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
Adapt your sources.list to include non-free (needed for the sun-java6-plugin).
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
Update your repository and system by running:
aptitude update aptitude upgrade
Install xorg and your favorite desktop
I choose xfce4 desktop as this a lightweight desktop environment. If you prefer another one, just replace xfce4 with gnome, icewm, kde, ...
aptitude install xorg xfce4 iceweasel sun-java6-plugin
Start X-windows
Just enter:
startx