boot into CLI, but not by... [explained in thread]

[rybnik]

In such stretches of time when I want to conserve battery life (or for whatever other reason), I want to boot into CLI by default and not have X or any gui running. I don't like the hacks apropos I've found by some googling since they either involve simply uninstalling kdm or changing the default tty to go to CLI and then use the startx command when you want gui. What I want, instead, is for tty1 (which is CLI) to load by default and then to still be able to go to tty7 (which is gui) when I want it. I don't want to affect my current setup by removing kdm or anything. How do I implement that?

[dragonbite]

Isn't that controlled by the Init level? You may be able to set/reset it in Grub as an option but I don't know offhand and need to research it.

Maybe somebody more knowledgable would help.

[oshunluvr]

Runlevel 2 does this, or a grub entry with "text" as a kernel parameter. Then you could select GUI or not at boot time.

EDIT: Actually, runlevel 2 may not do this with Ubuntu. I'd have to try it.

[vinnywright]

Runlevel 2 does this, or a grub entry with "text" as a kernel parameter. Then you could select GUI or not at boot time.

EDIT: Actually, runlevel 2 may not do this with Ubuntu. I'd have to try it.

Yup ,,,,,,,,adding "text" to the grub kernal boot line gets you on tty1 ,,,,,,,,,after a "startx" you are back in tty7

just tryed it

VINNY

[rybnik]

,adding "text" to the grub kernal boot line

what directory would that be in?

[Buddlespit]

from tt1:

$ sudo nano /etc/default/grub

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT='quiet splash text'

$ sudo update-grub
$ sudo reboot

[rybnik]

^I was about to say that didn't work, but I neglected the grub update part. I'll have to try that later.

Thanks, all!

[vinnywright]

from tt1:

$ sudo nano /etc/default/grub

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT='quiet splash text'

$ sudo update-grub
$ sudo reboot

Just a FYI for those reading this thread that do not like command line text editors like vi,vim,nano,,,,,,,ect.

you can use Kate to do this ....

kdesudo kate /etc/default/grub

then continue as described

VINNY

EDIT:O and if you just want to try it as a one time run ........wile you have your boot selection highlighted at the grub menu press "e" move the cursor to the end of the kernel boot line and add "text" after "quiet splash" then press ctrl+x to boot .
this way of modifying the boot line will last for the one boot only.

[rybnik]

Well, it was rude of me to lose track of this thread, but I do appreciate the posts y'all gave.

I'll be doing an OS reinstall soon, so I'll investigate this after that.

@Vinny Lately, I've been forcing myself to use vim whenever I need to handle a text file. ;-)

[oshunluvr]

Lately, I've been forcing myself to use vim whenever I need to handle a text file. ;-)

Yikes. Do you pull your fingernails out too?

[Snowhog]

hehe. I use nano when Kate isn't available. Geek is, as Geek does.

[SteveRiley]

I use nano when Kate isn't available.

Have a look at /etc/nanorc. Particularly the line set const. Very handy change to make.

[oshunluvr]

Have a look at /etc/nanorc. Particularly the line set const. Very handy change to make.

Nice. Done!

[Snowhog]

But what exactly does activating that option do? I read the comment, but I guess I don't get it.

[SteveRiley]

Keeps the line number / column number footer displayed continually while you navigate through the file. Very handy when some error message says "Exception foo croaked on parameter bar at line 156."