diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/ansible/shared.yml b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/ansible/shared.yml
index 5b3afb324df..67d6836e873 100644
--- a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/ansible/shared.yml
+++ b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/ansible/shared.yml
@@ -14,12 +14,3 @@
       - xorg-x11-server-Xwayland
 {{% endif %}}
     state: absent
-
-
-- name: Switch to multi-user runlevel
-  file:
-    src: /usr/lib/systemd/system/multi-user.target
-    dest: /etc/systemd/system/default.target
-    state: link
-    force: yes
-
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/bash/shared.sh b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/bash/shared.sh
index dbabe572d2a..496dc74be7c 100644
--- a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/bash/shared.sh
+++ b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/bash/shared.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,3 @@
 {{% if product not in ["rhel7", "ol7"] %}}
 {{{ bash_package_remove("xorg-x11-server-Xwayland") }}}
 {{% endif %}}
-
-# configure run level
-systemctl set-default multi-user.target
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/oval/shared.xml b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/oval/shared.xml
index 0710efe9f1b..0868ec6eae7 100644
--- a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/oval/shared.xml
+++ b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/oval/shared.xml
@@ -2,10 +2,6 @@
   <definition class="compliance" id="xwindows_remove_packages" version="1">
     {{{ oval_metadata("Ensure that the default runlevel target is set to multi-user.target.") }}}
     <criteria>
-      {{%- if init_system == "systemd" and target_oval_version != [5, 10] %}}
-      <extend_definition comment="system is configured to boot into multi-user.target"
-        definition_ref="xwindows_runlevel_target" />
-      {{%- endif %}}
       <criterion comment="package xorg-x11-server-Xorg is not installed"
         test_ref="package_xorg-x11-server-Xorg_removed" />
       <extend_definition comment="package xorg-x11-server-common is removed"
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/rule.yml b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/rule.yml
index 10e51577a12..6ceb07bd574 100644
--- a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/rule.yml
+++ b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/rule.yml
@@ -19,14 +19,6 @@ description: |-
     {{% else %}}
     <pre>sudo {{{ pkg_manager }}} remove xorg-x11-server-Xorg xorg-x11-server-common xorg-x11-server-utils xorg-x11-server-Xwayland</pre>
     {{% endif %}}
-    Additionally, setting the system's default target to
-    <tt>multi-user.target</tt> will prevent automatic startup of the X server.
-    To do so, run:
-    <pre>$ systemctl set-default multi-user.target</pre>
-    You should see the following output:
-    <pre>Removed symlink /etc/systemd/system/default.target.
-    Created symlink from /etc/systemd/system/default.target to /usr/lib/systemd/system/multi-user.target.</pre>
-
 
 rationale: |-
     Unnecessary service packages must not be installed to decrease the attack surface of the system. X windows has a long history of security
@@ -72,6 +64,8 @@ warnings:
         The installation and use of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) increases your attack vector and decreases your
         overall security posture. Removing the package xorg-x11-server-common package will remove the graphical target
         which might bring your system to an inconsistent state requiring additional configuration to access the system
-        again. If a GUI is an operational requirement, a tailored profile that removes this rule should used before
+        again.
+        The rule <tt>xwindows_runlevel_target</tt> can be used to configure the system to boot into the multi-user.target.
+        If a GUI is an operational requirement, a tailored profile that removes this rule should be used before
         continuing installation.
 {{{ ovirt_rule_notapplicable_warning("X11 graphic libraries are dependency of OpenStack Cinderlib storage provider") | indent(4) }}}
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/correct_target.pass.sh b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/correct_target.pass.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 9bf62a42d28..00000000000
--- a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/correct_target.pass.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-yum -y remove xorg-x11-server-Xorg xorg-x11-server-common xorg-x11-server-utils xorg-x11-server-Xwayland
-
-systemctl set-default multi-user.target
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/correct_target_under_lib.pass.sh b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/correct_target_under_lib.pass.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 4eeb6971486..00000000000
--- a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/correct_target_under_lib.pass.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-yum -y remove xorg-x11-server-Xorg xorg-x11-server-common xorg-x11-server-utils xorg-x11-server-Xwayland
-
-ln -sf /lib/systemd/system/multi-user.target /etc/systemd/system/default.target
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/packages_installed.fail.sh b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/packages_installed.fail.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b3908cff002
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/packages_installed.fail.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+{{{ bash_package_install("xorg-x11-server-Xorg") }}}
+{{{ bash_package_install("xorg-x11-server-utils") }}}
+{{{ bash_package_install("xorg-x11-server-common") }}}
+{{% if product not in ["rhel7", "ol7"] %}}
+{{{ bash_package_install("xorg-x11-server-Xwayland") }}}
+{{% endif %}}
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/packages_installed_removed.pass.sh b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/packages_installed_removed.pass.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..abafdbd624a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/packages_installed_removed.pass.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# based on shared/templates/package_removed/tests/package-installed-removed.pass.sh
+
+{{{ bash_package_install("xorg-x11-server-Xorg") }}}
+{{{ bash_package_install("xorg-x11-server-utils") }}}
+{{{ bash_package_install("xorg-x11-server-common") }}}
+{{% if product not in ["rhel7", "ol7"] %}}
+{{{ bash_package_install("xorg-x11-server-Xwayland") }}}
+{{% endif %}}
+
+{{{ bash_package_remove("xorg-x11-server-Xorg") }}}
+{{{ bash_package_remove("xorg-x11-server-utils") }}}
+{{{ bash_package_remove("xorg-x11-server-common") }}}
+{{% if product not in ["rhel7", "ol7"] %}}
+{{{ bash_package_remove("xorg-x11-server-Xwayland") }}}
+{{% endif %}}
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/packages_removed.pass.sh b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/packages_removed.pass.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a403e108082
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/packages_removed.pass.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+{{{ bash_package_remove("xorg-x11-server-Xorg") }}}
+{{{ bash_package_remove("xorg-x11-server-utils") }}}
+{{{ bash_package_remove("xorg-x11-server-common") }}}
+{{% if product not in ["rhel7", "ol7"] %}}
+{{{ bash_package_remove("xorg-x11-server-Xwayland") }}}
+{{% endif %}}
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/rhel7_packages_installed_correct_target.fail.sh b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/rhel7_packages_installed_correct_target.fail.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index ff7d0efda29..00000000000
--- a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/rhel7_packages_installed_correct_target.fail.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-# platform = Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
-# packages = xorg-x11-server-Xorg,xorg-x11-server-common,xorg-x11-server-utils
-
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/rhel7_packages_installed_wrong_target.fail.sh b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/rhel7_packages_installed_wrong_target.fail.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index d8ecd8c7361..00000000000
--- a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/rhel7_packages_installed_wrong_target.fail.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-# platform = Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
-# packages = xorg-x11-server-Xorg,xorg-x11-server-common,xorg-x11-server-utils
-
-systemctl set-default graphical.target
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/rhel8_packages_installed_correct_target.fail.sh b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/rhel8_packages_installed_correct_target.fail.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 14f1a97bc4f..00000000000
--- a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/rhel8_packages_installed_correct_target.fail.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-# platform = Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
-# packages = xorg-x11-server-Xorg,xorg-x11-server-common,xorg-x11-server-utils,xorg-x11-server-Xwayland
-
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/rhel8_packages_installed_wrong_target.fail.sh b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/rhel8_packages_installed_wrong_target.fail.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index c678ef711d9..00000000000
--- a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/rhel8_packages_installed_wrong_target.fail.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-# platform = Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
-# packages = xorg-x11-server-Xorg,xorg-x11-server-common,xorg-x11-server-utils,xorg-x11-server-Xwayland
-
-systemctl set-default graphical.target
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/wrong_target.fail.sh b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/wrong_target.fail.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index bf8a615b1dc..00000000000
--- a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/wrong_target.fail.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-yum -y remove xorg-x11-server-Xorg xorg-x11-server-common xorg-x11-server-utils xorg-x11-server-Xwayland
-
-systemctl set-default graphical.target
diff --git a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/wrong_target_under_lib.fail.sh b/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/wrong_target_under_lib.fail.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 652088b85ae..00000000000
--- a/linux_os/guide/services/xwindows/disabling_xwindows/xwindows_remove_packages/tests/wrong_target_under_lib.fail.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-yum -y remove xorg-x11-server-Xorg xorg-x11-server-common xorg-x11-server-utils xorg-x11-server-Xwayland
-
-ln -sf /lib/systemd/system/graphical.target /etc/systemd/system/default.target