init.d(4) File Formats init.d(4)
NAME
init.d - initialization and termination scripts for changing init states
SYNOPSIS
/etc/init.d
DESCRIPTION
/etc/init.d is a directory containing initialization and termination scripts for changing init states. These scripts are linked when appro-
priate to files in the rc?.d directories, where `?' is a single character corresponding to the init state. See init(1M) for definitions of
the states.
The service management facility (see smf(5)) is the preferred mechanism for service initiation and termination. The init.d and rc?.d direc-
tories are obsolete, and are provided for compatibility purposes only. Applications launched from these directories by svc.startd(1M) are
incomplete services, and will not be restarted on failure.
File names in rc?.d directories are of the form [SK]nn<init.d filename>, where S means start this job, K means kill this job, and nn is the
relative sequence number for killing or starting the job.
When entering a state (init S,0,2,3,etc.) the rc[S0-6] script executes those scripts in /etc/rc[S0-6].d that are prefixed with K followed
by those scripts prefixed with S. When executing each script in one of the /etc/rc[S0-6] directories, the /sbin/rc[S0-6] script passes a
single argument. It passes the argument 'stop' for scripts prefixed with K and the argument 'start' for scripts prefixed with S. There is
no harm in applying the same sequence number to multiple scripts. In this case the order of execution is deterministic but unspecified.
Guidelines for selecting sequence numbers are provided in README files located in the directory associated with that target state. For
example, /etc/rc[S0-6].d/README. Absence of a README file indicates that there are currently no established guidelines.
Do not put /etc/init.d in your $PATH. Having this directory in your $PATH can cause unexpected behavior. The programs in /etc/init.d are
associated with init state changes and, under normal circumstances, are not intended to be invoked from a command line.
EXAMPLES
Example 1 Example of /sbin/rc2.
When changing to init state 2 (multi-user mode, network resources not exported), /sbin/rc2 is initiated by the svc.startd(1M) process. The
following steps are performed by /sbin/rc2.
1. In the directory /etc/rc2.d are files used to stop processes that should not be running in state 2. The filenames are prefixed
with K. Each K file in the directory is executed (by /sbin/rc2) in alphanumeric order when the system enters init state 2. See
example below.
2. Also in the rc2.d directory are files used to start processes that should be running in state 2. As in Step 1, each S file is
executed.
Assume the file /etc/init.d/netdaemon is a script that will initiate networking daemons when given the argument 'start', and will terminate
the daemons if given the argument 'stop'. It is linked to /etc/rc2.d/S68netdaemon, and to /etc/rc0.d/K67netdaemon. The file is executed by
/etc/rc2.d/S68netdaemon start when init state 2 is entered and by /etc/rc0.d/K67netdaemon stop when shutting the system down.
SEE ALSO
svcs(1), init(1M), svc.startd(1M), svccfg(1M), smf(5)
NOTES
Solaris now provides an expanded mechanism, which includes automated restart, for applications historically started via the init script
mechanism. The Service Management Facility (introduced in smf(5)) is the preferred delivery mechanism for persistently running applica-
tions. Existing init.d scripts will, however, continue to be executed according to the rules in this manual page. The details of execution
in relation to managed services are available in svc.startd(1M).
On earlier Solaris releases, a script named with a suffix of '.sh' would be sourced, allowing scripts to modify the environment of other
scripts executed later. This behavior is no longer supported; for altering the environment in which services are run, see the setenv sub-
command in svccfg(1M).
/sbin/rc2 has references to the obsolescent rc.d directory. These references are for compatibility with old INSTALL scripts. New INSTALL
scripts should use the init.d directory for related executables. The same is true for the shutdown.d directory.
SunOS 5.11 17 Aug 2005 init.d(4)