Ubuntu server and Gnome desktop

[Rashkae]

Krapacs Ambrose wrote:
> I installed Ubuntu server (8.10) and while I was troubleshooting some  
> configuration problems I installed the desktop (apt-get install ubuntu- 
> desktop). Now when I boot up the server it boots directly into the  
> desktop rather than to the command prompt like it did before I  
> installed the desktop. Is it possible to configure my machine to boot  
> to the command prompt by default and when/if I need the desktop I can  
> initiate it from the command line?
> 

Remove GDM from startup.

You have your preference how you want to do this.  Use the GUI Services
  manager and uncheck it.  Just delete the link from /etc/rc2.d, or
properly rename the link so S is replaced with K.

There's also a command line utility to manage the SysV startup, but I
forget what it is.

When you want to launch the GUI desktop from command line, the command
is startx