CentOS / RHEL 7 : How to Install GUI

Installing the environment group “Server with GUI”
# yum groupinstall "Server with GUI"
“Server with GUI” installs the default GUI which is GNOME.

 In case if you want to install only core GNOME packages use :

# yum groupinstall 'X Window System' 'GNOME'

Enable GUI on system start up. In RHEL 7, systemd uses ‘targets’ instead of runlevels. The file /etc/inittab is no more used to change run levels. Issue the following command to enable the GUI on system start.

To set a default target :

# systemctl set-default graphical.target

To change the current target to graphical without reboot :

# systemctl start graphical.target

Verify the default target :

# systemctl get-default

graphical.target