Hi, I had similar problem, initially. And what i did was, (1) after installing centos (without gui stuff), (2) i installed webmin (for setting up very important services at-least for it to start running and provide essential services), then (3) from a windows machine/box or from another linux box, access the main linux server(s) via SSH connection, in ssh client software (4) create tunnel for accessing webmin. webmin allows to configure servers using web-browser software from remote machines, and there are many other "webmin" like admin panel software. (none of the admin panel software are officially supported by centos (as far as i'm aware), so you're on your own for doing research/learn). Most of these admin panel software will ALSO allow to access server via shell/terminal/command-prompt type of window which will appear inside the web-browser software, for doing command-lines for fine tuning server software settings. And since you're using SSH client, you'll already have a shell/terminal, so no need to use that feat inside the web-browser. If you want to accesss server only via admin-panel's control port (for "webmin" that control port is by default the port 10000), then, you can use that shell/terminal window inside the web-browser software. Next what i did, (or i suppose to have done), is to (5) create a non-root regular user, for this discussion i'm naming it "non-root". i allowed "non-root" to access server from internet/routable IP, and restricted or disabled "root" user's login via SSH. (6) Changed SSH client's settings to use that "non-root" user for ssh connection. When you need to do something that requires "root" user level access, then use su, su -, sudo, etc command before the function commands. (7) i have started to learn linux/centos and configure & fine-tune further. IMHO ... Various Data, Settings from servers are needed to be shown to Admins graphically, for that, use various admin panel type of software and access it remotely, and avoid using graphical software/desktop on the server itself. Using GUI/desktop on "linux server" is considered as very bad recipe for very very weak/bad configuration/food/product/services, open to various type of harmful, unwanted activities, loopholes, etc. But if you MUST have to, only then, after login as root, first create a non-root / regular user. Logout from root, and login as non-root. Install GUI/desktop related software via that non-root user, in some software you will have no choice but to raise the access level of that non-root user to little bit higher level or add this "non-root" user in the allowed list, for desktop/GUI related software to work, (you will need to do your own research for that, if you want to use non-root and keep the server safer, than using root directly and open it up to attacks and weak configurations). And if you do also need SSH access to that server, then create non-root-2 regular user, and allow only that user to access server via SSH, no one else. If i'm making mistake in above instruction procedure, please correct me, instruct us/mailing-list users, what would be better/safer way to do this, (a Safer way to use desktop/GUI on centos linux server, if exist). And my recommendation is in above, the paragraph which starts with "IMHO". -- Bright Star. Received from Bassem Sossan, on 2013-02-13 10:48 PM: > Hello > > I've changed from Ms Windows 2008 R2 to CentOS 6 recently, and > there are many aspects to learn in relation to command line ( > Bash scripting, package system managing, file system and so on > )... > > I need to apply as much as I can of Network Infrastructure > knowledge ( DNS, DHCP and Virtualization .... ) concepts using > CentOS 6 GUI... > > I know that I must learn dealing with linux using command tools > and that will come, but it has much more of time, so, Am I forced > as a learner to follow command line tools before going to GUI or > I can get a good knowledge and experience by implementing my > skills on GUI ? > > So sorry to pothering.... > > All the best... _______________________________________________ > CentOS mailing list CentOS at centos.org > http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos > -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: signature.asc Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 195 bytes Desc: OpenPGP digital signature URL: <http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos/attachments/20130214/959592af/attachment-0004.sig>