How to stop X server

[Ole Juul]

I went with the full PC-BSD install because i like using a GUI to move files around and transfer things from my laptop to my server, I can do this more quickly than through ssh and i had rather not use an ftp server.

Fair enough.

So if i edit that file /etc/rc.conf i assume this will keep x from running on startup, so would i then get a screen to enter startx when i need the GUI again?

I am hoping so, but can't test it right now. This is actually starting to bug me because after reading the man pages for xinit and startx, there is still no clear answer that I can understand. Even the FreeBSD handbook appears to avoid the issue.

Also killall Xorg just kills the current session and puts me back at the main login screen.

Oh, right. I should have known.

Anyway, since you just wanted to save resources perhaps there is no significant saving in turning the xserver off. I see here that even with a bunch of windows open, xorg shows 0.00% CPU usage and about 500MB memory. In other words, turning it off on this machine would not make a noticeable difference when it is not being actively used.

[Ole Juul]

Well editing the /etc/rc.conf file stopped X from running on start up but... When i type startx it goes to an all black screen, and when i type service gdm start it says org.gnome.displaymanager is not allowed to own the service.

So how do i startx again?

When I wrote that I didn't know you wanted to use it again. Probably you need to edit the file back to saying "YES".

However, I found some information on this PC-BSD wiki page, but it is full of pictures so I can't read it very well.

In /etc/ttys you comment out (put # in front of) the line that says something like one of these:

ttyv8 "/usr/local/bin/xdm -nodaemon" xterm off secure
ttyv8 "/usr/PCBSD/bin/pdm" xterm on secure

[Ole Juul]

Hehe, I gave up on Google (very slow too) and went to http://duckduckgo.com and the first result was this:
How do I configure PCBSD to boot up in text mode.


I think we're on track now.

[skilo]

Your original solution works for me, I just nano /etc/rc.conf and change it back to "YES" and reboot for the GUI.

Works for me as i am just using it as a server for me and my friends to use, I only need the GUI for transferring files to it and then its back to text mode again.

With a pentium 4 1.6ghz processor in an ancient dell gx240 i really dont need the overhead, Lord knows the CPU is probably EOL (Literally).

I think i am satisfied with the status quo.

Thanks again.