Boot up in either Terminal Only or GUI modes

**stevejluke** · 08-11-2003

Hi, is there a method to set determine how I can make my next boot? I mean, most of the time, I am not going to need the GUI for Linux, it will simply be running a Server and recording to logs. But other times, like when I need to troubleshoot or something, I will want a GUI to help me get around the system. Is there a command I can give in Red Hat 8.0 with KDE desktop to tell it 'Don't Start KDE or XWindows next time you boot' and then when I do want to restart in the GUI a 'Startup KDE next time?'

**Dolda2000** · 08-11-2003

The easiest way is probably to add boot entries for which runlevel to enter upon boot. Runlevel 3 is text only, while runlevel 5 includes a display manager. Are you using GRUB or LILO?

Otherwise, you could simply set it to always start in runlevel 3, then log in at the text login prompt and run "startx" whenever you feel the need for a GUI.

**stevejluke** · 08-11-2003

I am using Grub.

**Dolda2000** · 08-11-2003

Then, can you post your /boot/grub/grub.conf here?

**stevejluke** · 08-11-2003

Alright, think you pointed me in the right direction again

So if I wanted the two boot options, I would do something like this in my grub.conf:

Code:

title Red Hat Linux Terminal
  root &#40;hd2,0&#41;
  kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.9-31 ro root=/dev/hdd1 hdc=ide-scsi init=3
  initrd /boot/initrd-2.4.9-31.img
title Red Hat Linux KDE
  root &#40;hd2,0&#41;
  kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.9-31 ro root=/dev/hdd1 hdc=ide-scsi init=5
  initrd /boot/initrd-2.4.9-31.img

But, of course, changing it to make sure the kernal versions and hd number are correct for my system (they should already be there as part of the default grub.conf I would guess), so really, I would just duplicate the default boot option give it a new title, and add init=bootlevel to the kernal line.

This sound right?

**stevejluke** · 08-11-2003

Originally Posted by Dolda2000

Then, can you post your /boot/grub/grub.conf here?

Not at the moment, I am not at my Linux box till this evening...

**Dolda2000** · 08-11-2003

Well, you were essentially correct in your last post anyway. Just replace "init=3" and "init=5" with only "3" or "5".

**stevejluke** · 08-11-2003

Okay, thanks

**slu2com** · 03-04-2007

I am trying to get VNC working on a remote server that I have colocated.

I would like to interface with KDE.

This is what is in grub.conf, can you help me get KDE to boot automatically, without login, etc?

Thanks in advance!

GNU nano 1.2.4 File: grub.conf

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
# root (hd0,0)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/sda5
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=1
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES (2.6.9-42.0.10.EL)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL ro root=LABEL=/
initrd /initrd-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL.img
title Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES (2.6.9-42.0.10.ELsmp)
root (hd0,0)

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