KDE-Forum.org

HOWTO Set KDE Integration in Fedora Core 5
by; Shaun C Marolf (technoshaun)

DISCLAIMER:

This HOWTO is provided as is. This is the method I used to accomplish the task detailed in this HOWTO. However, I cannot take responsibility if something goes wrong. You follow the instructions outlined in this HOWTO at your own risk. DO NOT FOLLOW THEM IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURE. There is no warranty expressed or implied as to the final outcome of following this HOWTO.

INTRODUCTION:

Fedora is primarily Gnome orientated. That in and of itself shouldn't be an issue except the Fedora team disabled KDE integration to keep it from interfering with the Gnome Control Center. Its not that the functions aren't there in KDE, they are, just hidden. Activating and using them with Gnome as the integrated desktop can become an issue real quick.

If you, like me, want to remove Gnome and use KDE exclusively in Fedora then this HOWTO is for you. I will detail the necessary steps to prepare, install, and configure KDE to be your integrated Desktop. I will also fix a few minor annoyances along the way.

STEP ONE - UPDATE:

Before making such a massive change its best to make sure that Fedora is fully updated. This can cause issues especially if you are running commercial drivers for X. Those drivers will not work on an updated X or Kernel. If you are using the Open Source Video Drivers this shouldn't be an issue. Same goes with any device that uses closed source though. Until they update you shouldn't either. Any kernel orientated drivers need to be compiled to work with that kernel.

STEP TWO - DETERMINE IF KDE IS INSTALLED:

There are several ways to do this but the easiest is to log out the current session and see if you can select KDE at the login manager under "Sessions." If you can great then all we have to do is run another update, if not don't panic we can install it.

Since Fedora will not install KDE unless you tell it to I am going to assume for the moment you don't. Even if you do have KDE installed follow the next few steps.

STEP THREE - ADD NECESSARY REPO FILE:

Login into a Gnome Session as root. (Not normally recommended but we are going to be doing the next few steps as root so this is easier. Especially since I don't know how to guide you to the tools in Gnome. If anyone wants to rewrite this section so that users don't have to login as root I would appreciate it.)

Open gedit and cut and paste the following into it:

# kde.repo, v2.0

[kde]
name=kde
mirrorlist=http://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt/kde-redhat/fedora/mirrors-stable
gpgkey=http://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt/kde-redhat/kde-redhat.RPM-GPG-KEY
#gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-kde-redhat
enabled=1

[kde-all]
name=kde-all
mirrorlist=http://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt/kde-redhat/all/stable/mirrors
gpgkey=http://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt/kde-redhat/kde-redhat.RPM-GPG-KEY
#gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-kde-redhat
enabled=1

# NOTE: enable/disable *both* testing/testing-all together; requires/depends on kde/kde-all repo(s)
[kde-testing]
name=kde-testing
mirrorlist=http://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt/kde-redhat/fedora/mirrors-testing
gpgkey=http://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt/kde-redhat/kde-redhat.RPM-GPG-KEY
#gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-kde-redhat
enabled=1

[kde-testing-all]
name=kde-testing-all
mirrorlist=http://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt/kde-redhat/all/testing/mirrors
gpgkey=http://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt/kde-redhat/kde-redhat.RPM-GPG-KEY
#gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-kde-redhat
enabled=1

# NOTE: enable/disable *both* unstable,unstable-all together; requires/depends-on testing repo(s)
[kde-unstable]
name=kde-unstable
mirrorlist=http://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt/kde-redhat/fedora/mirrors-unstable
gpgkey=http://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt/kde-redhat/kde-redhat.RPM-GPG-KEY
#gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-kde-redhat
enabled=0

[kde-unstable-all]
name=kde-redhat-unstable-all
mirrorlist=http://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt/kde-redhat/all/unstable/mirrors
gpgkey=http://apt.kde-redhat.org/apt/kde-redhat/kde-redhat.RPM-GPG-KEY
#gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-kde-redhat
enabled=0

Save this to /etc/yum.repos.d/kde.repo. Once the file is saved close gedit and open a terminal.

STEP FOUR - DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL PACKAGES:

If you don't have KDE installed type yum groupinstall kde <Enter>

If you do have KDE installed type yum groupupdate kde <Enter>

The repo you created will get you KDE 3.5.4 (latest release) these are FC5 packages, not RH packages so you are safe.

STEP FIVE - TAKE A COFFEE BREAK:

I am. This is gonna take some time.

STEP SIX - LOGIN INTO KDE:

Once all the packages are downloaded and installed logout out of Gnome. At the Login screen click on Sessions and select KDE. Enter your User Name and Password and login. You should now be starting KDE.

Congratulations you are now running the latest release of KDE.

STEP SEVEN - REPLACE GDM WITH KDM:

GDM = Gnome Display Manager, KDM = K Display Manager both run on the X Display Manager (XDM) to allow user logins into the X Server, and selected GUI. Both GDM and KDM enhance the login screen appearance and function.

Open konqueror in super user mode. (You'll find it under System >> More Applications >> File Manager - Super User) go to /etc/sysconfig and open desktop using an editor such as kwrite. Place the following into it:

DESKTOP="KDE"
DISPLAYMANAGER="KDE"

Then save and close your editor but not your file manager.

STEP EIGHT - CONFIGURE KDM:

KDM by default does not allow root logins. However, this tends to be unrealistic in a real world environment. Especially when the only two users are you and root. In a corporate environment this makes absolute sense, but not on a personal system. Fedora further muddies things up by shipping their own configuration for KDM and you can't tell the difference between it and GDM with the applied Fedora themes.

If that wasn't enough to confuse you the configuration file (kdmrc) can be in one of two places or both.

/etc/X11/xdm/ and - or /etc/kde/kdm/

If you have it in both then rename the one in /etc/X11/xdm/ (simply put a ~ at the end.) If its only in /etc/X11/xdm/ then copy it to /etc/kde/kdm/ and rename the one in /etc/X11/xdm/ as previously mentioned. This will place in the standard KDE location.

Here is a copy of the kdmrc file I use:

[General]
ConfigVersion=2.3
ConsoleTTYs=tty1,tty2,tty3,tty4,tty5,tty6
PidFile=/var/run/kdm.pid
ReserveServers=:1,:2,:3
ServerVTs=-7
StaticServers=:0

[Shutdown]
BootManager=None
HaltCmd=/sbin/halt
RebootCmd=/sbin/reboot

[X-*-Core]
AllowNullPasswd=false
AllowRootLogin=true <<< Set this entry by default it is false
AllowShutdown=Root
AutoReLogin=false
ClientLogFile=.xsession-errors-%s
Reset=/usr/share/config/kdm/Xreset
Session=/usr/share/config/kdm/Xsession
Setup=/usr/share/config/kdm/Xsetup
Startup=/usr/share/config/kdm/Xstartup

[X-*-Greeter]
AntiAliasing=false
ColorScheme=
EchoMode=OneStar
FaceSource=AdminOnly
FailFont=Sans Serif,10,-1,5,75,0,0,0,0,0
ForgingSeed=1154974673
GUIStyle=
GreetFont=Serif,20,-1,5,50,0,0,0,0,0
GreetString=Welcome to %s at %n
GreeterPos=50,50
HiddenUsers=zope,vnstat,torrent,squale,nagios,mythtv,mldonkey,kismet,gkrellmd,clamav,backuppc
Language=en_US
LogoArea=Logo
LogoPixmap=/home/shaun/BSG-Seal.png
MaxShowUID=65000
MinShowUID=100
Preloader=/usr/bin/preloadkde
SelectedUsers=
ShowUsers=NotHidden
SortUsers=true
StdFont=Sans Serif,10,-1,5,50,0,0,0,0,0
Theme=/usr/share/apps/kdm/themes/circles
UseBackground=true
UserCompletion=false
UserList=true

[X-:*-Core]
AllowNullPasswd=true
AllowShutdown=All
NoPassEnable=false
NoPassUsers=
ServerArgsLocal=-nolisten tcp
ServerCmd=/usr/bin/X -br

[X-:*-Greeter]
AllowClose=false
DefaultUser=backuppc
FocusPasswd=true
LoginMode=DefaultLocal
PreselectUser=Previous

[X-:0-Core]
AutoLoginAgain=false
AutoLoginDelay=0
AutoLoginEnable=false
AutoLoginLocked=false
AutoLoginUser=backuppc
ClientLogFile=.xsession-errors

[Xdmcp]
Enable=false
Willing=/usr/share/config/kdm/Xwilling

Now my kdmrc is not what you will see, since I no longer have the default Fedora kdmrc. There are two separate entries in Fedora's default kdmrc that say AllowRootLogin=false, both must be set to true if you want to allow root logins.

I also recommend you comment out (put a # in front) the line that tells kdmrc what theme to use Theme=. I have seen it recommended to add the line UseTheme=false. I do not recommend this because you may want use another theme in the future.

Now save your new kdmrc file.

STEP NINE - CHECK YOUR CONGIGURATION:

Close all programs and select Logout >> End Current Session, this will take you to the greeter and if all went well you should see the default KDE login (unless you didn't comment out the Theme= line.) Though it is simple I like it myself. By the way you can replace the K-Logo with another pic or a clock, or shut it off completely. You can set its parameters in KDE's Control Center under Administration >> Login Manager. If you are seeing this then you should be able login as root. (Provided you set it to allow root logins) Try and see but logout immediately once you finish loading up. Only use the root login for when your normal user account somehow gets hosed and you need to fix it.

STEP TEN - SETTING KDE INTERGRATION:

Now we get to the Holy Grail for KDE users and the part that had me utterly frustrated beyond belief. I'm a hardcore KDE user and its not that I dislike Gnome, far from it. Gnome is a great GUI but I much prefer KDE. In Linux everything is defined by a set of text files. Even the menus you see in your GUI interface. I was diligently searching for the files that defined kcontrol's menus. They do exist but are very well hidden. For good reason really but I was looking to hand edit them when KDE already has an excellent admin tool available, Kiosk.

The Fedora team by default disabled certain parts of kcontrol. Again, this is because Fedora is primarily a Gnome based distribution. From their point of view it was a good decision. One as an administrator I have to agree with. Having more than one set of tools that can change system wide parameters can cause a lot of issues. Since Fedora is a Gnome based distro they correctly selected the Gnome tools and hid the KDE tools. Notice I said hid, meaning they are there just waiting. Bringing them into play is simple, much simpler than the method I was looking to do and Kiosk provided the means to do it.

The Kiosk Admin Tool can be found under "System" in your KDE menu. Start Kiosk and click on "Setup Profile". Select "KDE Menu". Make sure both boxes are unchecked. Otherwise you will not be able to make any system changes or edit your menus unless you are logged in as root. Click on "Setup KDE Menu". This will now rewrite all the files, including the ones affecting kcontrol. All the kcm modules that were previously hidden away will now show up. the Peripherals section in Control Center will become visible and you will be able to administer your system, and KDE from it. You will be asked for the root password before the changes are written. (If you don't have Kiosk use yum to get it.)

Now that we have are KDE tools available we can now safely eliminate the Gnome modules. The KDE modules WILL NOT INTERGRATE until you do this.

STEP ELEVEN - REMOVE GNOME:

You don't have to remove Gnome and if you want to keep it then skip the following and go to step Twelve.

as root run yum groupremove gnome

Yep its that simple.

STEP TWELVE - REMOVE DEFAULT FEDORA SYSTEM TOOLS:

Even if you removed Gnome the tools are still there. Remember they are the default Fedora tools so they don't get removed when you remove Gnome. Which oddly enough is a benefit to you since key Gnome lib files you do want are also still on your system. You will need these lib files for programs like "The GIMP" and "GNUCash" and many others but the tools simply have to go if you want the KDE tools to integrate with Linux correctly. All the default Fedora system tools are similarly named which makes it easy to get rid of them. However, the best tools to use for this is yumex, or Kyum. Up to this point I have avoided using the graphic front end interfaces for yum. However Fedora's core system tools are not a group. They are part of the core system. They can be removed, just not as a group. So in this case using yumex or Kyum makes a lot of sense. Regardless of which one you use we are interested in the installed packages list. Once they load up select The appropriate button to list all installed packages. Once the list is displayed search for "system-config" and all the default Gnome based Fedora system tools will be shown. Select all of them for removal. Then process the action. The files that the tools depend on will also be removed and its these dependencies that keep KDE from integrating correctly.

Once you have removed all of the tools KDE will immediately integrate itself.

At this point I recommend a system restart. This will flush the buffers and clear RAM and allow the system to start fresh with your new configuration.

CONGRATULATIONS YOU'RE RUNNING A FULLY INTERGRATED KDE INSTALLATION:

You will notice that KDE now runs a bit smoother and some of the overhead from the Fedora tools is gone. Though minor it does have a positive affect on system performance.

FINAL NOTES:

This HOWTO is written to allow people to make a choice. Linux is about choice after all. I chose Fedora because it correctly identified and setup the hardware on my laptop. This was a major issue with other ditros and Fedora was the solution. I am, however, a KDE user. I do not dislike Gnome and use it on other systems but for my personal computer (a.k.a. my laptop) I wanted KDE. Like any HOWTO I went to find a solution to my problem and once I solved that problem I wrote a HOWTO to help others who are looking to do the same thing. Gnome is a great GUI and I like many things about it. Gnome has features not found in KDE and KDE has features not found in Gnome. But Linux allows us to make choices and I chose to use KDE as some others will. This is not an endorsement of KDE over Gnome nor should it be construed as such. Rather this document only gives the information to allow one to make a choice.