Specify Boot Runlevel As A Startup Parameter

Novell Cool Solutions: Tip
By Aaron Gresko

Digg This - Slashdot This Posted: 17 Mar 2005

Linux systems boot into a default runlevel, which is specified in the /etc/inittab file. The default runlevel is usually the first option set and looks like this:

#The default runlevel is defined here
id:5:initdefault

The number 5 sets runlevel 5 as the default runlevel. Sometimes it is desirable to override the default setting from the boot prompt. Changing the boot runlevel is as simple as entering the desired runlevel at the boot prompt, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Enter the desired runlevel in the boot options.

The most common case for changing the boot runlevel is to go to single user mode, or runlevel 1. To do so, either enter a 1 on the boot options or enter the word single.

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