Shutdown

A PC is quickly turned on. Shutdown, on the other hand, can be more complex: should it be time-controlled? And how to allow a user to shutdown if no display manager provides this function globally? In the terminal it works with the command? This article clarifies these questions.

Timed shutdown¶

In this section, programs with a graphical user interface are presented, which enable the timed shutdown of the computer. You can also do this via terminal with the command shutdown.

Qshutdown¶

Qshutdown is a program that can shutdown, reboot and hibernate the PC on a timed basis. You can specify both a time and a number of minutes at which the corresponding action should be executed. If there is only a short time left until the desired action, the program optionally warns you by reappearing three times. With the help of this program you can always keep an eye on the remaining time. It is designed to allow you to do without a terminal, avoiding the wall message that can interfere with some processes when the shutdown command is given in the terminal. in addition, qshutdown usually does not require root privileges.

Complexshutdown& easyshutdown¶

Complexshutdown&& and easyshutdown&& are python-scripts, with which the shutdown can be automated comfortably by means of a graphical, but english interface. various options are offered to allow this to be done on a timed basis as well. A third-party package is available on the project page, which can be downloaded and installed manually.

Note!

foreign packages can endanger the system.

Gshutdown¶

Gshutdown&& only works correctly with the displaymanager GDM ubuntu (from 17.04) and xubuntu and not used with lightdm. Gshutdown can shut down the computer at a specific time, restart it or end the current session.

The program is included in the official package sources:

Gshutdown

Command to install the packages:

Or install with apturl, link: apt://gshutdown

Alternatively, the program can be downloaded from the download page&& ⮷ of gshutdown and installed manually [3] . After the installation you can start the program via "accessories → gshutdown" start.

Note!

Foreign packages can compromise the system.

Shutdown timer¶

If you use the GNOME shell, the extension shutdowntimer&& offers a very convenient way to turn off the computer timed. Below the shutdown button in the status menu, the menu item for setting the time and (de)activating the timer is inserted.

Kshutdown¶

Kshutdown&& is a program for automatically shutting down the system from KDE. However, the program can do much more than just shut down the computer. So the program z.B. Stop connecting to the internet at a certain time, stop playing various audio players, etc.

The program can be installed directly from the ubuntu package sources via the following package:

Kshutdown [universe/kde]

Command to install the packages:

Or install with apturl, link: apt://kshutdown

After the installation you can start the program under " → applications → utilities → kshutdown (system shut down utility)" call.

Shutdown via terminal¶

The normal shutdown in the terminal [4] is done for systems with systemd via systemctl commands.

For the timed shutdown there are general commands for which root privileges are required and other commands, mostly depending on the interface, which can be executed with user privileges.

Generally with root rights¶

Shutdown¶

Shutdown must be given different options. If you want to be sure that the computer is switched off afterwards, you should use the option -P (-h leaves the choice to the system).

If you have started the timer, but change your mind and want to continue using the computer, you have to stop the shutdown of the computer by using the