Chapter 2. Starting and Stopping the System

This chapter deals with system startup activities such as booting, creating boot images or files for starting the system, and setting the system run level. The chapter also focuses on stopping the system using the reboot and shutdown commands.

Topics discussed in this chapter are:

• Starting the System
• Understanding the Boot Process
• Understanding System Boot Processing
• Understanding the Service Boot Process
• Understanding the RAM File System
• Booting an Uninstalled System
• Rebooting a Running System
• Booting from Hard Disk for Maintenance
• Booting a System That Crashed
• Accessing a System That Will Not Boot
• Rebooting a System With Planar Graphics
• Diagnosing Boot Problems
• Creating Boot Images
• Identifying System Run Levels
• Changing System Run Levels
• Changing the /etc/inittab File
• Stopping the System
• Understanding the Shutdown Process
• Shutting Down the System
• Shutting Down the System to Single-User Mode
• Shutting Down the System in an Emergency