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reboot – Reboots a running Linux operating system

The reboot command is used to reboot a running Linux operating system. It is typically used when system updates or changes require a restart, or when the system is experiencing issues that require a reboot.

Overview

To use the reboot command, simply open a terminal window and type reboot followed by pressing the Enter key. The system will then begin the reboot process.

It is important to note that the reboot command should only be used when it is safe to do so. If there are any unsaved changes or open programs, they will be lost when the system reboots.

Examples

To reboot the system, simply type the following command:

reboot

Options

The reboot command has several options that can be used to customize its behavior. The available options are listed in the table below:

Option Description
-f Force a reboot without performing a clean shutdown. This can be useful for troubleshooting purposes, but may result in data loss or other issues.
-n Do not sync the file system before rebooting. This can be useful if the file system is already in a consistent state, but should be used with caution.
-w Only write the system’s uptime to the wtmp file and then reboot. This option does not actually perform a reboot, but can be useful for tracking system uptime.

Examples

To force a reboot without performing a clean shutdown, use the following command:

reboot -f

To reboot the system without syncing the file system, use the following command:

reboot -n

To write the system’s uptime to the wtmp file and then reboot, use the following command:

reboot -w

Troubleshooting Tips

If the reboot command does not work as expected, there are a few troubleshooting steps that can be taken:

  • Make sure that you have sufficient privileges to execute the reboot command. It may be necessary to use sudo or another method to elevate privileges.
  • Check the system logs for any error messages related to the reboot process. These logs can typically be found in the /var/log directory.
  • Try using the shutdown command instead of reboot. This command provides additional options for shutting down or rebooting the system.

Notes

  • It is important to save any open files or programs before using the reboot command, as unsaved changes will be lost.
  • The reboot command should only be used when it is safe to do so. If there are any critical system processes running, it may be necessary to wait until they have completed before rebooting the system.

Related commands