Can you run a GUI-based file manager from CD-booted Linux?

Nico Kadel-Garcia wrote:
> newlywed2 DeleteThis @daum.net wrote:

>
> Of course you can! Take a look at the Knoppix LiveCD's.
>
>

More accurately, of course you can IF the Linux you boot into is running
an X server. If it comes up in init level 3 (no X) then no GUI.

On 2006-03-06, newlywed2.RemoveThis@daum.net <newlywed2.RemoveThis@daum.net> wrote:

> Please bear with me if my question sounds too novice, because I am.
> Is it possible to launch a GUI-based file manager (something like
> Window's Windows Explorer) from a CD-booted Linux (I have Ubuntu)?

Sure. You can run a full linux desktop from your Ubuntu CD.

--

John (john@os2.dhs.org)

Arnie Stender wrote:
> Nico Kadel-Garcia wrote:
> > newlywed2 RemoveThis @daum.net wrote:
>
> >
> > Of course you can! Take a look at the Knoppix LiveCD's.
> >
> >
>
> More accurately, of course you can IF the Linux you boot into is running
> an X server. If it comes up in init level 3 (no X) then no GUI.

hmmm....
I was under the impression that Debian uses init 2 as default.
(note; Knoppix, Ubuntu, etc are Debian based).

I'm using Debian Sarge right now and running KDE, and using konquerer
as the browser - Is there anyway to tell for certain which runlevel I
am in ? ..here's a piece of my inittab;

$ cat /etc/inittab

# /etc/inittab: init( configuration.
# $Id: inittab,v 1.91 2002/01/25 13:35:21 miquels Exp $

# The default runlevel.
id:2:initdefault:

# Boot-time system configuration/initialization script.
# This is run first except when booting in emergency (-b) mode.
si::sysinit:/etc/init.d/rcS

# What to do in single-user mode.
~~:S:wait:/sbin/sulogin

# /etc/init.d executes the S and K scripts upon change
# of runlevel.
#
# Runlevel 0 is halt.
# Runlevel 1 is single-user.
# Runlevels 2-5 are multi-user.
# Runlevel 6 is reboot.

iforone wrote:
> Arnie Stender wrote:
>> Nico Kadel-Garcia wrote:
>>> newlywed2.TakeThisOut@daum.net wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Of course you can! Take a look at the Knoppix LiveCD's.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> More accurately, of course you can IF the Linux you boot into is
>> running an X server. If it comes up in init level 3 (no X) then no
>> GUI.
>
> hmmm....
> I was under the impression that Debian uses init 2 as default.
> (note; Knoppix, Ubuntu, etc are Debian based).
>
> I'm using Debian Sarge right now and running KDE, and using konquerer
> as the browser - Is there anyway to tell for certain which runlevel I
> am in ? ..here's a piece of my inittab;
>
> $ cat /etc/inittab
>
> # /etc/inittab: init( configuration.
> # $Id: inittab,v 1.91 2002/01/25 13:35:21 miquels Exp $
>
> # The default runlevel.

2 is your default. That's fine: under RedHat and its ilk, the "runlevel"
command will tell you what you're currently using.

> # Boot-time system configuration/initialization script.
> # This is run first except when booting in emergency (-b) mode.
> si::sysinit:/etc/init.d/rcS
>
> # What to do in single-user mode.
> ~~:S:wait:/sbin/sulogin
>
> # /etc/init.d executes the S and K scripts upon change
> # of runlevel.
> #
> # Runlevel 0 is halt.
> # Runlevel 1 is single-user.
> # Runlevels 2-5 are multi-user.
> # Runlevel 6 is reboot.

2 is traditionally "multi-user, text-mode, but don't run services for
others". 3 is "run services for others". 4 is "X login running, no
services". 5 is "X running, run services, at least in the RedHat world.

Nico Kadel-Garcia wrote:
> > iforone wrote:
> >> Arnie Stender wrote:

> >> More accurately, of course you can IF the Linux you boot into is
> >> running an X server. If it comes up in init level 3 (no X) then no
> >> GUI.

> >
> > hmmm....
> > I was under the impression that Debian uses init 2 as default.
> > (note; Knoppix, Ubuntu, etc are Debian based).
> >
> > I'm using Debian Sarge right now and running KDE, and using konquerer
> > as the browser - Is there anyway to tell for certain which runlevel I
> > am in ? ..here's a piece of my inittab;
> >
> > $ cat /etc/inittab
> >
> > # /etc/inittab: init( configuration.
> > # $Id: inittab,v 1.91 2002/01/25 13:35:21 miquels Exp $
> >
> > # The default runlevel.
> > id:2:initdefault:
> >

> 2 is your default. That's fine: under RedHat and its ilk, the "runlevel"
> command will tell you what you're currently using.

> > # Boot-time system configuration/initialization script.
> > # This is run first except when booting in emergency (-b) mode.
> > si::sysinit:/etc/init.d/rcS
> >
> > # What to do in single-user mode.
> > ~~:S:wait:/sbin/sulogin
> >
> > # /etc/init.d executes the S and K scripts upon change
> > # of runlevel.
> > #
> > # Runlevel 0 is halt.
> > # Runlevel 1 is single-user.
> > # Runlevels 2-5 are multi-user.
> > # Runlevel 6 is reboot.

> 2 is traditionally "multi-user, text-mode, but don't run services for
> others". 3 is "run services for others". 4 is "X login running, no
> services". 5 is "X running, run services, at least in the RedHat world.

Thanks for trying to clarify for me...
I distinctly remember a discussion on this list (or one of it's
siblings/variants) discussing this in depth -- the differences between
Debian and RedHat and their runlevels - unfortunately I have really no
way to reference that thread from a month or so (perhaps longer) ago.

I can recall some saying it's almost ridiculous for Debian to behave
differently in this regard - especially since 'most' other
distribution's runlevels, not based on Debian, operate in the way
you've outlined.

That said; I vaguely recall booting to Knoppix LiveCD (v3.6) and
noticing the bootup screen messages saying "Starting X 11 Windows
session" or similar, just as X would come up. A simple
ctrl-alt-f1[2,3,4,5] afterwards would show clearly those messages, and
(ctrl-alt-f7 to get back to X)-- I *think* I also recall seeing
entering "init 5" or "runlevel5" in/around there as well.

Here's my runlevel output from Konsole (K's bash derivitive);

$ sudo runlevel
N 2

I also definitely have X running at this time - using a full blown
browser and services, etc...just not sure if that output is letting me
know Konsole's runlevel or System's runlevel for that moment.

Nico Kadel-Garcia wrote:
> "iforone" <floydstestemail DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1141894058.246718.33220@j52g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...
> > Here's my runlevel output from Konsole (K's bash derivitive);
> >
> > $ sudo runlevel
> > N 2
> >
> > I also definitely have X running at this time - using a full blown
> > browser and services, etc...just not sure if that output is letting me
> > know Konsole's runlevel or System's runlevel for that moment.
>
> "Konsole" doesn't have a runlevel. The system does.

Ok - great - thanks...
so I am in runlevel 2 as noted from runlevel output ? ('N'ormal or
'N'etworked '2' ?)

"iforone" <floydstestemail DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1141894058.246718.33220@j52g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...
> Here's my runlevel output from Konsole (K's bash derivitive);
>
> $ sudo runlevel
> N 2
>
> I also definitely have X running at this time - using a full blown
> browser and services, etc...just not sure if that output is letting me
> know Konsole's runlevel or System's runlevel for that moment.

"Konsole" doesn't have a runlevel. The system does.

On 9 Mar 2006 05:58:21 -0800, iforone
<floydstestemail.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Nico Kadel-Garcia wrote:
>> "iforone" <floydstestemail.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1141894058.246718.33220@j52g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...
>> > Here's my runlevel output from Konsole (K's bash derivitive);
>> >
>> > $ sudo runlevel
>> > N 2
>> >
>> > I also definitely have X running at this time - using a full blown
>> > browser and services, etc...just not sure if that output is letting me
>> > know Konsole's runlevel or System's runlevel for that moment.
>>
>> "Konsole" doesn't have a runlevel. The system does.
>
> Ok - great - thanks...
> so I am in runlevel 2 as noted from runlevel output ? ('N'ormal or
> 'N'etworked '2' ?)
>
'N' is the previous runlevel, 'N'one.


--
The woman you buy -- and she is the least expensive -- takes a great
deal of money. The woman who gives herself takes all your time.
-- Balzac

Bill Marcum wrote:
> On 9 Mar 2006 05:58:21 -0800, iforone
> <floydstestemail.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > Nico Kadel-Garcia wrote:
> >> "iforone" <floydstestemail.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >> news:1141894058.246718.33220@j52g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...

> >> > Here's my runlevel output from Konsole (K's bash derivitive);
> >> >
> >> > $ sudo runlevel
> >> > N 2
[snip]

> >>
> >> "Konsole" doesn't have a runlevel. The system does.

> >
> > Ok - great - thanks...
> > so I am in runlevel 2 as noted from runlevel output ? ('N'ormal or
> > 'N'etworked '2' ?)
> >

> 'N' is the previous runlevel, 'N'one.
>

Got it thanks
runlevel = None, then 2

iforone <floydstestemail DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:

> That said; I vaguely recall booting to Knoppix LiveCD (v3.6) and
> noticing the bootup screen messages saying "Starting X 11 Windows
> session" or similar, just as X would come up. A simple
> ctrl-alt-f1[2,3,4,5] afterwards would show clearly those messages, and
> (ctrl-alt-f7 to get back to X)-- I *think* I also recall seeing
> entering "init 5" or "runlevel5" in/around there as well.

Although Knoppix is often said (with some justification) to be
"Debian-based", some architectural features (including an /etc/sysconfig
tree) were taken from Linux-Mandrake (now Mandriva).

Along those lines, I believe Knoppix has initdefault in /etc/inittab
set to 5.

--
Cheers,
Rick Moen Support your local medical examiner: Die strangely.
rick DeleteThis @linuxmafia.com

newlywed2.TakeThisOut@daum.net wrote:

> Please bear with me if my question sounds too novice, because I am.
> Is it possible to launch a GUI-based file manager (something like
> Window's Windows Explorer) from a CD-booted Linux (I have Ubuntu)?

Sure. Others in this thread have cited Knoppix, but Ubuntu (also the
Kubuntu, Edubuntu, Xubuntu variants) makes available a live-CD disc,
with a number of things meeting your app description, most obviously
Konqueror & Nautilus.

--
Cheers,
Rick Moen Support your local medical examiner: Die strangely.
rick.TakeThisOut@linuxmafia.com

Rick Moen wrote:
> iforone <floydstestemail.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > That said; I vaguely recall booting to Knoppix LiveCD (v3.6) and
> > noticing the bootup screen messages saying "Starting X 11 Windows
> > session" or similar, just as X would come up. A simple
> > ctrl-alt-f1[2,3,4,5] afterwards would show clearly those messages, and
> > (ctrl-alt-f7 to get back to X)-- I *think* I also recall seeing
> > entering "init 5" or "runlevel5" in/around there as well.
>
> Although Knoppix is often said (with some justification) to be
> "Debian-based", some architectural features (including an /etc/sysconfig
> tree) were taken from Linux-Mandrake (now Mandriva).
>
> Along those lines, I believe Knoppix has initdefault in /etc/inittab
> set to 5.
>

hi Rick;
IIRC - I believe you are correct that the default in Knoppix is
runlevel5

The only reason that I can think of for this thread's creation and the
OP's motives/recommendations is because perhaps he/she is having
triouble getting an X Window running - i.e.; only able to get to text
mode (similar to what a ' Knoppix 1 ', or ' Knoppix 2 ' at the Boot:
prompt would yield). Perhaps they have a Laptop which usually requires
some cheatcodes to get fully booted into the GUI.

But I guess we'll have to wait to hear back from the OP, before I
speculate further