Ubuntu Startup

Startup Services

(Unfortunately, there is a seemingly endless number of ways to add a startup service to Ubuntu. One is using upstart, in /etc/init, one is using /etc/rc.local, and the last uses LSB init scripts. The last method is recommended.)

To add a program to the startup process of Ethane, follow this procedure:

First, create a script in /etc/init.d with the name of your service (e.g., servicename):

sudo touch /etc/init.d/servicename

Next, edit the servicename script so it contains a header (following this format: http://wiki.debian.org/LSBInitScripts) along with any commands that need to be run:

### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides:          scriptname
# Required-Start:    $remote_fs $syslog
# Required-Stop:     $remote_fs $syslog
# Default-Start:     2 3 4 5
# Default-Stop:      0 1 6
# Short-Description: Start daemon at boot time
# Description:       Enable service provided by daemon.
### END INIT INFO

put_your_commands_here

Last, add the servicename to the boot sequence:

sudo update-rc.d servicename defaults

You should see an output like this:

 Adding system startup for /etc/init.d/svnserve ...
   /etc/rc0.d/K20svnserve -> ../init.d/svnserve
   /etc/rc1.d/K20svnserve -> ../init.d/svnserve
   /etc/rc6.d/K20svnserve -> ../init.d/svnserve
   /etc/rc2.d/S20svnserve -> ../init.d/svnserve
   /etc/rc3.d/S20svnserve -> ../init.d/svnserve
   /etc/rc4.d/S20svnserve -> ../init.d/svnserve
   /etc/rc5.d/S20svnserve -> ../init.d/svnserve