I am trying to install Ubuntu as a command line only but only found that you cant really do it off a USB as the alt. CD requires it be on a CD to install and I looked around but couldn't find how to make Ubuntu CLI after installing so there any help guys?
The alternative or server install is really the better way to accomplish this. But since I've got some spare time to bash up some problems. Here is a solution to your question. (Did this on ubuntu 11.10)
1) Start off by disabling gdm/lightdm by running
echo "manual" | sudo tee -a /etc/init/{gdm,lightdm}.override
2) Edit out the vt.handoff=7 part in /etc/grub.d/10_linux This is can be done using
sudo sed -i~ s/vt.handoff=7// /etc/grub.d/10_linux (This also leaves a backup called 10_linux~ just in case).
3) Remove quiet and splash options from GRUB_CMD_LINUX_DEFAULT in /etc/default/grub by running
sudo sed -i~ s/quiet splash// /etc/default/grub (backed up as grub~)
4) Update /boot/grub/grub.cfgby running
sudo update-grub
5) Reboot and rejoice.
Now it's just a matter of removing unwanted/unused packages.
