How do I stop or start the desktop from loading on bootup?

Question

I occasionally want to use my Ubuntu machine as a desktop but mostly as a headless file server. Before I upgraded to Oneiric, I used rcconf services to disable or enable the desktop. In Oneiric I don't see GDM; so can't uncheck it. LightDM appears but isn't checked. I don't see anything else that looks like a desktop.

So, how can I disable, an occasionally enable, the Oneiric desktop?

Answer 1

This is a specific instance of a generic question, "how do I prevent an upstart service from running at boot".

You can use an override:

sudo echo "manual" >> /etc/init/lightdm.override

To start lightdm on command:

sudo start lightdm

To restore your system so that lightdm is always started on boot:

sudo rm /etc/init/lightdm.override

For more information, the upstart cookbook is your friend:

• http://upstart.ubuntu.com/cookbook/