Trying to change my runlevel on Kubuntu 8.04 - need to boot without an X-server.

Krolros · 12-14-2008, 05:12 PM

This is probably a pretty complex first post, but here goes:

I'm trying to install some graphics drivers for my nVidia Geforce 8800, but the installer that nVidia provides has to run without the X-server running.
I'm pretty confident I can install it properly in the console, but I don't know how to boot to different runlevels - namely, runlevels that don't start a graphical window manager.
Apparently on other distros this is possible by editing /etc/inittab, but there's no such directory on my machine.

Help?

aus9 · 12-14-2008, 05:22 PM

if grub is in mbr...etc....when grub gfxmenu appears = the graphical clock, penguin etc....press the escape key to get to text grub menu

or you only have a text grub menu and from here...for the relevant kernel press e for edit and arrow down to the kernel line and press e for edit and at end of kernel line...press one space then the number 3
press enter to (enter) new string and that takes you back to grub menu and now press b to boot

2) another way of doing it...is to boot up as normal open a root shell and try command

Code:

init 3

Krolros · 12-14-2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus9

if grub is in mbr...etc....when grub gfxmenu appears = the graphical clock, penguin etc....press the escape key to get to text grub menu

or you only have a text grub menu and from here...for the relevant kernel press e for edit and arrow down to the kernel line and press e for edit and at end of kernel line...press one space then the number 3
press enter to (enter) new string and that takes you back to grub menu and now press b to boot

2) another way of doing it...is to boot up as normal open a root shell and try command

Code:

init 3

Thanks very much. I'll give it a try and post another reply in a few minutes.

tredegar · 12-15-2008, 04:29 AM

You are running kubuntu - that's KDE.
You need to stop X before installing the NVIDIA driver.
You can easily do it like this (no reboots needed):
<CTRL><ALT><F2> to get a terminal
login as yourself
Become root:

Code:

sudo -i

Backup your xorg.conf in case of trouble:

Code:

cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf  /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak

Stop X:

Code:

/etc/init.d/kdm  stop

-or, if you were running gnome-

Code:

/etc/init.d/gdm  stop

If your root terminal disappears, switch back to it with <CTRL><ALT><F2>

Install the NVIDIA driver:

Code:

sh /path/to/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-X.Y.Z-pkg1.run

Answer the questions, accept the licence etc.

Then restart X:

Code:

/etc/init.d/kdm  start

-or, if you were running gnome-

Code:

/etc/init.d/gdm  start

Your primary graphical login (X) is on terminal <CTRL><ALT><F7>

If the install failed for some reason and you have lost your graphical login, you can go back to where you started like this:
Go back to the root terminal:
<CTRL><ALT><F2>
Restore xorg.conf:

Code:

cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak  /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Restart X:

Code:

/etc/init.d/kdm  restart

But maybe you have already fixed this?

Edit:
Note: The 'buntus are unusual in that they run their GUI in runlevel 2 (init 2), single-user (no X) is runlevel 1 (init 1)

elaterite · 03-31-2009, 06:03 AM

I've written a more comprehensive, or alternate version if you prefer, for installing kubuntu-8.04.2-desktop-i386 (Hardy) with a MSI GeForce 9800 GT & NVIDIA 180.44 Drivers (release 3/30/2009). It's an extrapolation from this and several other sources. Follow this link: http://tinyurl.com/cxsbdu

rizwanrafique · 03-31-2009, 06:32 AM

About your original question. That is, starting system without X/gdm. Ubuntu (and generally Debian) doesn't configure runlevel in the same way as SuSE etc. It starts system in runlevel 2 with runlevels 2, 3, 4, and 5 identical. I've written a couple of how-tos to configure runlevels in Debian/Ubuntu and to start system without gui.

http://tinyurl.com/d4gzet
http://tinyurl.com/cp7ngb