System Administration Guide, Volume 1

How to Shut Down a Server

  1. Become superuser.

  2. Find out if users are logged into the system.


    # who
    

    A list of all logged-in users is displayed. You might want to send mail or broadcast a message to let users know that the system is being shut down.

  3. Shut down the system by using the shutdown(1M) command.


    # shutdown -iinit-state -ggrace-period -y 
    

    -iinit-state

    Brings the system to an init state different from the default of S. The choices are 0, 1, 2, 5, and 6. 

    -ggrace-period

    Indicates a time (in seconds) before the system is shut down. The default is 60 seconds. 

    -y

    Continues to shut down the system without intervention; otherwise, you are prompted to continue the shutdown process after 60 seconds. 

  4. If you are asked for confirmation, type y.


    Do you want to continue? (y or n): y
    

    If you used the shutdown -y command, you will not be prompted to continue.

  5. Type the superuser password, if prompted.


    Type Ctrl-d to proceed with normal startup,
    (or give root password for system maintenance): xxx
    
  6. After you have finished the system administration tasks, press Control-d to return to the default run system level.

  7. Use the following table to verify the system is at the run level specified in the shutdown command.

    If the System Was Brought To ... 

    The SPARC Based System Prompt Should Be ... 

    The IA Based System Prompt Should Be ... 

    Run level S (single-user state) 

    Run level 0 (power-down state) 

    ok or >

    type any key to continue

    Run level 3 (multiuser state with remote resources shared) 

    hostname console login:

    hostname console login:

SPARC: Example--Bringing a System to Run Level S (Server)

In the following example, the shutdown is used to bring a SPARC based system to run level S (single-user state) in 3 minutes.


# who
root       console      Jul 14 13:53
# shutdown -g180 -y
 
Shutdown started.    Wed Jul 14 13:55:55 MDT 1999

Broadcast Message from root (console) on earth Wed Jul 14 13:55:56...
The system earth will be shut down in 3 minutes 
.
.
.
Broadcast Message from root (console) on earth Wed Jul 14 13:58:28...
The system earth will be shut down in 30 seconds
.
.
.
INIT: New run level: S
The system is coming down for administration.  Please wait.
Unmounting remote filesystems: /vol nfs done.
Jul 14 13:59:15 earth /usr/sbin/vold[376]: problem unmounting /vol;
Print services stopped.
Jul 14 13:59:16 earth syslogd: going down on signal 15
Killing user processes: done.

INIT: SINGLE USER MODE

Type control-d to proceed with normal startup,
(or give root password for system maintenance): xxx
Entering System Maintenance Mode ...
# 

SPARC: Example--Bringing a System to Run Level 0 (Server)

In the following example, the shutdown command is used to bring a SPARC based system to run level 0 in 5 minutes without requiring additional confirmation.


# who
root       console      Jul 14 14:01
rimmer     pts/0        Jul 14 14:03    (starbug)
pmorph     pts/1        Jul 14 14:04    (bluemidget)
# shutdown -i0 -g300 -y
Shutdown started.    Wed Jul 14 14:05:03 MDT 1999

Broadcast Message from root (console) on earth Wed Jul 14 14:05:03...
The system earth will be shut down in 5 minutes 
.
.
.
Changing to init state 0 - please wait
# 
INIT: New run level: 0
The system is coming down.  Please wait.
System services are now being stopped.
.
.
.
The system is down.
syncing file systems... done
Program terminated
Type  help  for more information
ok 

See "How to Turn Off Power to All Devices" if you are bringing the system to run level 0 to turn off power to all devices.

SPARC: Example--Rebooting a System to Run Level 3 (Server)

In the following example, the shutdown command is used to reboot a SPARC based system to run level 3 in two minutes without requiring additional confirmation.


# who
root       console      Jul 14 14:14
rimmer     pts/0        Jul 14 14:15    (starbug)
pmorph     pts/1        Jul 14 14:15    (bluemidget)
# shutdown -i6 -g120 -y
Shutdown started.    Wed Jul 14 14:16:08 MDT 1999

Broadcast Message from root (console) on earth Wed Jul 14 14:16:08...
The system earth will be shut down in 2 minutes 
.
.
.
Changing to init state 6 - please wait
# 
INIT: New run level: 6
The system is coming down.  Please wait.
.
.
.
The system is down.
syncing file systems... done
rebooting...
.
.
.
earth console login:

Where to Go From Here

Regardless of the reason for shutting down the system, you'll probably want to return to run level 3 where all file resources are available and users can log in. See Chapter 10, SPARC: Booting a System (Tasks) or Chapter 11, IA: Booting a System (Tasks) for instructions on bringing a system back to a multiuser state.