Ubuntu / Debian Linux: Services Configuration Tool to Start / Stop System Services
Your Debian / Ubuntu Linux box security depends upon access to system services (one of many aspects). For example, you may need to provide a web server (Apache service) to serve web pages. However, if you do not need use a service, you should always turn off all unused services to avoid exploits.
Traditionally, Debian provided various tools to manage services. There are various methods for managing access to system services:
a) /etc/init.d/service
b) rcconf
c) update-rc.d etc
Under Red hat and Centos Linux you can use chkconfig command (ntsysv command) to configure Sys V style init script links. There is also service command to stop / start / restart services.
So if you are addicted to the service command under RHEL / CentOS / Mandriva Linux and have wondered what to do in Debian / Ubuntu, Linux try sysvconfig package.
sysvconfig - Services Startup Configuration Tool
Debian and Ubuntu Linux also offers service command. It can be used to execute System V style init script stored at /etc/init.d/service-name { start|stop|restart|action }. This is good if you grown up with Red hat. This tool is equivalent to update-rc.d and invoke-rc.d (rcconf and others).
sysvconfig package
First, install sysvconfig package:
$ sudo apt-get install sysvconfig
To start / restart / stop service, use the following syntax:
$ sudo service {service-name} restart <-- Restart service
$ sudo service {service-name} stop <-- Stop service
$ sudo service {service-name} start <-- Start service
For example to stop apache service, enter:
$ sudo service apache stop
sysvconfig command
This is a text-based application that allows you to configure which services are started at boot time for each runlevel. It is simple interface for configuring runlevels. sysvconfig is just like ntsysv under Red hat Linux. It has dialog based interactive, menus to help automate setting up Sys V style init script links:
- Enable or disable services.
- Edit individual links.
- Restore from backup file if you make a mistake.
- Menu or command line interface.
- View all services, each with its status and a brief description.
To start Sys V editor, enter:
$ sudo sysvconfig &
(Fig 01: sysvconfig in action - startup screen with menus)
You can enable or disable any system services:
(Fig 02: sysvconfig in action - Enable or Disable system services)
Please note that when you configure a new service using these tools, you may need to reconfigure firewall as well to open required ports.
Further readings
=> Read the man pages for sysvconfig and service command.
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Tags: configuration tool, debian startup services, service command, Services Configuration Tool, SysV services, sysvconfig command, ubuntu startup services
sysv-rc-conf is another good utility to configure services. it is ncurses based and if you run it in detailed view, you can change startup order, you can delete links completely instead of S->K change.
ESR also contributed a “chkconfig” script for RH users, it’s posted to the Upstart development list sometime this summer, and is in the archives.