7.2. Change init level to textual

There is little point in running the X Window System on a server with no screen. Edit /etc/inittab finding the line containing initdefault , such as

id:5:initdefault:

Alter the default from run level 5 (multiuser with X Window System) to run level 3 (multiuser).

id:3:initdefault:

The startx command can be used if an occassional X Windows session is required upon an attached keyboard and monitor.

	Run levels and Red Hat's kudzu
	kudzu automatically updates the initdefault entry in inittab to use run level 3 if a serial device is being used as a console.

7.2.1. Continuing to run X

Sometimes a computer with a serial console and no attached monitor still needs to run the X Window System . For example, the computer might host a number of X terminals.

In this case the computer should remain in run level 5, but should not run a X server for any attached monitors. Alter /etc/X11/xdm/Xservers and remove any lines starting with a colon (which indicates an X server on the local machine). Figure 7-2 shows an unaltered Xservers file.

Figure 7-2. Xservers from Red Hat Linux 7.2

:0 local /usr/X11R6/PRE>

If the operating system uses GNOME 's gdm then alter its configuration file /etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf , removing any entries for local X servers from the [servers] section. Figure 7-3 shows an unaltered [servers] section.

Figure 7-3. [servers] section of gdm.conf from Red Hat Linux 7.2

[servers]
0=/usr/bin/X11/X