chkconfig (original) (raw)

CHKCONFIG(8) CHKCONFIG(8)

NAME

   chkconfig  -  updates  and queries runlevel information for system ser-
   vices

SYNOPSIS

   **chkconfig** **--list** [_name_]
   **chkconfig** **--add** _name_
   **chkconfig** **--del** _name_
   **chkconfig** [**--level** _levels_] _name_ <**on**|**off**|**reset**>
   **chkconfig** [**--level** _levels_] _name_

DESCRIPTION

   **chkconfig** provides a  simple  command-line  tool  for  maintaining  the
   /etc/rc[0-6].d  directory  hierarchy by relieving system administrators
   of the task of directly manipulating the  numerous  symbolic  links  in
   those directories.

   This  implementation of **chkconfig** was inspired by the **chkconfig** command
   present in the IRIX operating system. Rather than maintaining  configu-
   ration  information  outside  of the /etc/rc[0-6].d hierarchy, however,
   this version directly manages  the  symlinks  in  /etc/rc[0-6].d.  This
   leaves  all  of  the  configuration information regarding what services
   _init_ starts in a single location.

   **chkconfig** has five distinct functions: adding new services for  manage-
   ment,  removing  services  from management, listing the current startup
   information for services, changing the  startup  information  for  ser-
   vices, and checking the startup state of a particular service.

   When  **chkconfig**  is run without any options, it displays usage informa-
   tion.  If only a service name is given, it checks to see if the service
   is  configured to be started in the current runlevel. If it is, **chkcon-**
   **fig** returns true; otherwise it returns false. The **--level** option may be
   used  to  have  **chkconfig** query an alternative runlevel rather than the
   current one.

   If one of **on**, **off**, or reset is specified after the service  name,  **chk-**
   **config**  changes the startup information for the specified service.  The
   **on** and **off** flags cause the service to be started  or  stopped,  respec-
   tively,  in  the  runlevels  being  changed.  The **reset** flag resets the
   startup information for the service to whatever  is  specified  in  the
   init script in question.

   By  default,  the **on** and **off** options affect only runlevels 2, 3, 4, and
   5, while **reset** affects all of the runlevels.  The **--level** option may be
   used to specify which runlevels are affected.

   Note that for every service, each runlevel has either a start script or
   a stop script.  When switching runlevels, init  will  not  re-start  an
   already-started  service,  and  will  not re-stop a service that is not
   running.

   **chkconfig** also can manage xinetd scripts via the means of xinetd.d con-
   figuration  files.  Note that only the **on**, **off**, and **--list** commands are
   supported for xinetd.d services.

OPTIONS

   **--level** _levels_
          Specifies the run levels an operation should pertain to.  It  is
          given  as  a string of numbers from 0 to 7. For example, **--level**
          **35** specifies runlevels 3 and 5.


   **--add** _name_

          This option adds a new  service  for  management  by  **chkconfig**.
          When  a new service is added, **chkconfig** ensures that the service
          has either a start or a kill entry in  every  runlevel.  If  any
          runlevel  is missing such an entry, **chkconfig** creates the appro-
          priate entry as specified by the  default  values  in  the  init
          script.  Note  that default entries in LSB-delimited ’INIT INFO’
          sections take precedence  over  the  default  runlevels  in  the
          initscript.


   **--del** _name_
          The  service  is removed from **chkconfig** management, and any sym-
          bolic links in /etc/rc[0-6].d which pertain to it are removed.

          Note that future package installs for this service may run  **chk-**
          **config**  **--add**,  which  will re-add such links. To disable a ser-
          vice, run **chkconfig** _name_ **off**.


   **--list** _name_
          This option lists all of  the  services  which  **chkconfig**  knows
          about, and whether they are stopped or started in each runlevel.
          If _name_ is specified, information in only display about  service
          _name_.

RUNLEVEL FILES

   Each  service which should be manageable by **chkconfig** needs two or more
   commented lines added to its init.d script. The first line  tells  **chk-**
   **config**  what  runlevels the service should be started in by default, as
   well as the start and stop priority levels. If the service should  not,
   by default, be started in any runlevels, a **-** should be used in place of
   the runlevels list.  The second line contains  a  description  for  the
   service,  and may be extended across multiple lines with backslash con-
   tinuation.

   For example, random.init has these three lines:
   # chkconfig: 2345 20 80
   # description: Saves and restores system entropy pool for \
   #              higher quality random number generation.
   This says that the random script should be started in levels 2,  3,  4,
   and 5, that its start priority should be 20, and that its stop priority
   should be 80.  You should be able to figure out  what  the  description
   says;  the \ causes the line to be continued.  The extra space in front
   of the line is ignored.

SEE ALSO

   **init(8)** **ntsysv(8)** **system-config-services(8)**

AUTHOR

   Erik Troan <ewt@redhat.com>

4th Berkeley Distribution Wed Oct 8 1997 CHKCONFIG(8)

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