Lab Information
With the installation of new tools on the app servers within the Stratos Datacenter, certain functionalities now necessitate graphical user interface (GUI) access.
Adjust the default runlevel on all App servers in Stratos Datacenter to enable GUI booting by default. It's imperative not to initiate a server reboot after completing this task.
Lab Solutions
🧭 Part 1: Lab Step-by-Step Guidelines
🔹 Step 1: Log in to Jump Host
ssh thor@jump_host.stratos.xfusioncorp.com
Password:
mjolnir123
🔁 Perform the following steps on ALL three App Servers
🔹 Step 2: SSH into each App Server
App Server 1
ssh tony@stapp01.stratos.xfusioncorp.com
Ir0nM@n
App Server 2
ssh steve@stapp02.stratos.xfusioncorp.com
Am3ric@
App Server 3
ssh banner@stapp03.stratos.xfusioncorp.com
BigGr33n
🔹 Step 3: Switch to root
sudo -i
🔹 Step 4: Set default target to GUI
systemctl set-default graphical.target
🔹 Step 5: Verify default target
systemctl get-default
Expected output:
graphical.target
🔁 Repeat Steps 2–5 on all three app servers
✅ Final Checklist
✔ Completed on stapp01
✔ Completed on stapp02
✔ Completed on stapp03
✔ Default target set to graphical.target
✔ Verified using systemctl get-default
✔ No reboot performed
🧠 Part 2: Simple Step-by-Step Explanation (Beginner Friendly)
🔹 What is “runlevel” in modern Linux?
Older Linux used:
runlevel 3 → CLI
runlevel 5 → GUI
Modern systems use systemd targets instead:
Old Runlevel New Target
3 multi-user.target
5 graphical.target
🔹 What does systemctl set-default graphical.target do?
It changes the default boot mode.
Instead of booting into:
multi-user.target (command line only)
The system will boot into:
graphical.target (GUI enabled)
🔹 Why no reboot?
The lab specifically says:
Do NOT reboot.
set-default only changes what will happen at the next boot.
It does not affect the current session.
🔹 How to verify?
systemctl get-default
If it prints:
graphical.target
You are done.
🔐 Real-World Context
GUI boot is required when:
Desktop-based tools are installed
X11 forwarding is used
Monitoring dashboards require local display
Servers usually run CLI-only, but some tools require GUI.
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