How to install GNOME as a desktop environment on CentOS 7

environment

• OS：CentOS Linux release 7.7.1908

[root@CENTOS7 ~]# cat /etc/redhat-release
CentOS Linux release 7.7.1908 (Core)
[root@CENTOS7 ~]#

procedure

1. Install GNOME Desktop

Install "GNOME Desktop" with the following command.

yum -y groups install "GNOME Desktop"

Execution result

[root@CENTOS7 ~]# yum -y groups install "GNOME Desktop"
Loaded plugin:fastestmirror
There is no installed groups file.
Maybe run: yum groups mark convert (see man yum)
Determining fastest mirrors
 * base: ftp.riken.jp
 * extras: ftp.riken.jp
 * updates: ftp.riken.jp
http://download.nus.edu.sg/mirror/centos/7.8.2003/os/x86_64/repodata/repomd.xml: [Errno 12] Timeout on http://download.nus.edu.sg/mirror/centos/7.8.2003/os/x86_64/repodata/repomd.xml: (28, 'Connection timed out after 30000 milliseconds')
Try another mirror.
base                                                     | 3.6 kB     00:00
extras                                                   | 2.9 kB     00:00
updates                                                  | 2.9 kB     00:00
(1/4): base/7/x86_64/group_gz                              | 153 kB   00:00
(2/4): extras/7/x86_64/primary_db                          | 206 kB   00:03
(3/4): updates/7/x86_64/primary_db                         | 4.5 MB   00:19
(4/4): base/7/x86_64/primary_db                            | 6.1 MB   00:32
Warning: Group core does not have any packages to install.
Resolving dependencies
-->Performing transaction confirmation.
--->Package ModemManager.x86_64 0:1.6.10-3.el7_Install 6
-->I'm dealing with dependencies: ModemManager-glib(x86-64) = 1.6.10-3.el7_6 packages: ModemManager-1.6.10-3.el7_6.x86_64
-->I'm dealing with dependencies: libqmi-utils package: ModemManager-1.6.10-3.el7_6.x86_64

~ Omitted ~

Has completed!
[root@CENTOS7 ~]#

2. Start X Window

Execute the following command from the CentOS 7 console. (It must be executed directly from the console, not from a remote connection such as Teraterm.)

startx

The desktop screen will start.

3. Language selection

Select "Japanese" and click "Next".

4. Keyboard selection

Make sure the keyboard is set to "Japanese" and click "Next".

5. Location-based service selection

Turn off location services and click Next.

6. Connect to your online account

Click "Skip".

7. Ready

Click "Get Started with CentOS Linux".

8. Reboot

Restart CentOS 7 from the desktop screen.

9. Change default.target

Change default.target from "multi-user.target" to "graphical.target".

Check the current "default.target" with the following command.

systemctl get-default

Execution result

[root@CENTOS7 ~]# systemctl get-default
multi-user.target
[root@CENTOS7 ~]#

I was able to confirm that default.target is "multi-user.target".

Check the "default.target" link with the following command.

ls -l /etc/systemd/system/default.target

Execution result

[root@CENTOS7 ~]# ls -l /etc/systemd/system/default.target
lrwxrwxrwx.1 root root 37 October 12 2019/etc/systemd/system/default.target -> /lib/systemd/system/multi-user.target
[root@CENTOS7 ~]#

It was confirmed that the link of "default.target" is "multi-user.target".

Change default.target to "graphical.target" with the following command.

systemctl set-default graphical.target

Execution result

[root@CENTOS7 ~]# systemctl set-default graphical.target
Removed symlink /etc/systemd/system/default.target.
Created symlink from /etc/systemd/system/default.target to /usr/lib/systemd/system/graphical.target.
[root@CENTOS7 ~]#

Check "default.target" with the following command.

systemctl get-default

Execution result

[root@CENTOS7 ~]# systemctl get-default
graphical.target
[root@CENTOS7 ~]#

I was able to confirm that default.target is "graphical.target".

Check the "default.target" link with the following command.

ls -l /etc/systemd/system/default.target

Execution result

[root@CENTOS7 ~]# ls -l /etc/systemd/system/default.target
lrwxrwxrwx.1 root root 40 September 12 22:13 /etc/systemd/system/default.target -> /usr/lib/systemd/system/graphical.target
[root@CENTOS7 ~]#

It was confirmed that the link of "default.target" is "graphical.target".

10. Reboot CentOS 7

Reboot CentOS 7.

The GUI desktop environment starts. Click "Can't find your account?"

11. Log in as root

Log in as the root user.

Enter root as the user name and click Next.

Enter your password and click Sign In.

12. Rename the standard folder

The "Do you want to update the name of the standard folder to the current language?" Screen is displayed. Click Rename.

The desktop screen is displayed.

that's all