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.

To use Xfce with X2Go, please see the intro to x2go wiki.

• NOTE: If the TAB keyboard key is not working on X2Go, please see fix listed here.

Troubleshooting

Desktop Reload

If your panels are working but the desktop is black:

1. open a terminal using the Applications launcher
2. xfdesktop --reload

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:

1. 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.

1. xfce4-panel --quit
2. pkill xfconfd
3. rm -rf ~/.config/xfce4/panel.
4. rm -rf ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-panel.xml.
5. xfce4-panel

Full XFCE 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,

1. logout
2. open a terminal using ssh, X2Go, or NoMachine.
3. type rm -rf ~/.config/xfce4 && rm -rf ~/.local/share/xfce4
4. exit your ssh session, and log back in graphically.

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