Bug#325234: debian-policy: mention if coincidence runlevels 2345 all same
On Sat, Aug 27, 2005 at 04:09:46AM +0800, Dan Jacobson wrote:
>One wants to know the exact definition of each of the Debian run levels.
You're confusing Debian Policy with a user/administrators manual. It's
not.
>Well right at the top of 9.3.1 I would say what each run level is,
>using one line to explain each runlevel, for a total of 0123456S = 8 lines.
Debian doesn't enforce a policy on the multi-user run-levels (2-5), this
is the decision of the local administrator.
>Anyway, on other Linuxes, 3 is text:
> /usr/share/doc/HOWTO/en-html/Remote-Serial-Console-HOWTO/misc-init.html:
> 7.2. Change init level to textual
> Alter the default from run level 5 (multiuser with X Window System) to
> run level 3 (multiuser).
On some other Linux distributions this may be the case, but it's by no
means consistent. On some Unix systems, 5 means "Halt system and enter
firmware".
>But on debian, level 2 3 4 5 are all the same, apparently, but
>apparently by silent agreement. Policy should give some clue why they
>are all the same, lest users wonder if they forgot to install text-mode
>or something. "On other Linuxes, Policy is 3 is textmode, but on
>Debian one cannot find any statements about this." Not in man inittab,
>man init, /etc/inittab, etc.
>Perhaps mention that "text mode" can be achieved by just disabling X
>-- mention the best way then.
>
>One might even save inodes by just linking rc5.d->rc2.d etc. Or just
>having one of 2345 in the first place.
The directories are not symlinks to permit the administrator to
re-organise the symlinks to reflect local policy (such changes are not
disturbed by upgrades).
>Anyways, "say something on why 2 3 4 5 are exactly the same on
>Debian", or if it is cool for packages to casually claim a whole
>runlevel for themselves and their friends or whatever.
>At least mention something to people looking for Debian's "text mode."
People looking for Debian's "text mode" should be looking in a user or
system administrator's manual, not Policy.
--bod
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