How to boot to text console with Redhat 9

[WmCook]

I am installing the Nvidia drivers and need to edit a file, however I can't get to X to exit it to a command line. How do I go to a text console from my dual boot screen (XP and Redhat 9)? Thanks

[fatTrav]

in /etc/inittab

look for line 18 (or so):
id:3:initdefault:

the number between the colons tells the system what run level in needs to boot into. 5 is for full everything and gui whereas 3 is for full everthing but no gui...text or cli mode.
there are comments explaining things in that file

...i have mine boot into runlevel 3 (text) for the very same reason you are wanting it to.

yuo can also be in X and as root issue the command "init 3" which will send the pc into runlevel 3 adn then "init 5" to bring it back into run level five. or as any user say "startx" to do what it implies.

i hope this helps

travis

[Satanic Atheist]

If you can't get into your machine, you can go to the boot prompt and type "linux 3" to get it to boot in Run Level 3. You may have to do CTRL+X to get to the actual command prompt (Especially in RedHat).

Alternatively, you could try screwing up the filesystem (a little, not badly) and then getting to the Single User Mode automatically (The Dreaded System Maintenance shell) to edit /etc/inittab.

I recommend you try the former, though.

James

[WmCook]

Sorry, I wasn't clear on what was happening. When I hit "Escape" at the boot menu it goes to "grub>" If I type "Linux 3" it replies "Kernel not loaded". If I have it boot, It boots to Init 5. How do I get to root from the boot menu (or grub) so I can run at Init 3. Thanks for the help.

[Satanic Atheist]

When it tries to load X, do CTRL+ALT+F1, log in and type:

> init 3

To change to runlevel 3.

If that doesn't work (sometimes the virtual consoles are disabled in runlevel 4 and 5), you'll have to boot from a rescue disk and edit /etc/inittab manually and reboot. You can also initialise the VTs here. Look for 5 lines with "12346" or something on them. Make sure run levels 234 & 5 all have "123456" on them to enable all 6 VTs.

Sorry, if you can't select runlevel in Grub (and a quick Google makes it look like you can't) then I won't be switching from LiLo for a while...

James

[adikgede]

From GRUB. Type [a] To append the kernel line type a space after the existing text and then type init 3 hit enter.

You don't actually need to be at the console, just edit your file, and then if that requires you reconfigure X just open a terminal and type :

redhat-config-xfree86

or

mouse over to
Red Hat (Start) ->
System Settings -> Display

or

type [CTRL][ALT][F1] all at the same time and you will have the first console. type : redhat-config-xfree86 as above

or

type [CTRL][ALT][F1] all at the same time and you will have the first console. type :
init 3 and then type
redhat-config-xfree86 as above

[tucolino]

while we are at it... is there any way to have two entries in grub, one that boots into X and one that boots into console?

thanks,

tuco

[SuperNu]

Originally posted by tucolino
while we are at it... is there any way to have two entries in grub, one that boots into X and one that boots into console?

thanks,

tuco
You could always copy the existing kernel information and append single to the kernel line, or init 3 (I never tried this and don't know if it works). Just make sure you change the title so you know which kernel you are loading first.

--SN

[adikgede]

while we are at it... is there any way to have two entries in grub, one that boots into X and one that boots into console?

Yes this shouldn't be a problem. You'll notice that when you append init 3 to the boot parameter as I noted above that the string that GRUB displays is exactly the same as the one in /etc/grub.conf .

So yes you can just copy entry from the working conf and paste it below change the name (you dont have to) and add init 3


default=0
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
#1st entry
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.20-8) Run Level 5
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.20-8 ro root=LABEL=/ hdd=ide-scsi
initrd /initrd-2.4.20-8.img

#2cnd entry
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.20-8) Run Level 3
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.20-8 ro root=LABEL=/ hdd=ide-scsi init 3
initrd /initrd-2.4.20-8.img


I suspect that any arguments that you add to the boot parameters will supercede what is specified in /etc/inittab

try man inittab and man bootparam