boot into command line instead of the gnome logon box

**y2kdis** · 12-08-2005

i have the gnome desktop installed on my debian but i want to boot into the command line instead of going directly to the x or gnome logon box every time i start the system. that way, i could opt to stay in the command line until i decided to switch to GUI (by invoking a command at the prompt). can anyone here help me achieve what i want to do? i tried changing the runlevels to no avail - i always end up getting the gnome logon box.

**St. Joe** · 12-08-2005

Issue this command as su:

# update-rc.d -f gdm remove

**y2kdis** · 12-09-2005

Originally Posted by St. Joe

Issue this command as su:

# update-rc.d -f gdm remove

that will not remove gdm from my system?
because i don't want to uninstall gdm from my system, i just don't want to activate it every time i boot. i want to have the flexibility of working in the command line until i find it difficult for me, then that's the time i'd invoke gdm.

**Vergil83** · 12-09-2005

That will not remove gdm from your system (apt-get remove gdm would do that). It just removes the file that makes gdm run when you start your computer.

**beachboy** · 12-09-2005

You could just change your run level from level 5 to level 3 on start up to do the same thing.

**Gnux** · 12-09-2005

Originally Posted by beachboy

You could just change your run level from level 5 to level 3 on start up to do the same thing.

Yes the file us should modify in that case is /etc/inittab
Personnally I always got probs with services at the boot under linux more specifically under the SysV boot process...crappy

**eerok** · 12-09-2005

The easiest way to switch back and forth from x to cli is by using the virtual terminals. You can boot into x and then hit <Ctrl><Alt><Fn> where Fn is a function key from <F2> to <F6> ... then return to x with <Ctrl><Alt><F7>

This does require that you start x first, but if you just want to practice cli, then it will work without reconfiguring anything.

**farslayer** · 12-09-2005

Originally Posted by beachboy

You could just change your run level from level 5 to level 3 on start up to do the same thing.

That does not work on Debian, Debian starts in Run level 2 and launches GDM from that run level.

The initial posters reponse was the correct answer for debian. you must modify the startup config. while switching the default run level as you suggested would work great for RedHat or some other distros.

Personally I just rename the gdm startup file to obtain the same end result.. gdm does not start at boot.

# mv /etc/rc2.d/S99gdm /etc/rc2.d/K99gdm

the original posters response involes less typing than my solution.. although I think mine would be easier to undo... How bout it St. Joe can you add gdm back to the startup in a similar fashion ? just curious

**St. Joe** · 12-10-2005

Originally Posted by farslayer

How bout it St. Joe can you add gdm back to the startup in a similar fashion ? just curious

# update-rc.d -f gdm defaults

**farslayer** · 12-10-2005

Originally Posted by St. Joe

Originally Posted by farslayer

How bout it St. Joe can you add gdm back to the startup in a similar fashion ? just curious

# update-rc.d -f gdm defaults

Sweet !!

Thanks for the reply. that should save me some typing in the future.

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