Xfce
Introduction
Xfce is the default
Desktop Environment on all
CLASSE Scientific Linux 7 (SL7) systems.
From the
xfce.org site:
"Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment for UNIX-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and low on system resources, while still being visually appealing and user friendly."
For a tour of the main features of Xfce 4.12 version used at CLASSE, please see the
xfce.org 4.12 tour page.
Xfce avoids issue with running Multiple Sessions on Linux
Both KDE and Gnome suffer from NFS locking issues when the same user account is simultaneously running multiple sessions, across multiple computers.
Xfce avoids thess problems, thus is recommended for both the local destop and a remote session via
X2Go.
For additional notes on running multiple sessions at once, please see
MultipleSessions.
Troubleshooting
Desktop Reset
If your XFCE desktop is acting or looking strange (in particular after moving to a new OS), it frequently helps to reset your desktop environment as follows,
- logout
- open a terminal using ssh, X2Go, or NoMachine.
- type
rm -rf ~/.config/xfce4 && rm -rf ~/.local/share/xfce4
- exit your ssh session, and log back in graphically.
XFCE Panels
If you just want to reset your XFCE panels and not your full desktop, some problems can be resolved as follows.
If your panels aren't opening or displaying properly:
- open a terminal and type
xfce4-panel
Rebooting would do the same thing, if that’s an option.
If that doesn't work, open a terminal and type the following commands.
- xfce4-panel --quit
- pkill xfconfd
- rm -rf ~/.config/xfce4/panel.
- rm -rf ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-panel.xml.
- xfce4-panel
Manually trigger the transparent screen lock from Xfce:
- right-click on a panel, select “Panel”, and choose “Add New Items”
- select Launcher, and click Add
- right-click on the new launcher, and click properties
- click the icon for “Add a new empty item”
- - Name = xautolock
- - Comment = xautolock
- - command = /usr/X11R6/bin/xautolock -locknow
- - Pick icon of choice
- click Save