2025-09-29

Setup Xfce Desktop FreeBSD ( 14.3 in this example)

Goal: Xfce4 Desktop FreeBSD on a PC

Hardware: Intel Xeon E1246v3,  16GB Ram, 128GB SSD, NVidia GTX 660

I use vi to edit files, feel free to use another editor. 

I. Installation 

I.1.) Installation Media 

I'am using Ventoy which is very handy to have multiple Installation Images on one memorystick. I downloaded the "amd64-disc1.iso"-Filetype  and copied it to my Ventoy Stick. The Gigabyte Mainboard boot selection key is F12 most of other pc's  have F8. Booting my Stick in UEFI mode and select the FreeBSD iso in the Ventoy menu then. 

I.2) Basic Install (data example in my case)

• Select the Keyboard: German
• Name the PC: Tsunami
• Optional system Components: ---
• Partition: Auto (ZFS)
• ZFS Config: proceed....
• Virtual Device: stripe
• Disk: ada0
• Last Chance destroy current content: YES
• .... checksum ... extract ... some seconds/minutes
• Root password: [ ********* ]
• Select Network interface: em0
  • IPV4
  • DHCP
  • IPV6
  • SLAAC ? mmh Yes
• Timezone: German
• System Configuration: 
  
  • + ntpd
  • + powerd
• System Hardening: --- 
• Add users: Add my user
  • invite to other group: wheel video
  • shell: tcsh
• Exit, Reboot

Complete as shell script to run after the above. Login as root and 

• cd /root/
• fetch https://thunderous.de/files/lazyFreeBSDDesktop.tgz
• tar -xzvf lazyFreeBSDDesktop.tgz
• cd freeBSD
• sh lazyFreeBSDDesktop.sh
  

current version: 2025-12-31

---

Optional:

Make boot a bit faster with:
  sh freeBSD_fasterboot.sh

Install update check with:
 sh freeBSD_updatecheck.sh

if you want to install a xfce skel (for new added user):
 sh _xfce4skel.sh

if you installed on a Lenovo x260 you may execute:
 sh x260.sh

if you installed on a Lenovo e531 you may execute:
 sh e531.sh

if you have problems with the console (ctrl+alt+F[1..8]):
 sh brokenConsole.sh

---

This will do the following stuff , if you dont want to do it manually .....

I.3) 

• Update System:
  • Login as root
  • pkg update; pkg upgrade
• Add sudo
  • pkg install sudo
  • vi /usr/local/etc/sudoers
    • uncomment: %wheel ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL
• Shorter Wait Time on Boot
  • sudo vi /boot/loader.conf
    • Add a 2 seconds wait time on boot:
      • autoboot_delay="2"

I.4) XOrg Setup 

Here we are it's booted in console mode :D We could start work but since we want a Graphical Userinterface we need to set it up. A good starting point is the FreeBSD Handbook Chapter 5. The X Window System 

• the xorg server:
  • sudo pkg install xorg
  • optional?!: sudo pw groupmod video -m [ your username ]
• install the Graphic Driver (look at handbook which one you need!):
  • sudo pkg install nvidia-driver-470
  • sudo sysrc kld_list+=nvidia-modeset
  • sudo kldload nvidia-modeset
  • test with:
    • startx
    • a black screen with a terminal window should be shown ... press CTRL-D to exit.
      • failed in my case, the old nvidia module is a bit tricky with autodetect
        • sudo pkg install nvidia-xconfig
        • nvidia-xconfig
        • now startx again should work :)

I.5) Desktop Environments

Now we look at the handbook for Desktop Environments. 

• sudo pkg install xfce lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter
• sudo sysrc dbus_enable="YES"
• sudo sysrc lightdm_enable="YES"
  
  

II.) Add the beef

II.1) Firefox, sudo and xfce Whisker Menu and plank.. 

• pkg install xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin firefox plank

II.2) Sound

• sudo pkg xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin

II.3) Make your xfce4 nicer:

• Add Whisker Menu to Main Panel instead of Application Button
• Remove bottom panel 
• Add Plank to autostart
• Configure Super-Key (win) to open Whisker Menu to Keyboard Application Shortcuts
  • Command: xfce4-popup-whiskermenu
  • Key *press Superkey#
• change background 
• and so on ....

II.4) WIFI

Good setup HowTo can be found at Networking Basics: WiFi and Bluetooth

• detect device
  • sysctl net.wlan.devices