LinuxQuestions.org - Gentoo: want to boot to command line

- Linux - Newbie (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/)

- - Gentoo: want to boot to command line (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/gentoo-want-to-boot-to-command-line-63471/)

Gentoo: want to boot to command line

Not only have i just started my descent into linux, I have (per recomendation) installed Gentoo on my Mitac 6133 laptop. I don't really know my way around the system to well yet, and I was wondering if anyone could direct me to a way to get my computer to boot to the command line instead of gnome.

-sean

I have not used Gentoo, but with every version of Linux I have used so far the inittab file controls that. While logged in as root you can uses your test editor to open the inittab file which is located in the /etc directory. Inside the inittabl file you should see a line like somthing this:

id:5:initdefault:

If there is a 5 on that line it means it will automatically boot up into an X-Windows interface such as Gnome or KDE. If there is a 3 instead of a 5 on that line it will automatically boot up into the command-line interface instead. All you need to do is change that number on that line. You can look at the lines above that to see if there are any comments explaning that.

In the above post I ment to say text editor not test editor. Anway, there is another alternative way to do that at least on some versions of Linux. You could probably also use the telinit or runlevel commands to do the same thing. I have never tried doing it that way though. The way I described above works, so I have stuck with that method of changing runlevels. If you do not want to log-in as root you could just type the su command and give it the root users password to temporarily get the necessary superuser priveleges necessary to change the inittab file.

thanx for the reply.

unfortunatly i just checked my /etc/inittab and it is already set to 3.

I think i may of been in error with my original post. Come to think of it, my machine does reach the commandline login prompt, but then immediatly goes into GDM. Any idea what i'm talking about? and perhaps, any idea what else may be the problem?

-sean

Gentoo is a little different from other distros and doesn't use the sysvinit system.

Gentoo init system

Try rc-update del <loginmanager> default

gentoo does do this a little different, you probably know that the standard runlevels 1-5 don't really exist in the conventional sense. you'll have xdm set on the default runleve entry (/etc/runlevel/default) remove that entry:

rc-update del xdm default

and you'll be fine. i've mixed thoughts about doing it this way, it's not standard but it does make sense...

hey dammit, i started typing first!

I apreciate ya'lls help. The rc-update did work, and I now boot to the command line. I may need to post this under and new thread, but I have some other issues now that I'd like some assistance working out.

at the command prompt, and from my normal user account, to get to gnome , I must type "gdm" (as startx gets me to x itself, rather then gnome). in doing so i get a messege
"only root wants to run gdm"

my question is this. How do i give my day to day account the ability to jump into gdm from the command line?

well you don't... that's why you stopped using it... you're *already* logged in. if you want a menu to choose what window manager to use, just a console based script like Xtart.

you say "x itself, rather than gnome".. which really doesn't make much sense

You are wanting to set a desktop environment/window manager?

You probably want to create a ./home/<user>/.xinitrc file with something like this:

Code:

# Duron 950 box "uilleann" user fancy .xinitrc file

# Start stuff I want to run when I startx

exec gnome-session

#exec kde

#Esetroot ~/backgrounds/linux.png &

#gkrellm -w &

#xscreensaver &

#exec fluxbox

The uncommented line causes Gnome to start when you command "startx"

You can also alias commands in the user .bashrc file:

Code:

# for launching window manager/desktop environments from console login

alias a='echo DESKTOP=AfterStep > ~/.desktop;startx'

alias ice='echo DESKTOP=icewm > ~/.desktop;startx'

alias kde='echo DESKTOP=KDE3 > ~/.desktop;startx'

alias wm='echo DESKTOP=WindowMaker > ~/.desktop;startx'

alias sf='echo DESKTOP=Sawfish > ~/.desktop;startx'

alias g='echo DESKTOP=Gnome > ~/.desktop;startx'

alias xf='echo DESKTOP=XFce > ~/.desktop;startx'

alias bb='echo DESKTOP=BlackBox > ~/.desktop;startx'

alias fb='echo DESKTOP=FluxBox > ~/.desktop;startx'

alias e='echo DESKTOP=Enlightenment > ~/.desktop;startx'

The command "g" now will start x with Gnome.
You have to log out (control-d) and back in for changes in the .bashrc or .xinitrc to take effect.

I apologize. I'm still very new to this :)

what i ment to say is that startx gets me to a basic x window manager (through gentoo install doc, i believe its twm).

Ultimatly, i would like to be able to get into gnome from the command line outside of root and with out having to log in again once i am in Gnome itself.

any possability for this, or am i still not making any sense?

-sean

-sean

Did you see my post? I was editing