(computing) Any of a set of modes of operation in certain operating systems, defining the state of the machine after boot.
Used in a Sentence
runlevel
Definition, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for runlevel.
Editorial note
The convention is to prefix startup-script filenames with numbers that effectively serve as priorities within a runlevel.
Examples16
Definitions1
Parts of speech1
Quick take
(computing) Any of a set of modes of operation in certain operating systems, defining the state of the machine after boot.
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of runlevel gathered in one view.
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for runlevel.
noun
(computing) Any of a set of modes of operation in certain operating systems, defining the state of the machine after boot.
Example sentences
The convention is to prefix startup-script filenames with numbers that effectively serve as priorities within a runlevel.
Going from runlevel 0 to runlevel 3 is just one such transition.
The runlevel thing is not expressive enough for dynamic desktop and mobile systems where devices come and go.
> the X server won't start until runlevel 5 I don't think that the runlevel numbers are sequential.
Easy - just change init to runlevel 3 (no display) and boom, there you are, headless linux.
The BSD and systemd methods of initialization let you define any arbitrary system state (grouping of processes) as a runlevel.
These are supposed to be discrete, semantically meaningful boot levels that you could purposely initiate: boot to runlevel 1, boot to runlevel 2, drop back to runlevel 1.
The cron daemon should be launched at a runlevel preceding anything windowing related, this is the default in all linux distros.
Within a runlevel, services are ordered, though (either by an arbitrary integer or by dependency).
In OpenRC, that is simply another runlevel that you trigger on power-plug changes, etc.
You can switch between levels (and that corresponds to more or less services running) but you pretty much boot directly to runlevel 5.
I can boot to runlevel 5 and not have all file systems present and working e.g.
Quote examples
Yes, "init" is a bit of a misnomer, given that it also handles shutdown/runlevel transitions.
It boils down to this: plymouth quit echo "Friendly message here." sulogin; systemctl default Where systemctl default is like going to a multi-user runlevel or whatever other overlay/synchronization point/service group/milestone/term used in other systems.
For the end benchmark I've used "runlevel 3" (multiuser without window manager) to perform this tasks, to maximize cache and RAM usage.
That's actually a pretty good summary of the difference between Upstart and systemd, with systemd your services declare what they depend on and your runlevel is now a "target" that declares that it depends on certain services.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use runlevel in a sentence?
The convention is to prefix startup-script filenames with numbers that effectively serve as priorities within a runlevel.
What does runlevel mean?
(computing) Any of a set of modes of operation in certain operating systems, defining the state of the machine after boot.
What part of speech is runlevel?
runlevel is commonly used as noun.