Installing GNOME on Debian GNU/Linux 12.8.0 Core (Step-by-Step Guide)

Recently, I tackled an interesting challenge while setting up GNOME Desktop Environment on a minimal Debian GNU/Linux 12.8.0 Core system. Here's a breakdown of the process for anyone looking to do the same:

1- Configured a Static IP Address

First, I assigned a static IP to ensure consistent connectivity

Go to this file path and edit:

# nano /etc/network/interfaces

Replace:

auto eth0 

iface eth0 inet dhcp
        

With:

auto eth0
 iface eth0 inet static
 address 192.168.x.x             (Give your desired IP Address)
 netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.168.x.x 
dns-nameservers 4.4.4.4
dns-nameservers 8.8.8.8        

Save & Exit: Ctrl+O (Enter), Ctrl+X

2- Added Repository for sudo Package

The minimal system lacked sudo, so I updated the repository list

Go to this path and edit:

# nano /etc/apt/sources.list

Added the following lines:

deb https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main
deb https://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security main 
deb https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main        

Save & Exit: Ctrl+O (Enter), Ctrl+X

Updated & Installed sudo:

# apt-get update && apt-get upgrade && apt-get install sudo -y

3- Installed GNOME Package

Finally, installed GNOME and set up the graphical desktop environment:

# sudo tasksel install desktop gnome-desktop

Manage GNOME Display Manager (GDM3) services:

# sudo /etc/init.d/gdm3 start

# sudo /etc/init.d/gdm3 stop

# sudo /etc/init.d/gdm3 restart

Outcome: A fully functional GNOME desktop environment on Debian Core!

Takeaway: Troubleshooting and configuring core systems teaches you a lot about Linux internals and system management.