# Guide to Unix/BSD/OpenBSD/As a Desktop

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This is a guide on using OpenBSD as a desktop/workstation. This guide was made using OpenBSD 4.3 and 4.4. The concept should be the same in future releases.

## If you are new to Unix

Download the OpenBSD iso file and burn it using an iso burning program.
The download location is:
In my case it is:
Now put the cd into the computer you want to install it on. Once it boots up quickly push F2 (this is called the BIOS). Find the boot sequence option (or similar) and select boot to cdrom. I recommend learning at least the basic commands and some vi beforehand.

## Installation modifications

    See also: Guide to Unix/BSD/OpenBSD/OpenBSD Installation
Follow the official OpenBSD install instructions found here. Until you come to "Configure the network?". This is where things can get tricky. If you do not understand what it is asking, you can typically accept the defaults. Most people are going to want to use the default interface with DHCP (both default). If you get stuck, consult this guide

## Configuring Xorg

Xorg normally "just works". If you have a weird screen resolution (or things look weird with xorg), then you need to change your configuration.

### Method 1

The configuration file is located at /etc/X11/xorg.conf. However first we need to create the file. Run:
or
This created a configuration file in your home file. To test the Xorg setting in the configuration file, run:
In my case it is (running as root)
It could be (running as puffy)
To exit out of the test (assuming it worked), press (control)+(alt)+(backspace). Copy the new configuration file to the /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Please note that if you are trying to install OpenBSD in a virtual machine under an existing Unix/Linux system running X, pressing (control)+(alt)+(backspace) may cause your real X session to stop, but modern distributions require pressing this key combination two or three times in a row to prevent accidents. The simplest way (although not the best way) to find out if it will break your session by pressing only once is to try it by pressing the combination exactly once while you are not running any programs besides your desktop, before you attempt to configure X in OpenBSD.

### Method 2

This method will require knowledge of your graphics card, screen resolution, and monitor. Run the command:
Fill out all of the information. If you would like to skip over something then just press enter. In some cases you can not skip steps without messing up your configuration file. At the end of the questionare say "yes" to writing to the xorg.conf file.

## Get a desktop environment working

OpenBSD has a great package management system. If you get the packages from the ftp site the pkg_add will find the dependencies for you. Export your PKG_PATH to your favorite ftp site. The ftp format is:
In my case it is:
You may even want to put this into your .profile.
The packages are found through http here (for 4.4 packages).
The packages are also found through ftp here (for 4.4 i386 packages).

### KDE (3.5)

Here are the main packages the pkg_add should resolve the dependencies.
    kdebase
    kdelibs
    kdeaddons
    kdeadmin
    kdeartwork
    kdeedu
    kdegames
    kdegraphics
    kdemultimedia
    kdenetwork
    kdepim
    kdesdk
    kdetoys
    kdeutils
    kdeaccessibility
I personally prefer to install them all at once. You may also want to add the -v option, if you want to see the details of the installation.
To run kde do
Newest OpenBSD 5.8 also supports KDE 4 (meta-package).

### Xfce (4.4)

Here are the main packages the pkg_add should resolve the dependencies. (Xfce likes to keep their applications in separate packages)
    gtk-xfce-engine
    libxfce4mcs
    libxfcegui4
    xfce-mcs-manager
    xfce-mcs-plugins
    xfce-utils
    xfce4-appfinder
    xfce4-battery
    xfce4-clipman
    xfce4-datetime
    xfce4-dict
    xfce4-diskperf
    xfce4-fsguard
    xfce4-icon-theme
    xfce4-genmon
    xfce4-mailwatch
    xfce4-mixer
    xfce4-mpc
    xfce4-netload
    xfce4-notes
    xfce4-panel
    xfce4-places-plugin
    xfce4-session
    xfce4-systemload
    xfce4-time-out
    xfce4-verve
    xfce4-wavelan
    xfce4-weather
    xfce4-wmdock
    xfce4-xkb
    xfdesktop
    xfwm4
    xfwm4-themes
TIP: you can save install everything at once with the help of the xfce meta-package and the following command:
To run XFCE4 modify .xinitrc with your editor of choice to startxfce4

## Using ports

Although the binaries are sometime out of date the ports are amazingly up to date, new software is ported to OpenBSD after hours of release.
First get the ports from the install cdrom. First we have to make a directory to mount the drive to. Enter in the command:
Mount the cdrom by entering in the command:
Now copy ports.tar.gz to /usr:
Now untar the ports:
To update the port tree, cd into the file that you want to update and enter in the command:
This may take a while...
To install a ports, cd into the CVS that you want to compile and do:
The port system should compile the dependencies for you. Warning: compiling may take several days. Most notably the port system includes: e17 and KDE 4.1.
All of the ports are found: here; and really all of them at: ports.openbsd.su.

## Get a display manager working
### SLiM

Only one main package:
and (preferably) slim-themes
You have to add the following lines to your /etc/rc.local file:
and edit /etc/slim.conf file (it is self-explanatory)
Update for OpenBSD 5.4:
It seems to be different in OpenBSD 5.4, just write /usr/local/bin/slim -d in /etc/rc.local (this will start it as a daemon). The default /etc/slim.conf seems to work without making any changes.

### GDM

Only one main package:
This will display a message on how to enable GDM on your OpenBSD installation. You have to add the following lines to your /etc/rc.local file:
Once you start up gdm change the session to whatever GUI you installed.

### KDM

The reason that this is not recommended, even if you are using KDE, is that someone made an error while porting KDM to OpenBSD. KDM searches for startkdeconfig in the wrong directory and you are thus locked out.
Other persons comment: KDE is working perfectly well in OpenBSD 4.5 .

## Authors

If you made a contribution to this article please feel free to add your username.
* CFeyecare- Started page.
* phessler unbroke kde pkg_add string