---
name: "runit-init"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "runit"
version: "2.2.0-3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/runit-init"
---

# runit-init(8)

a UNIX process no 1

## NAME

init - a UNIX process no 1

## SYNOPSIS

**init** \[ 0 \| 6 \]

## DESCRIPTION

**runit-init** is the first process the kernel starts. If **runit-init** is started as process no 1, it runs and replaces itself with [**runit**(8)](/runit/8.md).

If **runit-init** is started while the system is up, it must be either called as **init 0** or **init 6:**

- **init 0**

  tells the Unix process no 1 to shutdown and halt the system. To signal [**runit**(8)](/runit/8.md) the system halt request, **runit-init** removes all permissions of the file */etc/runit/reboot* (chmod 0), and sets the execute by owner permission of the file */etc/runit/stopit* (chmod 100). Then a CONT signal is sent to [**runit**(8)](/runit/8.md).

- **init 6**

  tells the Unix process no 1 to shutdown and reboot the system. To signal [**runit**(8)](/runit/8.md) the system reboot request, **runit-init** sets the execute by owner permission of the files */etc/runit/reboot* and */etc/runit/stopit* (chmod 100). Then a CONT signal is sent to [**runit**(8)](/runit/8.md).

## EXIT CODES

**runit-init** returns 111 on error, 0 in all other cases.

## SEE ALSO

[runit(8)](/runit/8.md), [runsvdir(8)](/runsvdir/8.md), [runsvchdir(8)](/runsvchdir/8.md), [sv(8)](/sv/8.md), [runsv(8)](/runsv/8.md), [chpst(8)](/chpst/8.md), [utmpset(8)](/utmpset/8.md), [svlogd(8)](/svlogd/8.md)

http://smarden.org/runit/

## AUTHOR

Gerrit Pape \<pape@smarden.org\>