I have been using the minimal iso (CentOS-6.0-x86_64-minimal.iso) to install CentOS 6. I wanted to add a GUI to my vm, but I could not find easy documentation showing how to add a GUI, or Gnome in this case, to a CentOS 6 minimal install. I was not looking for the smallest X windows install, I was just trying to get the Desktop to function like it would as if I installed from the full DVD.
There are a lot of results of how to do this, but things have been renamed in CentOS 6, so that made it more difficult to figure out. Also, there are “Short Names” and I am assuming they are called “Long Names” associated with a yum groupinstall, which added to my confusion.
To add Gnome/GUI to a minimal CentOS 6 install run (short name version):
yum groupinstall basic-desktop desktop-platform. x11 fonts
And the “long name” version:
yum groupinstall "Desktop" "Desktop Platform" "X Window System" "Fonts"
Hope that helps someone or at least help me to remember.
http://www.jbmurphy.com/2011/12/01/how-to-add-gnome-to-centos-6-minimal-install/