I've made a few shell scripts to load up some modules, etc. Where do I place the scripts to have them run during boot?

For most distros, you put them in /etc/init.d and then use the chkconfig command to put links into the appropriate boot directories (/etc/rcX.d). Slackware is a little different in that you use /etc/rc.d. If you state what distro you're using we can probably be more specific.

As Hangdog42 stipulated, Slackware uses the /etc/rc.d folder for its start-up scripts. Whereas Debian uses /etc/init.d.

Some of us just put these scripts into /etc/rc.local (if this file exists on your distro, I suggest you read and use it)

Using Fedora 8, Debian 4.0, and BT3

So, is the file /etc/rc.local there or not?
Have you tried putting your scripts there?
Please don't expect us to do ALL your homework.

It looks to me as though Debian might do it differently too.

The choices for both /stc/init.d and /etc/rc.local are overwhelming (see below for extract). Any additional advice?

I just want to run the "hdparm" command at boot.

In Debian Etch, The (edited) choices of the suggested locations are:

[felixk@ ~]$ locate rc.local
/etc/init.d/rc.local
/etc/rc.local
/etc/rc2.d/S99rc.local
/etc/rc3.d/S99rc.local
/etc/rc4.d/S99rc.local
/etc/rc5.d/S99rc.local
[felixk@ ~]$ locate init.d
/etc/init.d
/etc/init.d/alsa
/etc/init.d/alsa-utils
/etc/init.d/anacron
/etc/init.d/atd
/etc/init.d/avahi-daemon
/etc/init.d/bootclean

REMAINDER SNIPPED.

felixk

yeah in BT3 there's


/etc/rc.d/rc.0
/etc/rc.d/rc.4
/etc/rc.d/rc.6

So I would just place a command in an appropriate area of one of those files to run a script? So by placing a command to run a shell script in rc.4, this command would be run when I run init 4 or user mode 4?
Would I have to run chkconfig in this situation?

Also, there are

/etc/rc.d/rc0.d/
/etc/rc.d/rc1.d/
/etc/rc.d/rc2.d/
/etc/rc.d/rc3.d/
/etc/rc.d/rc4.d/
/etc/rc.d/rc5.d/
/etc/rc.d/rc6.d/

These are empty, but these are for daemons? How would I use these if I wanted a daemon running? Do I need to place a shell script in there to start a daemon?

You could do it that way, however it becomes a pain to manage if you get several scripts. Hence the suggestion to use either rc.local or /etc/init.d. Also, at least with Fedora, there is a startup and a shutdown link in every one of those directories.

Yes, that is right.

Again, for manageability you do want to look into what chkconfig does. You don't need to use it, but it is there to make life easier.

No, those are there for the same reason the others are. Each of those are used to customize a runlevel. Granted, not all of them are used by all distros, but the intent is the same. If you want a daemon running in a specific runlevel, you need to have the script linked from the appropriate directory.

Debian does do it differently!

Looking at the contents of the files - instead of just finding where
they are - helps.
http://linuxquestions.cachefly.net/i..._lq/icon12.gif

- the currently existing "/etc/rc?.d/S99rc.local" files just link to a
script in /etc/init.d;

- that script says "run /etc/rc.local - if it exists".


At present, it exists, but is empty.

Problem solved.

My thanks for the encouragements.

Felix