GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=“text” is not working

[m_abdelfattah]

I am trying to make Ubuntu run in text mode only as I want to use it as local server. I searched and found that I should edit /etc/default/grub and replace quiet splash with text then run update-grub, but nothing happens. Any suggestions?

[haqking]

I am trying to make Ubuntu run in text mode only as I want to use it as local server. I searched and found that I should edit /etc/default/grub and replace quiet splash with text then run update-grub, but nothing happens. Any suggestions?

you need to do the following after making grub changes


sudo update-grub

However if it is 11.10 then the "text" no longer works, it is dont with a .override file

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=10798400&postcount=4

[m_abdelfattah]

Thanks haqking for your fast reply, but I did what mentioned in the topic u suggested but nothing. I still log-in to GUI mode.

[haqking]

Thanks haqking for your fast reply, but I did what mentioned in the topic u suggested but nothing. I still log-in to GUI mode.

so it is 11.10 you have ?

Why not install Ubuntu server which comes with no GUI as you want a server ?

So you did everything in the link ? (presuming you are running 11.10 that is)

[m_abdelfattah]

Yes, I've 11.10 and I did everything in the link !

[haqking]

Yes, I've 11.10 and I did everything in the link !

can you post the contents of your grub and the gdm.override

Cheers

[m_abdelfattah]

/etc/init/gdm.override

manual

/etc/default/grub

# If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.
# For full documentation of the options in this file, see:
# info -f grub -n 'Simple configuration'

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true
GRUB_TIMEOUT=10
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
#GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""

# Uncomment to enable BadRAM filtering, modify to suit your needs
# This works with Linux (no patch required) and with any kernel that obtains
# the memory map information from GRUB (GNU Mach, kernel of FreeBSD ...)
#GRUB_BADRAM="0x01234567,0xfefefefe,0x89abcdef,0xefefefef"

# Uncomment to disable graphical terminal (grub-pc only)
#GRUB_TERMINAL=console

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
#GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480

# Uncomment if you don't want GRUB to pass "root=UUID=xxx" parameter to Linux
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true

# Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entries
#GRUB_DISABLE_RECOVERY="true"

# Uncomment to get a beep at grub start
#GRUB_INIT_TUNE="480 440 1"

[devos50]

I´m also having the same problem, only difference is that I am on ubuntu server where I want a GUI for some easy management if needed, but by default I want to start in text-mode. After installing ubuntu-desktop, it boots default with the GUI. In 11.04 I could just use GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT= quiet text but I just upgraded to 11.10 and I can´t use it anymore: it will still boot in GUI. Also, that gmd.override trick is also not working for me :(

Any help with this problem would be greatly appreciated:D

[haqking]

I´m also having the same problem, only difference is that I am on ubuntu server where I want a GUI for some easy management if needed, but by default I want to start in text-mode. After installing ubuntu-desktop, it boots default with the GUI. In 11.04 I could just use GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT= quiet text but I just upgraded to 11.10 and I can´t use it anymore: it will still boot in GUI. Also, that gmd.override trick is also not working for me :(

Any help with this problem would be greatly appreciated:D

it is gdm not gmd.

However i presume you both did a


sudo update-grub

after editing the grub ?

and its the gdm.override there after a reboot ?

[m_abdelfattah]

it is gdm not gmd.

However i presume you both did a


sudo update-grub

after editing the grub ?

and its the gdm.override there after a reboot ?

Yes, I did

sudo update-grub

and gdm.override still exists after reboot.

[devos50]

it is gdm not gmd.

However i presume you both did a


sudo update-grubafter editing the grub ?

and its the gdm.override there after a reboot ?

Yeah I meant gdm. I did sudo update-grub and gdm.override is also still there after a reboot.

[haqking]

mmmm the answer is i dont know....LOL

I am guessing it is LDM related as 11.10 now uses LDM.

I will play in a Virtual machine in a little while and get back to ya unless someone else chimes in.

cheers

[sisco311]

I am guessing it is LDM related as 11.10 now uses LDM.


D'oh! Of course, 11.10 defaults to LightDM. So we have to disable LightDM, not GDM...


echo 'manual' | sudo tee /etc/init/lightdm.override

[drs305]

Regarding the original post:

Are you sure "text" is a valid kernel option? I've not seen that used in a Grub 'linux' line before, but I learn something new every day. If it can be used as a kernel option I'd appreciate seeing the link.

I use the following as my kernel options page, but it could be outdated:
http://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt

[devos50]

D'oh! Of course, 11.10 defaults to LightDM. So we have to disable LightDM, not GDM...


echo 'manual' | sudo tee /etc/init/lightdm.override

Thank you for your response, but im still booting in GUI. The file lightdm.override is there. Is there anything else I can do?

And text is a valid boot option. I used to boot into text mode with it on 11.04 :)

[drs305]

And text is a valid boot option. I used to boot into text mode with it on 11.04 :)

Thanks for that! :-)

I can't reboot my real system for the moment but the 'text' option did work in my VM's. For what it's worth, it worked in both Natty and Oneiric without any modifications of system files.

[sisco311]

Regarding the original post:

Are you sure "text" is a valid kernel option? I've not seen that used in a Grub 'linux' line before, but I learn something new every day. If it can be used as a kernel option I'd appreciate seeing the link.

I use the following as my kernel options page, but it could be outdated:
http://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt

Well, not a real kernel option, because it wasn't interpreted by the kernel.

It was a dirty hack used by GDM's Upstart job to prevent GDM from running if the text parameter is present. Here is the relevant part of the code:


cat /etc/init/gdm.conf

# gdm - GNOME Display Manager
...
# Check kernel command-line for inhibitors
for ARG in $(cat /proc/cmdline)
do
case "${ARG}" in
text|-s|s|S|single)
exit 0
;;
esac
done
...

[drs305]

That makes perfect sense now. Thanks sisco311.

[haqking]

D'oh! Of course, 11.10 defaults to LightDM. So we have to disable LightDM, not GDM...


echo 'manual' | sudo tee /etc/init/lightdm.override

ahh cool, i tried with a ldm.override and it wasnt working......i never thought to try lightdm.override

LOL

I was only playing in a VM for the purposes of helping out in this thread, but glad i got it sorted for future reference

cheers

[m_abdelfattah]

D'oh! Of course, 11.10 defaults to LightDM. So we have to disable LightDM, not GDM...


echo 'manual' | sudo tee /etc/init/lightdm.override

Thanks Sisco311, that works for me :)

[sisco311]

You are welcome!

Don't forget to mark this thread as solved.