I'm a fairly competent linux user, but a complete newbie on the admin side. I have an old server running Red Hat 7.2 Enigma in shell interface only, no GUI. This machine is running our old POS system, so I don't want to do a fresh install - but I need to switch this to a GUI interface to also run as a terminal for our new POS system.

(Side note, in case it matters: New system connects to server via Mozilla and runs as a Java App.)

Is there a way I can update the config for this machine to have 1 or 2 sessions running GUI, and the rest text shell interface, without screwing up the system I have?

(Another side note: Worst case scenario I have CD's to wipe the system and reinstall Red Hat and the old POS software. I'll have a backup of the data before beinging to play.)

I appreciate any help you can offer.

Ryan

You have to install X windows. http://www.x.org/

Then you have to install any of the GUI interfaces you like (GNOME, KDE, FLUXBOX...)

I don't really know how to install these from source, because I have never done it. But it should probably go like any other program being installed from source with unpack, ./configure, make, make install.

Good luck!


These are all just programs, so they shouldn't interfere with the command line you are running now.