Program/command start on bootup.

[djg320]

Hey all,

I've set up a small freeware server of ventrilo (8 slots :-P) on my debian VPS. I'd like to have it start up when I restart/start the VPS. (The command to invoke it being ./ventrilo_srv) Can this be done through init.d? Or some other alternative way? I haven't dealt with such before so any help is greatly appreciated.

[Gwaihir]

Yes, you put a script, say ventrilo in /etc/init.d that handles the starting (that simple command). You can look at some of the scripts already there to see how they're structured, as well as google for more basic examples. The key part is implementing the switch with the case start.

Then in /etc/rc2.d you place a symlink, probably S95ventrilo, to the script you just made. You'll find that folder is full of such symlinks. When the system starts, it goes through these in numbered order. So, if you make your number high enough, you'll be sure all the basic stuff it depends on has already started up.

You'll also find there's a set of these rcX.d folders. They refer to the runlevels the Linux system can run in. Whenever a particular runlevel is entered (usually on (re)start), the instructions from the matching folder are executed. A Debian system normally runs in level 2, hence you pick (at least) the rc2.d folder. You should verify this with who -r to make sure it's no different on a VPS.