XFCE desktop on Pogoplug Debian (no replies)

XFCE desktop on Debian Installation Instruction

Note that Peter (PeterGunn ?) had posted about setup and using Fluxbox desktop with VNC. This instruction will show how to install and run XFCE desktop with either RDC or VNC client.

1. Install all needed packages:

apt-get upgrade
apt-get install tightvncserver xrdp xfce4 xfce4-goodies  xfonts-base x11-xserver-utils

2. Setup xfce:

Create or edit the xstartup script

cd /root
nano /root/.vnc/xstartup

This is the content of xstartup:

#!/bin/sh
xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
startxfce4 &
xsetroot -solid grey
/etc/X11/Xsession

and then make it executable

chmod +x .vnc/xstartup

3. Setup X required files:

cd /root
touch .Xdefaults .Xresources .Xauthority

4. Setup vnc password (it is not need for connecting with Remote Desktop Connection client, but required for connecting with VNC):

vncpasswd

5. Setup tightvnc server:

Choose a display resolution and name for the session window

tightvncserver -geometry 1440x900 -depth 8 -name Debian

- Done.


Running RDC from Windows/Mac

- Start RDC using the Pogoplug IP address or its network name
- Choose sessman-xvnc in RDC
- Log in using the Pogoplug root and root password. If you have a different user setup, then that user/password should be used to connect.

A VNC client can also connect to the Pogoplug in a similar way.


Swap space

XFCE desktop is very lightweight, and it should run with the typical Pogolug which has 128MB RAM without problem. With xfce desktop, you can add system CPU meter, memory meter, and swap meter on the xfce panel to monitor the usage.

Do the following to make the GUI experience better:

- Have a swap file size at least 512 MB on a hardisk (USB flash is OK too if zswap is used).
- Use zswap (see the latest Kirkwood or Oxnas kernel threads in my signature for installing these zswap-supported kernels). This will help a great deal whether the swap file resides on USB flash or HDD drive.
- Set swappiness to 10 or less.