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
Custom installations: Install Proxmox VE on Debian Buster
Install X-windows
Update your repository and system by running:
apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade
I choose xfce4 desktop as this a lightweight desktop environment. If you prefer another one, just replace xfce4 with lxde, gnome, icewm, kde, ...
apt-get install xfce4 chromium lightdm
Start X-windows
Before starting the x-windows, create a normal user with:
# useradd newusername
Start the login manager:
systemctl start lightdm
or just reboot.
Optional: Linux Mint Mate Desktop
Install Proxmox VE as described above.
install from Debian repository.
apt-get install mate
or install the linuxmit packages see below.
Update Apt Sources List
echo "deb http://www.deb-multimedia.org jessie main non-free" >>/etc/apt/sources.list.d/mint.list echo "deb http://packages.linuxmint.com betsy main" >>/etc/apt/sources.list.d/mint.list echo "deb http://extra.linuxmint.com betsy main" >>/etc/apt/sources.list.d/mint.list
Add Keyring
Run the following one at a time
apt-get update apt-get install deb-multimedia-keyring apt-get install linuxmint-keyring apt-get install debian-archive-keyring apt-get update apt-get dist-upgrade
Install Mate Desktop
# tested proxmox 5.3
apt-get update apt-get install mate-desktop-environment xorg lightdm # apt-get install mint-backgrounds-debian # apt-get install X11vnc # reboot
NVidia Drivers
# tested proxmox 5.3
# nouveau was faulting system. blacklist or unload driver # lspci -k |grep VGA # add 0000: to unbind driver. # echo "0000:24:00.0" > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/nouveau/unbind
# blacklist echo "blacklist nouveau" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
# /etc/apt/sources.list # PVE pve-no-subscription repository provided by proxmox.com, # NOT recommended for production use # deb http://download.proxmox.com/debian/pve stretch pve-no-subscription
# enable non-free cat <<EOF >>/etc/apt/sources.list deb http://deb.debian.org/debian stretch main contrib non-free deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian stretch main contrib non-free deb http://deb.debian.org/debian-security/ stretch/updates main contrib non-free deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian-security/ stretch/updates main contrib non-free deb http://deb.debian.org/debian stretch-updates main contrib non-free deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian stretch-updates main contrib non-free EOF
# install the headers and nvidia-drivers apt install pve-headers apt-get update apt-get install nvidia-driver