Switching from run level 5 to 3 hangs

[Matt]

On Tue, 2004-01-13 at 16:08, Matt wrote:
> Today I tried to switch to run level 3 via `/sbin/init 3` but it never
> completed. It got so far as loading anacron and then hanged. syslogd
> reported no error messages; the last entry states that anacron started
> successfully. There is a Bugzilla report filed as ID 112015 but there's
> been no response as yet. 
> Has anyone found a workaround or temporary fix?
> 
> TY
> -- 
> Matt 

Well, it looks like whatever perceived problem I had is now gone after
upgrading to the latest 2.4.22-1.2149.nptl kernel. 

The behaviour I now get, that I see as the correct process, is as
follows:

  o Run `/sbin/init 3` from a shell within X (VT7).
  o INIT shuts down runlevel 5 related processes, switches to VT6 and  
presents the login prompt. (NB: The ENTER key must be pressed to push
the login process to the console.)
  o VT7 now displays a blank screen with occasional system messages.
  o Running `/sbin/init 5` from VT6 starts up the X related processes
once again, switches to back to VT7 and displays gdm.

Now I have a couple queries about this process I just outlined:

  1) Is the need to switch to VT6 when changing from 5 to 3 due to no
mingetty process running on VT7 by default? i.e. It only starts the gdm
login process upon boot-up?
  2) Is it not warranted to see the need to press the ENTER key to see
the login prompt as a bug? I realise it is trivial to press it, but as
somewhat of a perfectionist, :p, should there not be a way to handle
this automatically?
  3)  When in run level 3 on VT6, there are no processes running on VT7
correct? All I see are INIT messages stating switching to runlevel 3 and
sending all processes the TERM signal. This last message would be
confirmation as such? What other messages might I expect to see if any?
  
Thank you for your input folks.
-- 
Matt