ubuntu 11.10 default runlevel

ezekieldas · 01-10-2012, 08:14 PM

I've been unable to find a suitable explanation as to why Ubuntu 11.10 (and presumably others) runlevel is 2 (two). This is very confusing. I'm unsure if it has anything to do with the move to 'upstart.' For over a decade, on numerous unices I recognized 2 as 'MULTI user with NO networking'

If you have a brief explanation or some links to share I'd really appreciate it.

frankbell · 01-10-2012, 09:43 PM

http://wiki.debian.org/RunLevel

It's a Debian thing. In Debian, runlevels 2-5 are all the same--multi-user graphical.

I use the sysv-rc-conf program (it's in the Debian repos) on my Debian box to configure runlevel 3 so I can boot to a terminal, as is the right and proper order of things (grin).

ezekieldas · 01-11-2012, 11:16 AM

Thanks frankbell.

This does explain what this particular linux distro uses as a default, multi-user, networked runlevel. But it does not explain why. I've searched around some more but can't find an
explanation beyond 'debian treats 2-5 as same'

It has sent me into a several hours of trying to determine 1) if something is wrong 2) why there is difference between many other unices.

frankbell · 01-11-2012, 08:15 PM

Why Debian chose to do it their is likely a mystery lost in the mists of time.

Joking aside, I suspect that somewhere along the line the Debian community decided that all-GUI was the best way to go for the future. I wouldn't read anything more complicated than that into it.

If you uninstall the Graphical Display Manager, Debian reverts to more traditional behavior. I preferred to find a way to keep the GDM available and still have a traditional runlevel 3.

ezekieldas · 01-11-2012, 08:26 PM

Hey thanks again Frank. I appreciate it. If I happen to come across some discussion on this I'll post here.