How to run only a Linux terminal window?

[DavidA]

Hi

Our developers are used to building and running software on remote Centos 5.5 servers, using PuTTy running on Windows.

We want to use VirtualBox to provide a Linux guest VM on each developer's Windows machine. I have a Centos 5.5 VM running nicely on Windows but it has been suggested that, rather than exposing a GNOME desktop, we should just expose a single Linux terminal window to the developer. He/she doesn't need the GUI tools and we can reduce the overhead of an X server running in the VM.

How should we do this?

- Make the VM startup without a GUI (how?) ?
- Use PuTTy and ssh into the VM ?
- Use VBoxHeadlessTray ?
- Some other way ?

I would be grateful for any suggestions.

Best regards

David

[Martin]

Start the linux guest in runlevel 3 (text mode).

[Sasquatch]

Or install it with Text Mode as option. That way, no X server will be installed. If they want a higher resolution terminal, then either use SSH and putty from the Host, or install X with xterm with a basic window manager that allows window resizing. You don't even need a login manager or display manager, they'll just run startx which should then give them only an xterm window.

[DavidA]

Start the linux guest in runlevel 3 (text mode).

Please will you explain how to do this?

Do I modify a configuration file in the VM or can I specify it to VirtualBox?

[mpack]

It seems to me that this conversation would better take place in "Linux Guests". It's of little value to "Windows Hosts" users in general.

[Sasquatch]

Done. Should've seen this one.

Start the linux guest in runlevel 3 (text mode).

Please will you explain how to do this?

Do I modify a configuration file in the VM or can I specify it to VirtualBox?

Check the documentation of the distribution on how to boot into certain runlevels. You can just as well remove the auto-start of GDM or KDM, whatever display manager is used. Gives the same effect and requires only one command without the need to change runlevel.

[DavidA]

Done. Should've seen this one.

Start the linux guest in runlevel 3 (text mode).

Please will you explain how to do this?

Do I modify a configuration file in the VM or can I specify it to VirtualBox?

Check the documentation of the distribution on how to boot into certain runlevels. You can just as well remove the auto-start of GDM or KDM, whatever display manager is used. Gives the same effect and requires only one command without the need to change runlevel.

Thanks for your help.