On Wed, 25 Jun 2003, Johnny Ernst Nielsen wrote:

Runlevels are a Linux kernel thing, so they are present in all Linux distributions whether they like it or not. You can not add or remove runlevels unless you change the kernel code and recompile a new kernel.

Are you sure? Handling of runlevels is supposed to be handled by init [with configfile /etc/inittab] and symbolic links residing in rcX.d directories for individual runlevel. Switching to runlevel X kills services absent in that runlevel and then starts up services not already running, for the same runlevel. But that runlevel is a kernel thing, is wholly new to me! May be I can use some enlightenment on this. Rohit ********************************************************* Disclaimer This message (including any attachments) contains confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this message and are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited. ********************************************************* Visit us at http://www.mahindrabt.com

On Wed, 25 Jun 2003, Johnny Ernst Nielsen wrote:

You are right -- I am horribly wrong. Runlevels are controlled by init - not by the kernel. (You learn something new every day.) Thank you Rohit. :o)

I am going to get pitch drunk tonight! :-)

However, according to "man inittab" init can handle only a certain number of runlevels, and each runlevel has a certain meaning (like runlevel 5 being graphical login with networking and full multiuser). I can not readily see any information about adding new runlevels.

Those of us, who were around with SuSE 6.3 would probably recall that runlevel-2 was multiuser with network, while runlevel-3 was multiuser with network and X windows. At that time, this was a difference for the same/contemporary kernel [version 2.2.-14 I think] between RedHat and SuSE. So I feel that it could not have been a kernel issue. Just in the hindsight. Am I right in thinking this? Because no matter what - init itself [pid=1 and visible] is an application spawned by kernel only [pid=0 and invisible] Rohit ********************************************************* Disclaimer This message (including any attachments) contains confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you should delete this message and are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited. ********************************************************* Visit us at http://www.mahindrabt.com

On Sun, 13 Jul 2003 21:04:07 +1000 scsijon wrote:

y old Linux/Unix Tech Manual says about runlevel 4 :

Equivalent to runlevel 3 "with a special startup script" but normally unused except for webservers as console is disabled except for error messages screen! No details on what the script name would be is given. You may be able to use it but there may be something already set to start/stop so caution and a little investigation is advised.

It also mentions that runlevels ABOVE 7 are used internally with A, B and C as special levels NOT to be used or amended by developers or programmers. However i've never seen any referances to these levels in any real system script so who knows what they do! I wonder what runlevel 7 itself does or is it available?? You would need to set these run levels up yourself. The controlling file is /etc/inittab. Run level 4 is generally not used. You can certainly add more run levels, but you should also we aware of exactly how the links in /etc/init.d/rcn work. -- Jerry Feldman Boston Linux and Unix user group http://www.blu.org PGP key id:C5061EA9 PGP Key fingerprint:053C 73EC 3AC1 5C44 3E14 9245 FB00 3ED5 C506 1EA9