Is there a text-mode only Linux distro?

vpv · 12-08-2005, 01:44 AM

Is there a text-mode only Linux distro or rather a distro that does not include the X window system?

Maybe it uses svgalib for graphics, etc. but does not have X. I guess that in all distributions installing the X server is optional, but I was wondering if there is a distribution that is _famous_ for relying on command-line only?

Thank You!

heema · 12-08-2005, 01:59 AM

why dont you install just the base of debian , slackware , ....... then you wont have X

vpv · 12-08-2005, 02:13 AM

yes. this shouldn't be a problem. however i thought that maybe there is a distribution that has the most common utilities but intended for command-line use only, such as: lynx,zgv,gcc,gdb,x-chat-text...I mean a text-mode distro in which you can do almost anything you could on a GUI system.

andygo · 12-08-2005, 02:32 AM

YOu can do it with your mdk 9.2
# init 3 - will take you to the pure text-mode

vpv · 12-08-2005, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andygo

YOu can do it with your mdk 9.2
# init 3 - will take you to the pure text-mode

This sounds very interesting. Can you please explain what does it mean

# init 3

Thank You!

xgreen · 12-08-2005, 02:54 AM

slackware by default, boot at init 3 :-).

reddazz · 12-08-2005, 03:03 AM

Any distro can be text only, just don't install any graphical tools and apps. If you already have installed gui apps or may need to use them occassionally then start your system in runlevel 3 instead of 4 or 5 (runlevel 3 boots into text mode and 4 or 5 into gui mode). You can set the default runlevel to 3 by editing your /etc/inittab.

syg00 · 12-08-2005, 04:04 AM

*all* my systems boot to init 3.
If you want a system that doesn't have X without specific choice to install it, I guess you're looking at Gentoo, Arch, LFS, that sort of thing.
I think even DSL had X when I tried it.

Arch would be the choice unless you're happy to compile everything.

gunnix · 12-08-2005, 09:08 AM

GRML is a linux livecd for adminstrators and texttool users.

http://grml.org/

D0M1N1C · 12-12-2005, 05:15 PM

what about some of the really poxy floppy distro like toms-root-boot.

I'm currently working on building my own distro but instead of doing LFS and then stripping, ims tarting by buildinga simple bootdisk and then a boot CD and putting what i need on there.

But there are loads of floppy boot disk tutorials which are nearly all excluding xwindows (because obviosuly it wont fit on one floppy)