Home / server / Questions / 19839
Accepted
Parand
Asked: 2009-06-05 08:55:01 +0800 CST

Ubuntu: Prevent X from starting (turn desktop into server)

  • 772

I have an Linux (Ubuntu) virtual machine that's been setup as a desktop; it starts X and the full UI. I only need it as a server (will be accessing it via ssh) and am looking to reduce the memory footprint.

What's a good way to prevent X from starting when the machine boots?

Update: ended up going with:

sudo mv /etc/rc2.d/S30gdm /etc/disabled-S30gdm

via the link in Evan Anderson's answer.

ubuntu

5 Answers

  1. You can disable GDM by:

    update-rc.d -f gdm remove

    Then re-boot and you should have your console window.

    • 5

  2. Go to System -> Administration -> Services and disable GDM

    • 2
  3. Best Answer

    I don't use Ubuntu (I'm a CentOS / Fedora guy), but typically this is done with runlevels. I'm reading that, at least on Ubuntu "Gutsy", there isn't a runlevel that doesn't start X by default. What a pain!

    Have a look at this guy's site-- it should at least give you an idea of where to look. http://caulfield.info/emmet/2008/03/add-a-textonly-runlevel-to-ubu.html

    On RedHat-style distributions this would be easy... >smile<

    I dunno about these techniques above to remove GDM, but I'd rather be able to select a different runlevel to get X back than go removing software.

    Edit: Here's some potentially better thoughts: http://cviorel.easyblog.ro/2008/07/02/enabledisable-gdm-in-ubuntu/

    • 1

  4. in ubuntu there is a config file for gdm at

    /etc/init/gdm.conf

    The lines you will want to alter are:

    start on runlevel [2345]
stop on runlevel [016]

    to be more like:

    start on runlevel []
stop on runlevel [0123456] # you can leave some runlevels in the start on line if you know what runlevel you are currently running on.

    you can always get the gdm to run once you login using the command startx.

    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1305659

    • 1

  5. Not sure about Ubuntu, but in RedHat/Fedora/CentOS, you just change the default runlevel in /etc/inittab to 3

    id:3:initdefault:
    • -1