invoke-rc.d
executes System V style init script actions
TLDR
SYNOPSIS
invoke-rc.d [--quiet] [--force] [--try-anyway] [--disclose-deny] [--query] [--no-fallback] name action [init script parameters...]
DESCRIPTION
invoke-rc.d executes System V style init script actions on Debian-based systems. It provides a standard interface that respects runlevel constraints and local policies set by the system administrator via policy-rc.d.The tool checks /usr/sbin/policy-rc.d before executing actions. It is the recommended way to control services in package maintainer scripts, as it properly handles policy restrictions that may be in place (such as in chroot environments or containers).
PARAMETERS
NAME
Name of the init script in /etc/init.d/.ACTION
Action to perform: start, stop, restart, reload, force-reload, force-stop, try-restart, or status.--quiet
Suppress warnings and informational messages.--force
Try to run the init script regardless of policy and init script subsystem errors. Use in maintainer scripts is discouraged.--try-anyway
Try to run the init script if a non-fatal error is detected.--disclose-deny
Return status code 101 instead of 0 if the action is denied by the policy layer.--query
Query what action would be taken without executing it. Returns status codes 100-106. Implies --disclose-deny and --no-fallback.--no-fallback
Ignore any fallback action requests by the policy layer.--help
Display help information.
CAVEATS
Debian/Ubuntu specific. On systemd systems, invoke-rc.d redirects to systemctl. The policy-rc.d mechanism allows administrators to block service actions, which is commonly used in Docker containers to prevent services from starting during package installation.
HISTORY
invoke-rc.d was created for Debian to provide policy-compliant init script invocation, especially in package maintainer scripts.
SEE ALSO
service(8), systemctl(1), update-rc.d(8)
