I want to try out X11 on a Raspberry Pi (running as a server without display connected, OS Raspbian) and access it through VNC.
I don't like LXDE very much, so I want to change to another window manager. I tried many things, but LXDE is always starting.
Following packages are installed:
sudo aptitude install x-window-system xfce4 xfce4-themes x11vnc icewm fluxbox gnome tightvncserver
I am running the server with following command:
vncserver -geometry 800x600 :0
When I connect to the Raspberry Pi using RealVNC, I come to the LXDE desktop.
What I have tried so far:
I ran sudo update-alternatives --config x-window-manager
and changed it from openbox to xfwm4
$ update-alternatives --config x-window-manager
Es gibt 5 Auswahlm¦glichkeiten f¦r die Alternative x-window-manager (welche /usr/bin/x-window-manager bereitstellen).
Auswahl Pfad Priorit¦t Status
------------------------------------------------------------
0 /usr/bin/openbox 90 Auto-Modus
1 /usr/bin/icewm 50 manueller Modus
2 /usr/bin/metacity 60 manueller Modus
3 /usr/bin/openbox 90 manueller Modus
4 /usr/bin/startfluxbox 50 manueller Modus
* 5 /usr/bin/xfwm4 60 manueller Modus
I have edited /etc/X11/default-display-manager
and changed it from /usr/sbin/lightdm
to /usr/bin/icewm
.
After a system reboot, I ran the vncserver again, and again I come to LXDE.
I am seeing openbox and lxsession in the process list:
$ ps aux | grep lx
daniel 3604 0.0 0.3 12904 1516 pts/0 Sl 01:39 0:00 /usr/bin/lxsession -s LXDE -e LXDE
daniel 3614 0.1 1.3 15268 6160 pts/0 S 01:39 0:00 openbox --config-file /rasdata/profiles/daniel/.config/openbox/lxde-rc.xml
daniel 3616 0.6 2.2 113392 10060 pts/0 S 01:39 0:02 lxpanel --profile LXDE
daniel 3632 0.0 1.0 26352 4680 pts/0 Sl 01:39 0:00 /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/lxpolkit
daniel 3684 0.0 0.1 3836 816 pts/0 S+ 01:46 0:00 grep lx
I am currently not sure which window manager I want to have. I will try all and find out the one which I like most. At the moment I am trying to find a way to change it somehow away from LXDE.
I liked KDE very much, but it does not seem to be included in Raspbian. The package could not be found in aptitude.
Best Answer
X11 is already on your computer
X11 should already be installed on your system. Basically all Linux distros use it. LXDE runs on top of Xorg. Wayland is becoming the popular alternative to X Windows, but is still buggy. I'd wait to switch to it. So, what I'm saying is that you are already using X11. If not, I'd be extremely confused.
What you want to do is install a new windows manager, which is what LXDE is. Enlightenment and Openbox are good alternatives that are lightweight. KDE is my favourite, but it is a little heavier. With the Rasp pi I would stick lightweight though. If you are not going to hook it up to a monitor, then I suggest a headless system and just using the -X option with ssh.
Installing a new Windows Manager
Install the new windows manager then edit .xinitrc so that it starts the correct manager.
For example if you wanted to use KDE then install KDE (
#apt-get install kde
or#apt-get install kdebase
, which is better for a pi but will require a little more set up) and then change your .xinitrc file. You'll seeexec startlxde
which needs to be changed toexec startkde
The exec command will change for your preference of windows manager.
SSHing into your pi
Now if you are sshing into your pi and want to run a program graphically then you need to do
This will still work if you are using a headless system without a windows manager. This will also be much faster than using vnc. Basically, if you aren't connecting your pi to a monitor then do this.