poweroff – Shut Down the Linux System

The poweroff command is used to shut down the Linux system. When this command is executed, all running processes are terminated, and the system is powered off. Additionally, the shutdown record will be written to the /var/log/wtmp log file.

Overview

The poweroff command can be executed by any user with root privileges. To use the poweroff command, open a terminal window and type the following command:

sudo poweroff

This will initiate the system shutdown process, and the system will be powered off once the shutdown process is complete.

Options

The poweroff command does not have any options.

Troubleshooting Tips

If the poweroff command does not shut down the system, it may indicate a problem with the system’s shutdown process. Here are some troubleshooting tips to resolve this issue:

• Check if any processes are running and preventing the system from shutting down. You can use the ps command to list all running processes and then terminate any processes that are not responding.
• Check if any file systems are mounted as read-only. If any file systems are mounted as read-only, you will need to remount them as read-write before shutting down the system.
• Check if any services are running that are preventing the system from shutting down. You can use the systemctl command to list all running services and then stop any services that are not responding.

Notes

• The poweroff command should be used with caution as it will immediately shut down the system without any warning or confirmation.
• The poweroff command should only be executed by users with root privileges.
• The shutdown record written to the /var/log/wtmp log file can be viewed using the last command.