Reboot a Server from Command Line?

Question

How do I reboot a Ubuntu Server from the command line? sudo reboot now never seems to work for me. Because its a server, I don't have a window manager installed, so I can't do it from a GUI (which always seems to work).

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I've had the problem for years on different versions of the operating system. It happens in virtual machines and on real metal. The same problem exists with sudo shutdown now, too.

I've lived with it in the past. The difference now is I don't want to just hit the power button because I might lose data.

Thanks souravc - that's interesting. The command never complains about an invalid option. I'll test some of these when I get out of mysql. — , Dec 30 '13 at 04:45
sudo init 6 must always work. Also, there are Ctrl+Alt+Del and REISUB. — Danatela, Dec 30 '13 at 05:46

score 156 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 26 '18 at 20:33

156

Try using the following command to safely reboot:

sudo reboot

If, instead, you want to shut down the server safely, use this command:

sudo shutdown -h now

edited Jun 26 '18 at 20:33

Community

1

answered Dec 30 '13 at 04:19

Jay

2,270

2

You did not mention "safely" in the sudo reboot method, it may mislead some users. – rap-2-h Jan 15 '18 at 08:53
@rap-2-h Wait, so do you mean sudo reboot is safe or not safe? – wisbucky May 03 '18 at 20:16
@wisbucky : sudo reboot is safe – Jay May 10 '18 at 04:05
had a debate with a coworker about this today. Is this method preferred over sudo poweroff? – Gansheim Jul 24 '18 at 06:10
https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/205464/whats-the-difference-between-poweroff-and-halt – Jay Jul 24 '18 at 06:57

score 27 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 30 '13 at 04:39

27

For reboot, type the following

sudo shutdown -r now

edited Dec 30 '13 at 04:39

answered Dec 30 '13 at 04:34

Meow

1,357

CJBS · Answer 3 · 2015-10-22T22:46:55.443

3

As an alternative to sudo shutdown -r now, this command also effects an immediate shut-down:

sudo shutdown -h +0

Add the -r command to reboot:

sudo shutdown -r -h +0

Output (running as root):

root@mydevwkstn:~# shutdown -r -h +0

Broadcast message from cjbs@mydevwkstn
        (/dev/pts/10) at 14:41 ...

The system is going down for halt NOW!
root@mydevwkstn:~#

edited Oct 22 '15 at 22:46

answered Oct 22 '15 at 21:53

CJBS

181

Benyamin Jafari · Answer 4 · 2018-11-05T20:09:52.900

1

An alternate way:

sudo init 6

[NOTE]:

Without the init program there could be no command interpreter process.

edited Nov 05 '18 at 20:09

answered Jul 23 '18 at 08:20

Benyamin Jafari

3,514

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered May 22 '19 at 16:42

If you want to reboot your system, using @Jay's solution, you'll notice that the reboot will be scheduled by one minute. If, instead, you want your system to reboot immediately, you can use the following command:

reboot -f

The -f parameter will force your reboot to happen as soon as you enter the command.

Reboot a Server from Command Line?

5 Answers5

An alternate way:

Linked

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