Hello all!
I am a new Linux user and also a student learning about Linux systems, primarily Fedora 12 (the distro the school is on). I'm am having some trouble understanding some things on my homework and am asking for help.

So far: I have learned without a doubt what runlevels are...the questions I have are related to the init scripts and how to create a link to an init script. I see that there was a post where someone was trying to get people to do homework for them...I assure you I want to understand what I am trying to learn. That said, here are my hang ups:
1. The script that contains the default runlevel to my understanding is /etc/rc.d/init.d, though I've also found /etc/inittab on the web as the default. My book isn't too clear on this as it doesn't state it exactly, so which is it for sure?
2. My assignment asks what I'd name a link to an init script that would start a fictitious BIGD daemon early on in the boot process. My answer: /etc/rc.5.bigd.d --I don't think that this is the right answer though because in the book, it states that the /etc/rc.d/rcN.d contains names of scripts whose names begin with K and S. My understading in that this starts and kills each script depending on how it's entered. Is it here, then, that the above stated question is referring? I don't really understand, so if you could please help clarify where I may be wrong. Also how in the world would I name a link to kill this "daemon"? It also talks about a service command that can be used to manually kill it, but I don't know what that is.
Please, I really want to understand this and my textbook serves as additional confusion; any insight is welcome!
Thank you in advance everyone!

-Nick

Hi, welcome to LQ!
Inittab is not a startup-script. It's a config file.
for details.
/etc/rc.d/init.d is not a startup-script, it's a directory
that contains startup-scripts.
Read the script /etc/rc.d/rc to see how the init process works
(unfortunately I have to admit that the script/docu in SuSE
is far superior to FC's version).

Read what I suggested in 1.), and then revisit/rephrase 2.)



Cheers,
Tink

1 members found this post helpful.

Hi Nickjpost and welcome to LQ,
your question shows that you've done your work in trying to understand the matter, so it won't be a problem to point you in the right direction.The problem is, that these things are very difficult to learn in the theory, I'd recommend to install Fedora and look by yourself at the scripts. I don't know Fedora, and here in Slackware the things seem slightly different.
The /etc/inittab file contains the configuration of the runlevels, for example in which runlevel the users login, mostly either runlevel 3 (multiuser without a gui) or runlevel 5 (with a gui/X11).as I wrote, I don't know Fedora, you may look at this link http://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/...down-init.html, the numbers at the beginning of the filename are the order in which the scripts are executed. Try google with "fedora init scripts" for example.

Markus

1 members found this post helpful.

Hi,

@OP

I come from academia and interaction with students that had problems was beneficial when the student approached with difficulties. That way I could provide extended information that may not be available within the text. In this way the student could be guided to information or even hands on interaction to show the student things that would lead to understanding.

A true educator would not look down on someone who has questions concerning the topic. This interaction with the instructor builds understanding for the student that is lacking in certain areas.

Now that has been said.
Does not say that we cannot aid you with homework. But it is best to do it yourself in order to learn. I'll give you a few links to help you help yourself since you feel the provided text is lacking;
Rute Tutorial & Exposition
Getting Started with Linux

The Linux Documentation Project is the mother load for Gnu/Linux information.





1 members found this post helpful.

Thank you all for the info, I believe I learned the information I needed, but please let me know if I'm wrong:

The script that contains the default runlevel is in /etc/inittab and the scripts for each runlevel are contained in the /etc/rc.d/rc(runlevel#).d
You can create a new link to start early in the boot process by entering S10bigdd,kill it by entering K90bigdd

Looking good. Just make sure you choose sensible numbers, your
daemon may depend on other daemons work.


Cheers,
Tink