Managing Linux Systems Startup

When a Windows computer starts up it simply starts up and brings you into the GUI. You can autostart some applications, but the general startup is the same all the time. With Linux the start up is very configurable (like most things in Linux). Are you starting up a server or a workstation? Do you want to start with a GUI interface or no GUI. What applications do you want to start up and what order do you want them to start up in? Are there apps you want to start when booting in the GUI mode but not in the command line mode?

Run Levels