When CentOS/RHEL is installed it takes minimal installation as default or Sometimes it happened that you have a minimal installation and you need a graphical interface or need to upgrade a command line mode to graphical mode for learning/deploying something on CentOS or RHEL server.

Here In this Tutorial, we will Learn To Install Graphical User Interface (GUI) on A Minimal Installation on CentOS/RHEL 6/7.

Scenario:

1. My Server IP is 192.168.1.188
2. OS – CentOS/RHEL 6/7

Let’s Start

Step 1: Install Gnome GUI

Run the following command to install GUI

For CentOS 7:

# yum group install "GNOME Desktop" "Graphical Administration Tools"

For RHEL 7:

# yum groupinstall "Server with GUI"

For RHEL/CentOS 6:

Here are few option so do as per your Requirement

# yum -y groupinstall "Desktop" "Desktop Platform" "X Window System" "Fonts"

You can also install the following optional GUI packages.

# yum -y groupinstall "Graphical Administration Tools"

# yum -y groupinstall "Internet Browser"

# yum -y groupinstall "General Purpose Desktop"

# yum -y groupinstall "Office Suite and Productivity"

# yum -y groupinstall "Graphics Creation Tools"

If you also want to add the K Desktop Environment (KDE) then use the following command

# yum -y groupinstall kde-desktop

Note: You can also find optional GUI packages for Centos 6/7 using the following command

# yum group list
Output:

Loaded plugins: fastestmirror
There is no installed groups file.
Maybe run: yum groups mark convert (see man yum)
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
Available Environment Groups:
Minimal Install
Compute Node
Infrastructure Server
File and Print Server
Basic Web Server
Virtualization Host
Server with GUI
GNOME Desktop
KDE Plasma Workspaces
Development and Creative Workstation
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

Step 2: Make GUI Default Mode For Every Reboot

With the upgrade of Centos/RHEL 7 from CentOS/RHEL 6 concept of runlevel has been changed to systemd so run following command

For RHEL/CentOS 7:

ln -sf /lib/systemd/system/runlevel5.target /etc/systemd/system/default.target

For RHEL/CentOS 6:

vim /etc/inittab 

#id:3:initdefault: 

id:5:initdefault:

save and quit :wq!

Step 3: Reboot the Server

# reboot

Step 4: License Agreement

After reboot, you will be prompted for accepting the license. Please follow below steps

License Agreement:

Accept the license by clicking on the “LICENSE INFORMATION“.

Tick the “I accept the license agreement”

complete the setup by finishing up

You may be required to create a first user (local account), language, etc.

Then finally you will get the desktop.

NOTE: If You Got Stuck On This Screen Then Follow This Image

Few Short Cut Commands

GUI to CLI: Ctrl + Alt + F6
CLI to GUI: Ctrl + Alt + F1