Install KDE in FreeBSD 9.x

Some people like to play with FreeBSD and to use it like a desktop operating system. Normally, FreeBSD is a text mode server OS with full packages.

How do you install a desktop environment like KDE and GNOME on FreeBSD? In my example, I will explain how I have installed KDE 4.8.4 on FreeBSD 9.1.

uname-a

First, login to FreeBSD under root and run sysinstall > Pre-packaged Software > Install from FTP server > X11 > KDE and Xorg:

root@FreeBSD-Unixmen:/root # sysinstall

freebsd1

freebsd2

freebsd3

freebsd4

freebsd5

freebsd6

The setup will take some time to download and install the packages and dependencies required.

Now add some extra line to /etc/rc.conf to avoid freezing keyboard and mouse:

dbus_enable="YES"
hald_enable="YES"
kdm4_enable="YES"
local_startup="${local_startup} /usr/local/kde4/etc/rc.d"
dbus_enable=”YES” 
hald_enable=”YES

Please reboot, login and enjoy!

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