How to: Linux Reboot Command

As a Linux user, you may sometimes need to reboot your system. There are different ways to achieve this, but one of the most common and straightforward methods is by using the reboot command. In this article, we’ll explore what the reboot command is, how to use it, and related concepts that can help you understand the topic better.

What is the Linux Reboot Command?

The reboot command is a Linux command that allows you to reboot your system. It shuts down the operating system and restarts it, bringing the system to a clean state. This command is useful when you need to restart your system after making significant changes, such as installing new software, updating the kernel, or modifying system configurations.

How to Use the Linux Reboot Command

Using the reboot command is simple. Open your terminal and type the following command:

$ sudo reboot

The sudo command is used to run the reboot command with administrative privileges, allowing you to reboot the system. After running the command, you’ll see a message indicating that the system is going down for a reboot. The message will also display the current time and the estimated time it will take to reboot the system.

Broadcast message from root@localhost
    (unknown) at 2:30 ...

The system is going down for reboot NOW!

If you have unsaved work, the system will prompt you to save your files before proceeding with the reboot. You can choose to save your work or discard it and proceed with the reboot.

If you want to reboot the system immediately without any prompts, you can use the -f or --force option. This option forces all processes to terminate and reboots the system immediately. However, this option should be used with caution as it can result in data loss or system instability.

$ sudo reboot -f

Shutdown Command

The shutdown command is another Linux command that allows you to shut down or reboot the system. The main difference between the shutdown and reboot commands is that the shutdown command gives you more control over the shutdown process. With the shutdown command, you can specify the time, message, and other options that affect the shutdown process.

$ sudo shutdown -r now

The above command will reboot the system immediately. The -r option specifies that the system should be rebooted, and the now argument indicates that the reboot should happen immediately.

systemctl Command

The systemctl command is a Linux command that allows you to manage system services and processes. It provides a more comprehensive way to manage the system, including starting, stopping, and restarting services.

$ sudo systemctl reboot

The above command will reboot the system using the systemctl command. This command is useful when you want to reboot the system without using the reboot or shutdown commands.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored the reboot command in Linux. We’ve seen that the reboot command is a simple and straightforward way to reboot the system. We’ve also seen related concepts that can help you understand the topic better, such as the shutdown and systemctl commands. With this knowledge, you can now reboot your Linux system with confidence and control.