Developer Workstations with Proxmox VE and X11
Introduction
Proxmox VE is primarily used as virtualization platform with NO additional software installed. In some case it makes sense to have a full desktop running on Proxmox VE, for example for developers using Proxmox VE as their primary workstation/desktop.
Installing additional packages could lead to a hardly upgradeable system and is not supported from the Proxmox support team and therefore only for expert use.
Install a standard Proxmox VE system
Just install the standard Proxmox VE, following this guide: Installation
Install X-windows
Adapt your sources.list
To have access to VNC console you need Java JRE and a browser plugin
If you want to use the non free sun-java, you have to adapt your sources.list to include 'non-free' repository. The repositories where programs are searched are listed in text file: /etc/apt/sources.list
deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian lenny main non-free # PVE packages provided by proxmox.com deb http://download.proxmox.com/debian lenny pve # security updates deb http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main
If you want to use OpenJDK, normal sources.list are enough.
In both cases, update your repository and system by running:
# aptitude update # aptitude upgrade
To install sun's java do:
# aptitude install sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin
If you want Free OpenJDK do instead:
# aptitude install openjdk-6-jre icedtea6-plugin
Install your favorite desktop
I choose lxde desktop as this a lightweight desktop environment. If you prefer another one, just replace lxde with xfce4,gnome, icewm, kde, ...
aptitude install lxde iceweasel sun-java6-plugin
Start X-windows
Just enter:
startx