invoke-rc (8) - Linux Manuals

All access to the init scripts by Debian packages' maintainer scripts should be done through invoke-rc.d.

This manpage documents only the usage and behavior of invoke-rc.d. For a discussion of the System V style init script arrangements please see init(8). More information on invoke-rc.d can be found in the section on runlevels and init.d scripts of the Debian Policy Manual.

INIT SCRIPT ACTIONS

Please note that not all init scripts will implement all the actions listed above, and that the policy layer may override an action to another action(s), or even deny it.

Any extra parameters will be passed to the init script(s) being executed.

If an action must be carried out regardless of any local policies, use the --force switch.

OPTIONS

--help

Display usage help.

--quiet

Quiet mode, no error messages are generated.

--force

Tries to run the init script regardless of policy and init script subsystem errors. Use of this option in Debian maintainer scripts is severely discouraged.

--try-anyway

Tries to run the init script if a non-fatal error is detected.

--disclose-deny

Return status code 101 instead of status code 0 if the init script action is denied by the policy layer.

--query

Returns one of the status codes 100-106. Does not run the init script, and implies --disclose-deny and --no-fallback.

--no-fallback

Ignores any fallback action requests by the policy layer. Warning: this is usually a very bad idea for any actions other than start.

STATUS CODES

0

Success. Either the init script was run and returned exit status 0 (note that a fallback action may have been run instead of the one given in the command line), or it was not run because of runlevel/local policy constrains and --disclose-deny is not in effect.

1 - 99

Reserved for init.d script, usually indicates a failure.

100

Init script ID (name) unknown. This means the init script was not registered successfully through update-rc.d or that the init script does not exist.

101

Action not allowed. The requested action will not be performed because of runlevel or local policy constraints.

102

Subsystem error. Init script (or policy layer) subsystem malfunction. Also, forced init script execution due to --try-anyway or --force failed.

103

Syntax error.

104

Action allowed. Init script would be run, but --query is in effect.

105

Behavior uncertain. It cannot be determined if action should be carried out or not, and --query is in effect.

106

Fallback action requested. The policy layer denied the requested action, and supplied an allowed fallback action to be used instead.

INIT SCRIPT POLICY

The policy layer has the following abilities: deny or approve the execution of an action; request that another action (called a fallback) is to be taken, instead of the action requested in invoke-rc.d's command line; or request multiple actions to be tried in order, until one of them succeeds (a multiple fallback).

invoke-rc.d itself only pays attention to the current runlevel; it will block any attempts to start a service in a runlevel in which the service is disabled. Other policies are implemented with the use of the policy-rc.d helper, and are only available if /usr/sbin/policy-rc.d is installed in the system.

FILES

/etc/init.d/*

System V init scripts.

/usr/sbin/policy-rc.d

Init script policy layer helper (not required).

/etc/runlevel.conf

file-rc runlevel configuration (if the file-rc package is being used).

/etc/rc?.d/*

System V runlevel configuration (if the sysv-rc package is being used).

NOTES

BUGS