This is an update to previous posts for NetBSD 6x:
http://slice2.com/2015/01/03/howto-install-the-xfce-4-desktop-on-netbsd-6-1-5/
http://slice2.com/2013/10/10/howto-install-the-xfce-4-desktop-on-netbsd-6-1-2/

For a lightweight functional desktop on NetBSD, install XFCE. As root, perform the following steps. This covers 32 and 64 bit x86 hardware. Since NetBSD essentially runs on everything, simply adjust the repository path to your architecture from the list here: http://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/

Note that your hardware support may vary. Especially for video cards. Although NetBSD runs on everything, the command line always gets the most love. Video card support can be hit or miss.

1) Setup your binary repository.
> mkdir -p /usr/pkg/etc/pkgin
> touch /usr/pkg/etc/pkgin/repositories.conf
> vi /usr/pkg/etc/pkgin/repositories.conf and add path:

For x64
http://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/amd64/7.0_2016Q1/All/

For x32
http://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/i386/7.0_2016Q1/All/

2) Add the NetBSD ftp server to your host file. This is for convenience and can be removed when done.
> vi /etc/hosts and add:
199.233.217.201 ftp.netbsd.org

3) Export your path.
Note: I don’t know why the encoded quote characters keep appearing after /ALL/ in the path statements below. It must be an html coding issue and I’m not a developer. Just make sure that at the end of the path statement it ends with /7.0_2016Q1/ALL/” with no trailing characters. In other words, it should look like the paths depicted in step 1 above only it must end in a ” character.

For x64:
> export PKG_PATH=”http://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/amd64/7.0_2016Q1/All/”

For x32:
> export PKG_PATH=”http://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/i386/7.0_2016Q1/All/”

4) Install the latest version of pkgin on your system.
> pkg_add -v pkgin-*

5) Update the pkgin database and install XFCE.
> pkgin update

> pkgin install xfce4
calculating dependencies… done.

nothing to upgrade.
121 packages to be installed (251M to download, 887M to install):

nettle-3.1.1 libtasn1-4.5 libcfg+-0.6.2nb3 gmp-6.0.0a libproxy-0.4.11 libgpg-error-1.20 libcddb-1.3.2nb1 p5-Business-ISBN-Data-20140910.002nb1 py27-cElementTree-2.7.10 libIDL-0.8.14nb4 at-spi2-core-2.16.0 icu-55.1nb1 libepoxy-1.3.1nb1 at-spi2-atk-2.16.0 ORBit2-2.14.19nb4 gobject-introspection-1.44.0 p5-Business-ISBN-2.09nb1 usbids-20081118 pciids-20150907 libvolume_id-0.81.1nb1 hal-info-20091130nb4 libcdio-0.93nb3 libgcrypt-1.6.4 glib-networking-2.36.2nb2 readline-6.3nb3 popt-1.16nb1 mit-krb5-1.10.7nb7 libiconv-1.14nb2 gnutls-3.3.18 gettext-lib-0.19.4 jbigkit-2.1 fribidi-0.19.7 enca-1.15 libogg-1.3.2 libidn-1.32 xvidcore-1.3.3 x264-devel-20150717 libvpx-1.4.0nb1 libtheora-1.1.1nb2 libass-0.12.2 lame-3.99.5nb3 tiff-4.0.6 lcms2-2.7 poppler-0.34.0 samba-3.6.25nb2 libsoup-2.50.0 libgnome-keyring-3.12.0 libcdio-paranoia-0.93nb1 hal-0.5.14nb16 p5-URI-1.69 xcb-util-0.4.0 libvorbis-1.3.5 libltdl-2.4.2 gstreamer0.10-0.10.36nb8 GConf-2.32.4nb10 iso-codes-3.61 gtk3+-3.16.6nb1 xmlcatmgr-2.2nb1 perl-5.22.0 pcre-8.38 libelf-0.8.13nb1 lzo-2.09 harfbuzz-1.0.3 cairo-gobject-1.14.2nb1 libffi-3.2.1 libxml2-2.9.2nb3 gnome-icon-theme-3.12.0 shared-mime-info-1.4 python27-2.7.10 py27-expat-2.7.10 pango-1.37.1 cairo-1.14.2nb1 atk-2.16.0 gtksourceview2-2.10.5nb24 glib2-2.44.1nb1 policykit-0.9nb18 xfce4-garcon-0.5.0 xfce4-conf-4.12.0nb2 libxklavier-5.0nb5 libglade-2.6.4nb22 libcanberra-0.27nb5 vte-0.28.1nb16 startup-notification-0.12nb3 xfce4-exo-0.10.6 libxfce4util-4.12.1nb1 libnotify-0.7.6nb2 libexif-0.6.21 gvfs-1.6.7nb17 poppler-glib-0.34.0 png-1.6.20 openjpeg-2.1.0 libgsf-1.14.34 jpeg-9anb1 gdk-pixbuf2-2.30.8nb1 ffmpegthumbnailer-2.0.8nb4 ffmpeg1-1.2.12nb1 dbus-glib-0.104 dbus-1.10.0nb1 curl-7.44.0 libxfce4ui-4.12.1nb2 libwnck-2.30.6nb18 hicolor-icon-theme-0.13 desktop-file-utils-0.22 xfce4-xarchiver-0.5.4nb1 xfce4-wm-themes-4.10.0nb1 xfce4-wm-4.12.3 xfce4-tumbler-0.1.31nb3 xfce4-thunar-1.6.10nb1 xfce4-terminal-0.6.3nb1 xfce4-settings-4.12.0nb1 xfce4-session-4.12.1 xfce4-panel-4.12.0nb1 xfce4-orage-4.12.1 xfce4-mousepad-0.4.0nb1 xfce4-gtk2-engine-3.2.0nb1 xfce4-desktop-4.12.3 xfce4-appfinder-4.12.0nb1 gtk2+-2.24.28 elementary-xfce-icon-theme-0.6 xfce4-4.12.0nb2

proceed ? [Y/n] Y

6) Add fonts, fam, screen lock and file manager.
> pkgin install font-adobe-75*
> pkgin install font-adobe-100*
> pkgin install font-adobe-utopia*
> pkgin install xscreensaver
> pkgin install fam
> pkgin install tbd (dependency of thunar)
> pkgin install gvfs (dependency of thunar)
> pkgin install xfce4-thunar

> cp /usr/pkg/share/examples/rc.d/famd /etc/rc.d/
> cp /usr/pkg/share/examples/rc.d/dbus /etc/rc.d/
> cp /usr/pkg/share/examples/rc.d/hal /etc/rc.d/

> echo rpcbind=YES >> /etc/rc.conf
> echo famd=YES >> /etc/rc.conf
> echo dbus=YES >> /etc/rc.conf
> echo hal=YES >> /etc/rc.conf

> /etc/rc.d/rpcbind start
> /etc/rc.d/famd start
> /etc/rc.d/dbus start
> /etc/rc.d/hal start

7) Configure X and start the desktop for the first time. Note that you should not start X as root. Run the following for users on the system. For example, the user slice2 would be setup as:
> echo xfce4-session >> /home/slice2/.xinitrc
> ln /home/slice2/.xinitrc /home/slice2/.xsession
> su – slice2
> startx   (note: be patient, it may take a minute to load)
a) When prompted, select use default config. In the upper left, select Applications > Log out.

8) Install apps as desired. This step is optional. Enter Y when asked to proceed ? [Y/n] for each app.
Browsers and plugins:
> pkgin install firefox
> pkgin install opera
> pkgin install xpdf
> pkgin install flashplayer
> pkgin install openquicktime
> pkgin install mozilla-fonts*
> pkgin install icedtea-web
a) when done installing icedtea-web, run the three commands below to configure avahi.
> cp /usr/pkg/share/examples/rc.d/avahidaemon /etc/rc.d/avahidaemon
> chmod 0755 /etc/rc.d/avahidaemon
> echo avahidaemon=YES >> /etc/rc.conf

Install security apps, utils and shells:
> pkgin install wireshark
> pkgin install nmap
> pkgin install iftop
> pkgin install keepassx
> pkgin install bash
> pkgin install lsof
> pkgin install mhash
> pkgin install nbtscan
> pkgin install netcat
> pkgin install vim

GUI ftp/scp client:
> pkgin install filezilla

Office Suite and multimedia:
> pkgin install libreoffice*
> pkgin install xmms
> pkgin install xfce4-xmms-plugin
> pkgin install xcdroast
> pkgin install xcalc
> pkgin install vlc
> pkgin install tree

You can launch liberoffice from Applications > Office, or enter the soffice command in an xterm.

9) Now that all your apps are installed, start your desktop.
> su – slice2 (su to your user account)
> startx

Note: An update is posted here for NetBSD 6.1.5: http://slice2.com/2015/01/03/howto-install-the-xfce-4-desktop-on-netbsd-6-1-5/

For a lightweight functional desktop, install XFCE 4. As root perform the steps below. This HOWTO covers 32 and 64 bit x86 hardware. Since NetBSD essentially runs on everything, simply adjust the repository path to your architecture from the list here: http://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/

1) Setup your binary repository.
> mkdir -p /usr/pkg/etc/pkgin
> touch /usr/pkg/etc/pkgin/repositories.conf
> vi /usr/pkg/etc/pkgin/repositories.conf and add your binary path:

For x64
http://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/amd64/6.1.2/All/

For x32
http://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/i386/6.1.2/All/

2) Add the NetBSD ftp server to your host file. This is for convenience and can be removed when done.
> vi /etc/hosts and add:
199.233.217.249 ftp.netbsd.org
> wq!

3) Export your path.
Note: I don’t know why the characters keep appearing after /ALL/ in the path statements below. It must be a WordPress bug and I’m not a developer. Just make sure that the end of the path statement ends with /6.1.2/ALL/” with no trailing characters. In other words, it should look like the paths depicted in step 1 above only it must end in a ” character.

For x64:
> export PKG_PATH=”http://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/amd64/6.1.2/All/”

For x32:
> export PKG_PATH=”http://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/i386/6.1.2/All/”

4) Install pkgin on your system.
> pkg_add -v pkgin-*
proceed ? [Y/n] Y

5) Update the pkgin database and install XFCE.
> pkgin update
Database needs to be updated.
proceed ? [Y/n] Y

> pkgin install xfce4
calculating dependencies… done.

4 packages to be upgraded: gtk2+-2.24.17nb5 pango-1.34.1nb3 tiff-4.0.3nb3 cairo-gobject-1.12.14nb4

67 packages to be installed: pkg-config-0.28 p5-Business-ISBN-Data-20120719.001nb1 jbigkit-2.0 py27-cElementTree-2.7.5 libIDL-0.8.14nb4 p5-Business-ISBN-2.06 p5-ExtUtils-PkgConfig-1.13nb2 p5-ExtUtils-Depends-0.304nb2 tiff-4.0.3nb6 cairo-gobject-1.12.16 xcb-util-0.3.9nb1 p5-glib2-1.262nb3 usbids-20081118 policykit-0.9nb15 pciids-20091229 libvolume_id-0.81.1 hal-info-20091130nb2 p5-URI-1.60nb2 ORBit2-2.14.19nb4 iso-codes-3.11.1 psutils-1.17nb4 orc-0.4.18 gstreamer0.10-0.10.36nb6 gobject-introspection-1.36.0nb3 pango-1.34.1nb4 libxfce4menu-4.6.1nb16 gst-plugins0.10-base-0.10.36nb7 a2ps-4.14nb4 libxklavier-5.0nb5 libnotify-0.7.5nb1 vte-0.28.1nb12 libexif-0.6.21 fam-2.7.0nb9 GConf-2.32.4nb7 p5-XML-Parser-2.41nb2 xfce4-exo-0.3.101nb23 hal-0.5.14nb12 xfconf-4.6.1nb20 startup-notification-0.12nb3 libxfce4util-4.6.1nb16 libwnck-2.30.6nb15 libglade-2.6.4nb19 hicolor-icon-theme-0.12 dbus-glib-0.100.2 dbus-1.6.14 libxfce4gui-4.6.1nb19 gtk2+-2.24.20nb1 xfce4-xarchiver-0.5.2nb20 xfce4-wm-themes-4.6.0nb16 xfce4-wm-4.6.1nb19 xfce4-volman-0.2.0nb23 xfce4-utils-4.6.1nb20 xfce4-thunar-1.0.1nb21 xfce4-terminal-0.4.2nb19 xfce4-settings-4.6.5nb21 xfce4-session-4.6.1nb19 xfce4-print-4.6.1nb21 xfce4-panel-4.6.2nb20 xfce4-orage-4.6.1nb21 xfce4-mousepad-0.2.16nb18 xfce4-mixer-4.6.1nb19 xfce4-icon-theme-4.4.3nb16 xfce4-gtk2-engine-2.6.0nb17 xfce4-desktop-4.6.1nb21 xfce4-appfinder-4.6.1nb21 gnome-icon-theme-2.30.3nb20 xfce4-4.6.1nb27 (73M to download, 160M to install)

proceed ? [Y/n] Y

6) Configure the system to run XFCE.
> cp /usr/pkg/share/examples/rc.d/famd /etc/rc.d/
> cp /usr/pkg/share/examples/rc.d/dbus /etc/rc.d/
> cp /usr/pkg/share/examples/rc.d/hal /etc/rc.d/
> echo rpcbind=YES >> /etc/rc.conf
> echo famd=YES >> /etc/rc.conf
> echo dbus=YES >> /etc/rc.conf
> echo hal=YES >> /etc/rc.conf
> /etc/rc.d/rpcbind start
> /etc/rc.d/famd onestart
> /etc/rc.d/dbus start
> /etc/rc.d/hal start

7) Configure X and start the desktop.
> echo xfce4-session >> /root/.xinitrc
> startx   (note: be patient, it may take a minute to load)

8) Close XFCE to prepare for installation of software.
a) Click on the mouse icon in the lower left corner of the desktop and click Log Out.

b) Click Log Out to exit XFCE.

9) Install apps as desired. This step is optional but I’m sure you want at least a current browser. Enter Y when asked proceed ? [Y/n] for each app.
Browsers and plugins:
> pkgin install firefox
> pkgin install opera
> pkgin install icedtea-web
> pkgin install xpdf
Security tools:
> pkgin install wireshark
> pkgin install nmap
> pkgin install iftop
GUI ftp/scp client:
> pkgin install filezilla
Office Suite:
> pkgin install libreoffice*

Notes:
To launch firefox, enter the firefox command in an xterm.
To launch liberoffice, enter the soffice command in an xterm.
The list of all apps for NetBSD v6.1.2 are listed here:
http://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/amd64/6.1.2/All/

9) Now that your apps are installed, start your desktop.
> startx