For the new installation of RHEL 7, GUI doesn’t come with the default installation. If you do not click on the “Software Selection” link and pick “server with GUI” then there will be no GUI after reboot, only “Base Environment ” will be installed.
To enable GUI after system installation, you can use the following method.
Installing the environment group “Server with GUI”
1. Check the available environment groups :
# yum grouplist
Loaded plugins: langpacks, product-id, search-disabled-repos, subscription-manager
This system is not registered to Red Hat Subscription Management. You can use subscription-manager to register.
There is no installed groups file.
Maybe run: yum groups mark convert (see man yum)
Available Environment Groups:
Minimal Install
Infrastructure Server
File and Print Server
Basic Web Server
Virtualization Host
Server with GUI
Available Groups:
Compatibility Libraries
Console Internet Tools
Development Tools
Graphical Administration Tools
Legacy UNIX Compatibility
Scientific Support
Security Tools
Smart Card Support
System Administration Tools
System Management
Done
2. Execute the following to install the environments for GUI.
# yum groupinstall "Server with GUI" ....... Transaction Summary ==================================================== Install 199 Packages (+464 Dependent packages) Upgrade ( 8 Dependent packages) Total download size: 523 M Is this ok [y/d/N]:
The above will install the GUI in RHEL 7, which by default get installed to text mode.
3. Enable GUI on system start up. In RHEL 7, systemd uses ‘targets’ instead of runlevels. The file /etc/inittab is no more used to change run levels. Issue the following command to enable the GUI on system start.
To set a default target :
# systemctl set-default graphical.target
To change the current target to graphical without reboot :
# systemctl start graphical.target
Verify the default target :
# systemctl get-default graphical.target
4. Reboot the machine to verify that it boots into GUI directly.
# systemctl reboot
Installing core GNOME packages
“Server with GUI” installs the default GUI which is GNOME. In case if you want to install only core GNOME packages use :
# yum groupinstall 'X Window System' 'GNOME' .... Transaction Summary =========================================================== Install 104 Packages (+427 Dependent packages) Upgrade ( 8 Dependent packages) Total download size: 318 M Is this ok [y/d/N]: