Why won't it boot into console?

[jongi]

I am trying to boot into the command line. My /etc/inittab is below

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# /etc/inittab: init(8) configuration.
# $Id: inittab,v 1.91 2002/01/25 13:35:21 miquels Exp $

# The default runlevel.
id:3:initdefault:

# Boot-time system configuration/initialization script.
# This is run first except when booting in emergency (-b) mode.
si::sysinit:/etc/init.d/rcS

# What to do in single-user mode.
~~:S:wait:/sbin/sulogin

# /etc/init.d executes the S and K scripts upon change
# of runlevel.
#
# Runlevel 0 is halt.
# Runlevel 1 is single-user.
# Runlevels 2-5 are multi-user.
# Runlevel 6 is reboot.

l0:0:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 0
l1:1:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 1
l2:2:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 2
l3:3:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 3
l4:4:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 4
l5:5:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 5
l6:6:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 6
# Normally not reached, but fallthrough in case of emergency.
z6:6:respawn:/sbin/sulogin

# What to do when CTRL-ALT-DEL is pressed.
ca:12345:ctrlaltdel:/sbin/shutdown -t1 -a -r now

# Action on special keypress (ALT-UpArrow).
#kb::kbrequest:/bin/echo "Keyboard Request--edit /etc/inittab to let this work."

# What to do when the power fails/returns.
pf::powerwait:/etc/init.d/powerfail start
pn::powerfailnow:/etc/init.d/powerfail now
po::powerokwait:/etc/init.d/powerfail stop

# /sbin/getty invocations for the runlevels.
#
# The "id" field MUST be the same as the last
# characters of the device (after "tty").
#
# Format:
#  <id>:<runlevels>:<action>:<process>
#
# Note that on most Debian systems tty7 is used by the X Window System,
# so if you want to add more getty's go ahead but skip tty7 if you run X.
#
1:2345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty1
2:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty2
3:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty3
4:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty4
5:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty5
6:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty6

# Example how to put a getty on a serial line (for a terminal)
#
#T0:23:respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS0 9600 vt100
#T1:23:respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS1 9600 vt100

# Example how to put a getty on a modem line.
#
#T3:23:respawn:/sbin/mgetty -x0 -s 57600 ttyS3


The default level is set to 3 yet it still tries to load the x-server on boot. What am I missing?

EDIT: Is there another way I can boot into the command line. Say through grub for instance? I am unable to switch to a terminal using ctrl-alt-Fx.

[bernie_d]

Disable your display manager in runlevel three. Something like

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mv /etc/rc3.d/S21gdm /etc/rc3.d/s21gdm

Check that the file (it's a soft link) exists first, yours might be a different number, or you might be using a different display manager - kdm, xdm ?
I think runlevel three was always meant to be multi-user/graphic by default. Anyone?

or

Add the word 'single' to the end of the kernel line in the grub entry at boot (you can hit e to edit the entry before booting, but this isn't permanent) - this is what your recovery boot option should do. This is maybe not what you want - I think it will boot straight into a root console.

[jongi]

the single suggestion is excellent

[hash]

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mv /etc/rc3.d/S21gdm /etc/rc3.d/K79gdm


cant remember where I read it, but the debian way is to rename the S script to a K script, with 100-(S number) [as shown above]

Doing this helps when you switch runlevels on the fly, the system will them know what process to kill when entering the specific run levels.

[Optional]

apt-get install sysv-rc-conf; sysv-rc-conf

then scroll down to the 'gdm' line and remove it from runlevels 2-5 and hit Q to exit.

You can always /etc/init.d/gdm start from the command line anyways