How the rc.d directory should be used?

splyt · 09-18-2006, 03:45 PM

Hello folks!
Please see if you can clarify a basic question.
I've read a lot about slackware and done some basic configurations too. If I for example want make mysql start automatically in slackware I just have to make the rc.mysqld executable and the next time slackware boots it will run the rc.mysqld script. So I am assuming that every executable script located in the /etc/rc.d directory will be executed with the start statement when the slackware boots. Am I right? If so then what is the rc.local script used for? I mean I don't need to open rc.local and put there a instruction like "/etc/rc.d/rc.mysqld start", I just need to make the rc.mysqld executable and put it on /etc/rc.d directory. So can someone just provide me a example to ilustrate a use of the /etc/rc.d/rc.local script?
Thanks

Alien Bob · 09-18-2006, 04:12 PM

Quote:

So I am assuming that every executable script located in the /etc/rc.d directory will be executed with the start statement when the slackware boots. Am I right?

You're wrong.
The rc scripts that come with Slackware (like rc.mysqld, rc.alsa) are called from one of the other rc scripts. If you add your own rc file to /etc/rc.d/ you will have to add a couple of lines to rc.local that will start your program. Look in rc.M for inspiration. Generally it would look like this (example for an imaginary rc.ntp script):

Code:

# Set correct  time and date, and start the ntp daemon:
if [ -x /etc/rc.d/rc.ntp ]; then
  /etc/rc.d/rc.ntp start
fi

So, by making the script executable you will cause it to be started when the computer starts. The rc.local file will be run after all the other rc scripts have run.

Eric

vls · 09-18-2006, 04:13 PM

The mysqld script along with the other chmod +x files run because they get called from the high level boot scripts, like rc.M, rc.S.

If you add your own rc.whatever into the directory you need to modify one of those scripts or put the call to it in rc.local which is what that file is for.

urka58 · 09-18-2006, 04:21 PM

Yes, when you want a service to be started, just make the script executable. There are some exceptions, ie rc.hpoj (multifunction printers and rc.firewall, for which you must create a script from scratches. rc.local should be used whenever you need to start a service or a config tool not included in the distibution. One case could be some tuning of ide disk (hadparm) parameters or a daemon you want to start at boot time ( ie ifplugd for the network connection). As rc.local is run as last it is usually safe to put your own config tools there.
Ciao

splyt · 09-19-2006, 09:40 AM

Thanks very much for helping folks.