Booting into Specific Targets

RHEL

  • boots into graphical target state by default if the Server with GUI software selection is made during installation.

  • can also be directed to boot into non-default but less capable operating targets from the GRUB2 menu.

  • offers emergency and rescue boot targets.

    • special target levels can be launched from the GRUB2 interface by
      • selecting a kernel
      • pressing e to enter the edit mode
      • appending the desired target name to the line that begins with the keyword “linux”.
      • Press ctrl+x to boot into the supplied target
      • Enter root password
      • reboot when you are done
  • You must know how to boot a RHEL 9 system into a specific target from the GRUB2 menu to modify the fstab file or reset an unknown root user password.

Append “emergency” to the kernel line entry:

Other options:

  • “rescue”
  • “1”
  • “s”
  • “single”