Choosing a distribution

[Nils Kassube]

Chris Jones wrote:
> > Ubuntu - Debian just use one run level.   If you don't install or at
> > least prevent gdm et al. from starting then you have the equivalent.
> > And, as you say, run startx as needed.   Of course, there's always
> > the argument that you shouldn't use X on a server at all - more
> > software=more problems...
>
> I am a long term Fedora user myself and I'm quite use to the way init
> levels are used there. I currently experimenting with ubuntu (pretty
> happy I must say), but I fail to see the advantage of the debian/ubuntu
> way of doing things with one init level. Being able to drop down to
> init 3, to fix some X issue, then jumping back to 5, without rebooting
> was very useful.

If you want to stop the GUI, you can go to a text console (Ctrl-Alt-F1) 
and login there. Then use the command

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

if you are using Gnome or

sudo /etc/init.d/kdm stop

if you are using KDE. Then do whatever you wanted to do without GUI 
running. Afterwards use the command above however replace "stop" 
with "start". I.e. there is no need for rebooting here as well. It is 
just a different command sequence.

> I'm sure there must be some reasoning, so maybe someone could try and
> convince me why the debian/ubuntu way is better ;)

As I don't know the reasoning myself, I won't even try to convince you :)


Nils