Red Hat Bugzilla – Bug 678089
RHEL6 install with GNOME, X (but without KDE) runs text setup only
Last modified: 2011-12-06 13:44:24 EST
Description of problem: After fresh installation of RHEL6 with GNOME desktop (General Purpose Desktop) firstboot runs text mode setup not graphical setup. If KDE is also selected graphical setup starts. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): How reproducible: Install RHEL6 with GNOME, X Steps to Reproduce: 1. install RHEL6 with all defaults, no disk encryption 2. specify "Use All Space" during installation type 3. accept default partitioning layout 4. specify "Basic Server", "Red Hat Enterprise Linux" repository (default) and "Customize Now" 5. take defaults for all components ("Base System", "Servers", etc.) but for "Desktops" specify: - "Fonts" - "General Purpose Desktop" - "X Window System" 6. after the installation has completed, click "Reboot" Actual results: - After firstboot system comes up in text mode setup Expected results: - After firstboot system comes up with graphical setup (Welcome screen) Additional info: - First saw this issue on a ProLiant in the lab and duplicated on the AMD Phenom II desktop system specified here - The system comes up at run level 3 not 5. - yum list shows gnome and X are installed - init 5, startx brings up desktop with no panels Note that if: - "Fonts" - "General Purpose Desktop" - "KDE Desktop" - "X Window System" are selected under Desktops then graphical setup (Welcome screen) runs as expected. For customers wanting to run GNOME and not KDE this is confusing and not clean.
Because you did not install any graphical login, your system boots up to runlevel 3 and because you're in runlevel 3, firstboot runs in text mode. I don't think it's a good idea to run graphical firstboot in runlevel 3.
Greetings Martin, Could you be a little more specific as what specific graphical login is missing here in order for GNOME to be available? Does GNOME require both "Desktop" and "General Purpose Desktop" to be installed? If so then I would argue that this is confusing for customers as the component descriptions: Desktop - "A minimal desktop that can also be used as a thin client." General Purpose Desktop - "A general purpose desktop" would lend one to believe this is an either/or selection as I did. In RHEL5.5 these are not broken out separately so you would not encounter this. I thought that since I installed "General Purpose Desktop" and "X Window System" I would have a working GNOME desktop (and graphical setup). I agree that this may not necessarily be a bug but it is no doubt confusing for customers and possibly more so for those coming from 5.x. Thanks - let me know you thoughts. Cheers, -m
Just a quick update: I did try an install with the same host and when I selected: Desktop - "A minimal desktop that can also be used as a thin client." General Purpose Desktop - "A general purpose desktop" X Window System the graphical installer did indeed start so it would appear to be the case that there is a dependency on both GNOME components. -m
Desktop is the minimal desktop; GP Desktop is the stuff added on top of that to make it full-featured. So it's expected that you'd want both, not just GP Desktop. (The naming isn't the best, but it's not something we can realistically change at this point, since it's exposed in kickstart.)
Hi Bill, Thanks for the follow up. My suggestion at this point would be to consider having the text description for General Desktop changed from: "A general purpose desktop" to something like: "A general purpose desktop. For full GNOME features also select Desktop" or "A general purpose desktop that expands on Desktop and provides full GNOME features" A simple tweak that could avoid customers hitting this and opening new cases. Best regards, -m
I changed it to A general purpose desktop that adds to Desktop and provides full GNOME features. in CVS and it will be in the next compose. I'll work on getting the translations.
Created attachment 519452 [details] screenshot RHEL6.2-20110822.5 still says "General purpose desktop." - not fixed. See screenshot.
Looks like the change didn't make it into the last tree. Moving back to ON_QA until tested with later tree.
Created attachment 519776 [details] fixed description anaconda-13.21.134-1 / 0823.1 tree - the description has been updated.
Since the problem described in this bug report should be resolved in a recent advisory, it has been closed with a resolution of ERRATA. For information on the advisory, and where to find the updated files, follow the link below. If the solution does not work for you, open a new bug report. http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHEA-2011-1743.html