Welcome to askrunlevel and Linuxconf Introduction 11.. PPuurrppoossee _L_i_n_u_x can be used for many different task. It can be a server (file server, application server, database server, Internet gateway) or a workstation running desktop packages (word processor, spreadsheet, graphics). It can even be an X terminal (graphic 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 allowing your computer to boot and start normal operation without user intervention. This is especially useful for servers. 22.. TTaasskkss You must pick the proper configuration mode out of a list. Mainly, you must select between a graphical mode or text mode, networked or not. At the end of the list, you have the maintenance mode. Pick this one to get a bare bone shell. This is recommend mostly to intercept the boot process of a broken (badly misconfigured) machine. To do core maintenance of a server, pick the option text-only, without network. 33.. CCoonnffiigguurraattiioonn One great feature of _a_s_k_r_u_n_l_e_v_e_l is its ability to switch to configuration mode, opening the full power of _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f even before the boot process is finished. This should eliminate those reboot steps generally required when upgrading a machine (you boot once, witness all kinds of meaningful error message, fix the configuration, and reboot, this time getting the proper setup).