... is KDE shipped with FreeBSD 8.0... or do I have to do pkg_add ( it is like this, no...!? ) Kde... ?

I realize that cd into /usr/ports/.../kde and running #configure make install is an "adventure" that can take many hours...

Brgds

Alex

MBybee · 01-08-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexvader

Hi Forum

So, I have installed FreeBSD 8.0 in a laptop, and I want startx to start kds, is it enough to put

kde_enable="YES" in /etc/rc.conf ...?

As I ask this I do not yet have an inernet connection... is KDE shipped with FreeBSD 8.0... or do I have to do pkg_add ( it is like this, no...!? ) Kde... ?

I realize that cd into /usr/ports/.../kde and running #configure make install is an "adventure" that can take many hours...

Brgds

Alex

If you want KDE on FreeBSD, the easiest way is with PC-BSD. The 8.0 version is currently in Beta, should be done in a month or two.

Alternatively, you could just go into sysinstall, pick the KDE window manager, and it will install it.
Set KDM up (if you like) and you're done.

The harder way is to go into ports and build KDE from scratch, but that will take a VERY long time (2-3 days usually).

Here's the site for it with install docs and all:
http://freebsd.kde.org/

MBybee · 01-08-2010, 01:22 PM

In re-reading your post I'm wondering -
Do you already have KDE installed, but you just want it to start when you issue startx?

If you already installed it (and X) via pkg_add/ports/sysinstall, this will make KDE4 start via startx:

Code:

echo "exec /usr/local/kde4/bin/startkde" > ~/.xinitrc

Alternatively: setting up KDM is also easy http://freebsd.kde.org/faq.php#HowdoIgetKDMtowork
Just change line 8 in /etc/ttys

Code:

ttyv8 "/usr/local/kde4/bin/kdm -nodaemon" xterm on secure

Alexvader · 01-08-2010, 03:28 PM

Hi MBybee

Thks a lot...

Does PC BSD have a ports system like Free...?

I always thought applications install relied on PBIs...

BRGDS

Alex

MBybee · 01-08-2010, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexvader

Hi MBybee

Thks a lot...

Does PC BSD have a ports system like Free...?

I always thought applications install relied on PBIs...

BRGDS

Alex

PC-BSD is nothing but FreeBSD with a scripted graphical installer, the PBI system, and a LiveCD. The standard ports are all there, in fact I was just doing some builds from ports last night on the beta (which runs FreeBSD 8).

PBIs are just there to make installing apps quicker and easier. It doesn't involve removing any of the other methods.

Alexvader · 01-08-2010, 04:24 PM

Hi Again...

What is the difference between DesktopBSD and PCBSD...?

Both are kde based, both are variations of FreeBSD...

Which one is "better" ? ( reliable, faster, ( newer set of kernel and GNU toolchain ) )

BRGDS

Alex

MBybee · 01-08-2010, 04:43 PM

Desktop BSD is a dead project:
http://desktopbsd.net/index.php?id=94
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop...nd_development

The final release was based on FreeBSD 7.2 and KDE 3.5
Unfortunate, as it was a really nice version.

PC-BSD is still very much alive, and the testing email list for version 8 is quite lively and continues to fill my inbox and give me something to do with my evenings

I won't go for "better", since both have issues. PC-BSD 7 was a real mess in a lot of ways. PC-BSD 8 Beta fixes about 90% of the problems I had, though it's not anywhere near perfect yet.

As far as "reliable/faster/newer", well PC-BSD 8 is based on the latest FreeBSD and KDE (which means improved support for a lot of devices), it has built-in ZFS support, and is still in active support and development. I never tested them against each other in speed, but I imagine that they would be nearly identical. Newer is easy. PC-BSD 8 is newer.

May I suggest you download both and see how you like them?
PC-BSD 8 Beta (and it is *very* beta - meaning you will have issues, but Kris is hammering them out) http://www.pcbsd.org/content/view/138/11/
DesktopBSD 1.7 http://desktopbsd.net/index.php?id=94

vigol · 01-17-2010, 03:54 PM

Easy and Safe:
add these line to
/etc/rc.conf

Code:

hald_enable="YES"
dbus_enable="YES"
local_startup="${local_startup} /usr/local/kde4/etc/rc.d"
kdm4_enable="YES"

flatdog · 01-18-2010, 05:38 AM

If you already installed FreeBSD 8.0 and don't want to spend days compiling KDE from ports (which is tedious), you may want to install the binari package, like this:

Code:

#pkg_add -r kde

or, if you don't like the whole bloated package, just fetch the "lighter" one:

Code:

#pkg_add -r kde-lite

Both commands will download and install the packages for you from the official FreeBSD repository, any dependencies will be taken care of.
Good luck.

vigol · 01-18-2010, 04:54 PM

Be aware that currently the latest version of x11/kde-lite is not available just now -- it was a kde3 port(kde-lite-3.5.10_2)
but x11/kde4 is the latest kde.org pack (kde4-4.3.4)

morbo · 01-23-2010, 01:58 PM

I got KDE4 installed (from ports) and running on FreeBSD 8.0 AMD64....

Problem is the network doesn't work *ONLY* when in kde. If I drop to console, network works fine.

When going to 'Network Settings' I get a 'Platform not Supported' error (FreeBSD 5 & 6 are listed).

Anyway to get the network working in kd4 on freebsd?