Linux is so cool!

[william edward triest]

There's an option to shutdown the computer from the gdm (login) screen. 
    I don't remember exactly how, but its there.  What I usually do is 
su to root (ie type su - (enter) and then type the root password at the 
prompt. ) Then do a /sbin/shutdown -r now

/sbin/shutdown is the command.  If you use the - argument to su, you 
should be able to type just shutdown since /sbin should be in your path.

-r tells the computer to restart.  -h tells the computer to halt (turn off)

now is a time argument.  I think if you give it a number, it defaults to 
the number of seconds, but it might be minutes.  If you ever need to 
know do a man shutdown.  You shouldn't use now if other people are 
logged into the computer.  Use a delay so that they have time to logoff.

As the previous poster was saying, there is little need to restart 
linux.  Basically the two times are for kernel upgrades and hardware 
reasons.  Since there are times when its useful, I thought you should 
have the commands.

Hope this helps,
Bill

Robin Laing wrote:
> Stephen Costigan wrote:
> 
>> Linux is so AWESOME man! The only thing that bugs me is there's no
>> shutdown button. How can I reboot or turn off computer? Everytime I
>> install software, it never asks me to reboot. I'm an expert Windows
>> user and I was working as an IT Manager until recently, so I know alot
>> about computers. I just need to know how to turn this thing off!
>>
>> Stephen Costigan
>>
> 
> It shows that you are an "expert" Windows users in expecting that there 
> is a need to shutdown Linux.  Windows needs constant reboots just to 
> keep running from my experience with hearing people that use Windows 
> around work.
> 
> Why would you want to shut down a Linux computer?  It is designed to run 
> and run and run.  As you have pointed out, unlike the Windows computers 
> that require constant reboots with updates and software installations, 
> this isn't required with Linux.
> 
> I only do a reboot on my computers when I replace hardware or update the 
> kernel.
> 
>