How to reset a service in Linux via the inittab file.

Overview

This article will guide a technician through resetting a page service in Linux for SmartSuite deployments via the inittab control file.

Resolution/Topic

It is assumed the reader understands how to connect and log into a Linux server as well as navigate a file using vi/vim. 

This should not be performed without prior understanding of how to navigate, modify, and save a file using the vi editor.

1. Sign into the target server running the service you wish to reset and elevate yourself to root user. The inittab file is located in the "/etc" directory and can be viewed and/or edited with the vi/vim command:
   1. vi /etc/inittab
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2. Navigate to the service name you wish to stop or reset, and edit the word "respawn" in the text string.
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3. Replace the "respawn" with "off", save and quit the file.
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4. Apply your change with the "init Q" command, this reloads the file and will stop the service.
5. To start the service, reopen the inittab, navigate to the service you previously stopped, and change the text back from from "off" to "respawn".  Save your change, exit the file, and reload the inittab via the "init Q" command.
   1. After starting the service, navigate to its associated debug file and verify the service is running by editing or tailing the file and checking for errors.