/etc/inittab File
When you boot the system or change run levels with the init
or shutdown command, the init daemon starts processes by reading information from the
/etc/inittab file. This file defines these important items for the init process:
That the init process will restart
What processes to start, monitor, and restart if they terminate
What actions to take when the system enters a new run level
Each entry in the /etc/inittab file has the following fields:
id:rstate:action:process
The following table describes the fields in an inittab entry.
Table 16-4 Fields Descriptions for the inittab File
Field |
Description |
|---|
id |
Is a
unique identifier for the entry. |
rstate |
Lists the run levels to which this entry
applies. |
action |
Identifies how the process that is specified in the process field is to
be run. Possible values include: sysinit, boot, bootwait, wait, and respawn. For a
description of the other action keywords, see inittab(4). |
process |
Defines the command or script
to execute. |
Example 16-2 Default inittab File
The following example shows a default inittab file that is installed with the
Solaris release. A description for each line of output in this example follows.
ap::sysinit:/sbin/autopush -f /etc/iu.ap (1)
sp::sysinit:/sbin/soconfig -f /etc/sock2path (2)
smf::sysinit:/lib/svc/bin/svc.startd >/dev/msglog 2<>/dev/msglog (3)
p3:s1234:powerfail:/usr/sbin/shutdown -y -i5 -g0 >/dev/msglog 2<>/dev/...(4)
Initializes STREAMS modules
Configures socket transport providers
Initializes the master restarter for SMF
Describes a power fail shutdown
What Happens When the System Is Brought to Run Level 3
The init process is started and reads the /etc/default/init file to set any environment variables. By default, only the TIMEZONE variable is set.
Then, init reads the inittab file and does the following:
Executes any process entries that have sysinit in the action field so that any special initializations can take place before users login.
Passes the startup activities to svc.startd.
For a detailed description of how the init process uses the inittab file, see init(1M).
