


      IIIINNNNIIIITTTTTTTTAAAABBBB((((4444))))                  ((((UUUUNNNNIIIIXXXX 5555....0000))))                 IIIINNNNIIIITTTTTTTTAAAABBBB((((4444))))



      NNNNAAAAMMMMEEEE
           inittab - script for the startup process

      DDDDEEEESSSSCCCCRRRRIIIIPPPPTTTTIIIIOOOONNNN
           The _i_n_i_t_t_a_b file supplies the script to startup's role as a
           general process dispatcher. The process that constitutes the
           majority of _s_t_a_r_t_u_p process dispatching activities is the
           line process /_e_t_c/_g_e_t_t_y that initiates individual terminal
           lines. Other processes typically dispatched by _s_t_a_r_t_u_p are
           daemons and the shell.

           The _i_n_i_t_t_a_b file is composed of entries that are position
           dependent and have the following format:

                 id:rstate:action:process

           Each entry appears on a separate line.  Backslash \ in the
           first character position indicates a continuation line. Up
           to 512 characters per entry are permitted. Comments may be
           inserted in the _p_r_o_c_e_s_s field using the _s_h (1) convention
           for comments.  Comments for lines that spawn _g_e_t_t_y_s are
           displayed by the _w_h_o (1) command. It is expected that they
           will contain some information about the line such as the
           location. There are no limits (other than maximum entry
           size) imposed on the number of entries within the _i_n_i_t_t_a_b
           file. The entry fields are:

             _i_d This is one to four characters used to uniquely
                identify an entry.

             _r_s_t_a_t_e
                  THIS FIELD IS CURRENTLY IGNORED. For process
                  scheduling, this field defines the _r_u_n-_l_e_v_e_l at which
                  this entry is to be processed.  Each process spawned
                  by _s_t_a_r_t_u_p is assigned one or more _r_u_n-_l_e_v_e_l_s,
                  ranging from 0 to 6, which determine the the machine
                  states under which that process can run.  If the
                  system is operating in run-level 1, for example, only
                  the processes having a "1" in the _r_s_t_a_t_e field will
                  be processed. When _s_t_a_r_t_u_p is requested to change
                  run-levels, all processes wich do not have an entry
                  in the _r_s_t_a_t_e field for the target _r_u_n-_l_e_v_e_l will be
                  sent the warning signel (SSSSIIIIGGGGTTTTEEEERRRRMMMM) and allowed a 20
                  second grace period before being forcibly terminated
                  by a kill signal (SSSSIIIIGGGGKKKKIIIILLLLLLLL). The _r_s_t_a_t_e field can
                  define multiple _r_u_n-_l_e_v_e_l_s for a process by selecting
                  more than one _r_u_n-_l_e_v_e_l in any combination from 0000----6666.
                  If no _r_u_n-_l_e_v_e_l is specified, then _a_c_t_i_o_n will be
                  taken on this _p_r_o_c_e_s_s for all _r_u_n-_l_e_v_e_l_s 0000----6666. The
                  _s_t_a_t_e field can also contain aaaa,,,, bbbb, _o_r cccc.  Entries
                  with these characters are processed only when the
                  _t_e_l_s_t_a_r_t_u_p process requests them to be run,



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      IIIINNNNIIIITTTTTTTTAAAABBBB((((4444))))                  ((((UUUUNNNNIIIIXXXX 5555....0000))))                 IIIINNNNIIIITTTTTTTTAAAABBBB((((4444))))



                  regardless of the current system run-level.  They
                  differ from run-levels in that the system is only in
                  these states for as long as it takes to execute all
                  the entries associated with the states. A process
                  started by an aaaa,,,, bbbb,,,, or cccc command is not killed when
                  _s_t_a_r_t_u_p changes levels. They are only killed  when
                  _s_t_a_r_t_u_p changes levels. They are only killed if their
                  line in ////eeeettttcccc////iiiinnnniiiittttttttaaaabbbb is marked ooooffffffff in the _a_c_t_i_o_n
                  field, their line is deleted entirely from
                  ////eeeettttcccc////iiiinnnniiiittttttttaaaabbbb, or _s_t_a_r_t_u_p goes into the _S_I_N_G_L_E _U_S_E_R
                  state.

               _a_c_t_i_o_n
                    Keywords in this field tell _s_t_a_r_t_u_p how to treat
                    the process specified in the _p_r_o_c_e_s_s field. The
                    actions recognized by _s_t_a_r_t_u_p are currently limited
                    to the following:

                     rrrreeeessssppppaaaawwwwnnnn
                        If the process does not exist, start the
                        process, do not wait for its termination
                        (continue scanning the _i_n_i_t_t_a_b file), and when
                        it dies restart the process. If the process
                        currently exists then do nothing and continue
                        scanning the _i_n_i_t_t_a_b file.

                     ooooffffffff
                        If the process associated with this entry is
                        currently running, send the warning signal
                        (SSSSIIIIGGGGTTTTEEEERRRRMMMM) and wait 20 seconds before forcibly
                        terminating the process via the fill signal
                        (SSSSIIIIGGGGKKKKIIIILLLLLLLL). If the process is nonexistent,
                        ignore the entry.

             _p_r_o_c_e_s_s
                  This is a _s_h command to be executed. The entire
                  pppprrrroooocccceeeessssssss field is prefixed with _e_x_e_c and passed to a
                  forked _s_h as sssshhhh -c 'exec _c_o_m_m_a_n_d'. For this reason,
                  any legal _s_h syntax can appear in the _p_r_o_c_e_s_s field.
                  Comments can be inserted with the ;#_c_o_m_m_e_n_t syntax.
                  Only entries with ////eeeettttcccc////ggggeeeettttttttyyyy or ////eeeettttcccc////mmmmoooouuuunnnntttt in this
                  field are currently recognized.

      FFFFIIIILLLLEEEESSSS
           /etc/inittab

      SSSSEEEEEEEE AAAALLLLSSSSOOOO
           getty(1), sh(1), who(1), exec(2B), open(2B), signal(2B)







      Page 2                                                   (9010-E)



