  Welcome to askrunlevel and Linuxconf


  11..  PPuurrppoossee


  _L_i_n_u_x can be used for many different tasks. It can be a server (a file
  server, an application server, a database server, an Internet gateway,
  etc.), a workstation running desktop packages (like word processors,
  spreadsheets, graphics programs, etc.), or even an X-terminal (a
  graphics terminal displaying windows of programs running on an
  application server).

  _A_s_k_r_u_n_l_e_v_e_l allows you to pick the operation mode right at boot time.
  Generally, you will have a default operation mode and a timeout which
  allow your computer to boot and start normal operation without user
  intervention. This is especially useful for servers.


  22..  TTaasskkss


  You must pick the proper configuration mode from a list. Principally,
  you select between a graphical mode or text mode and between networked
  or standalone. At the end of the list, you have the maintenance mode.
  Pick this one to get a ``bare bones'' shell. This is usually used to
  intercept the boot process of a broken (badly misconfigured) machine.

  To do core maintenance on a server, pick the option text-only, without
  network.


  33..  CCoonnffiigguurraattiioonn

  One great feature of _a_s_k_r_u_n_l_e_v_e_l is its ability to switch to
  configuration mode, which opens the full power of _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f even
  before the boot process completes. This should eliminate those reboot
  steps which are generally required when upgrading a machine (i.e., you
  boot once, see all kinds of meaningful error messages, fix the
  configuration, and reboot, this time getting the proper setup).