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Execute a Script at Startup and Shutdown on Ubuntu

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When using Ubuntu, user-defined tasks can be performed by executing a script at startup and shutdown. Each of these scripts is a little particular and requires subtle modifications in order to include additional commands.

This article will show you how to execute scripts upon startup, reboot, and shutdown on an Ubuntu system. Please note that scripts are run in the alphabetical order in directories, and all scripts should be named following Linux's nomenclature rules. Only then will they run properly.

How To Execute a Script at Startup

To execute a script at startup of Ubuntu, simply edit 
/etc/rc.local
, and add your commands.

Note that the script must always end with 
exit 0
.

How To Execute a Script Upon Rebooting

To execute a script upon rebooting an Ubuntu system, you must write your script in 
/etc/rc0.d
. Be sure to make the script executable by using 
sudo chmod +x myscript
.

Note that the scripts in this directory will be executed in alphabetical order. The name of your script must begin with 
K99
to run at the right time.

How To Execute a Script at Shutdown

In order to execute a script at shutdown, you must put your script in 
/etc/rc6.d
and make it executable through 
sudo chmod +x myscript
.

Please note that the scripts in this directory are executed in alphabetical order. Similar to the rebooting script, the name of your rebooting script must begin with 
K99
in order to run properly and at the right time.
Jean-François Pillou

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