Do you want to install the Cinnamon Desktop environment on AlmaLinux 8 CLI server or desktop? Then here are the commands to follow.
Cinnamon Desktop environment is one of the popular UIs because of its mid-weight and familiar Windows-like User Interface. Cinnamon is visually more complex than Mate. There are more effects and animations at the expense of performance. But as long as you have a moderately up-to-date computer, it will run smoothly. Cinnamon offers a much more modern look while remaining subtle and simple.
It is a further development of Gnome 3. Therefore newer and more extensive features can be supported. This includes entire themes that you can activate in Cinnamon.
Applets in the taskbar of Cinnamon are also made more efficient. In principle, you can even integrate your own extensions into the taskbar. However, this requires advanced programming knowledge.
By default, this desktop GUI with Linux Mint as desktop environment however, we can install it on Almalinux 8 as well.
Install Cinnamon Desktop on AlmaLinux 8
The command given here to install Cinnamon Desktop GUI on Almalinux 8 server or Desktop will be the same for other RedHat-based Linux such as CentOS 8 stream and Oracle Linux.
1. Requirements
• RedHat based Almalinux 8
• Non-root sudo user
• Command Terminal access
• Internet Connection
2. Update your AlmaLinux 8
Before moving further and installing the Cinnamon desktop on your Almalinux, let’s first ensure that all the things on our Linux OS are up to date. For that, we just need to run the Dnf update command, given below.
sudo -y dnf update && sudo dnf upgrade
3. Add EPEL Repository& enable PowerTools
There are some dependencies or packages that are available via RedHat’s EPEL repository and PowerTools. Unlike the EPEL repo, the PowerTools one is already on our AlmaLinux 8, we just need to enable it. Hence, follow the given commands:
sudo dnf install epel-release -y
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools
Once you have added the repositories, let’s run the update command once to refresh the repository cache.
sudo dnf update
4. Add repositories for Cinnamon on AlmaLinux 8
Well, as usual like many other Desktop Linux environments Cinnamon is also not available through the default base repo of Almalinux. The main reason behind it is most of the time Redhat Linux is used by professionals in a server environment with a command-line interface.
Therefore, we have to enable some Corp repositories to get the packages for Cinnamon installation
sudo dnf copr enable stenstorp/cinnamon
sudo dnf copr enable stenstorp/lightdm
sudo dnf copr enable stenstorp/icon-themes
Run the system update command to refresh the repo cache.
sudo dnf update
5. Install Cinnamon Desktop on Almalinux 8
We already have added all the package source repositories we required for the installation of the Cinnamon desktop environment on Almalinux 8. Hence, use the DNF package manager to get what is required for this GUI.
sudo dnf install cinnamon gnome-terminal gnome-system-monitor mint-themes mint-y-theme mint-*-icons
6. Install LightDM Display Manager
As per the maintainer of the Cinnamon repository for Redhat-based Linux systems, the default GDM display on the system using the default GNOME interface could create issues. Hence, it is recommended to install LightDM, it is also required if you are using a command-line server.
sudo dnf install lightdm-settings slick-greeter-cinnamon
After that Disable GDM and Enable LightDM Display manager
sudo systemctl disable gdm
sudo systemctl enable lightdm
Those who are using the command-line interface server of Almalinux, also need to set the default target to graphical UI.
sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
Once all the above-given commands are executed successfully, reboot your system.
sudo reboot
7. Login Cinnamon Desktop
Well, we are done with all required configurations needed to install and use Cinnamon Desktop UI on AlmaLinux 8. Now to use it as a default interface on Linux where the user already has Gnome or any other UI, select the user on the login screen and then click the CLOG icon, from where select the installed CINNAMON.
8. Desktop Environment
Finally, you will have the Cinnamon Desktop user interface on your AlmaLinux 8 desktop within sleek icons and a Windows-like interface. Start Menu is on the left side similar to Win 7 and 10 with all essential Linux applications.
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