Is it possible to run KDE and Gnome on same installation?
 

I'm a newbie running Suse 10.0 on a machine that also has WinXP Pro installed. Must say the more I run Linux the more I like it.

I'm currently running (only) the Gnome desktop. It's OK and I don't have any complaints about it but I'm wondering:

Is it possible to have both KDE and Gnome installed and somehow decide when you boot up Linux which one you want to use for that session?

Or is it even possible to switch from Gnome to KDE and/or back again while in the same session.

If the answer is Yes, how would I go about setting this up. Download and install KDE and then configure things somehow?

Thanks in advance.

Dean

Yes, it is.
You need to install KDE and when that is done you will be able to select on the log in screen which desktop to boot.
Usually, to make things simpler, the last desktop used will be selected by default.

Rick

You can start 2 sessions at once under 2 different usernames, one using Gnome, one using KDE, then switch between them with {Ctrl}{Alt} {F7}{F8}

Install it using YaST to make things simple. Last i used SuSE, 9.0, It would ask me when i started up, and had a check box to always use the last one used. If you checked that box you had to change it from somwhere in the "start" menu. I forget exactly how, hope that halped.

Choosing between Gnome and KDE desktops
 

OK, I'm back.
I posted a question whether it was possible to run both KDE and Gnome on the same Linux installation.
Several of you answered in the affirmative and I thank you.

I downloaded KDE form their website and installed it using YAST (running SUSE Linux 10.0.)

Those who replied earlier indicated that once this was done SUSE ought to give you the option, when booting, of KDE or Gnome. However when I rebooted (after installing KDE) I don't get the option - the system goes straight to Gnome.

Any ideas?

Thanks again!

it probably would have worked better if you had done everything through YaST (add new software option i think it's called). However, I know there is an option somewhere in the "start" menu or in YaST hunt around for it.

In the log in box (the box to sign in) there is an option. Look for it. I do not remember exactly where ( I have not used Gnome for years), but that is the way I used to choose which desktop to run.

Yes, its possible. Generally GDM (gnome login manager) will have soemething called "session" where you can choose it - will be next to the otptiosn for shutdown etc.....

What I downloaded from KDE.Org and installed was:

KDEBase3-3.5.1-18.x86_64.rpm

Is there anything else I need to install to get this working? I did install the package above using YAST, and for whatever reason I do not find an option during login, nor anything dealing with "session" in options for shutdown.

Sorry to be picking at this and I really do appreciate all of your suggestions. I think it's my lack of knowledge concerning Linux that's holding things up...

Do you have a 64bit chip? Because that RPM is for a 64 bit processor...

Yes I do, an AMD X64.

You may need some more packages to really have a working KDE

Just guessing here ... kde-core, kdm?

Don't know anything about SUSE, but no Gnome (GDM) I ever saw lacked a choice of Desktops option.

kde wont run without crap like Kdm, control centre, panel etc....

KDE will run fine without KDM. some distros split KDM from kdebase into its own individual package, so that its not installed if you want to use a different login manager. You are right though about Kcontrol and Kicker.

OK,

Could anyone give me a definitive list of other packages (aside from KDEBase) that I would need to install to have a working KDE? I can then go to KDE.org and download and install them and see what happens.

GNOME in Suse does have an option to choose either KDE or GNOME. However, when I specified KDE and rebooted GNOME came up = i.e. no effect. This is what lead me to belive (and inquire about) that I might not have everything installed that I would need.