/etc/rc.local - is it running?

Question

I put the the following in /etc/rc.local, to enable the Scroll Lock LED on my keyboard - it doesn't seem to take effect:

#!/bin/bash
enable scroll lock LED
xmodmap -e 'add mod3 = Scroll_Lock'
exit 0

I did do sudo chmod a+x /etc/rc.local to make it executable, and the script seems to work OK (makes the Scroll Lock LED work) when I execute /etc/rc.local from the terminal.

I know there are other ways to get scripts to run on boot, but I want to understand why this doesn't work.

Does this answer your question? How can I make /etc/rc.local run on startup? — ubfan1, Feb 05 '23 at 18:23
@ubfan1: Not directly, anyway. The answer here (from Pilot6) is clear and direct - much better. — nerdfever.com, Feb 06 '23 at 18:56

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 05 '23 at 18:27

1

This command won't work for two reasons:

You need to use full path to xmodmap.
The command needs a user session, that is not started yet when rc.local is executed.

You an add the command to "Startup Applications".

answered Feb 05 '23 at 18:27

Pilot6

90,100
91
213
324

That works - thanks!. For those who want to know how to do it from the command line, "Startup Applications" creates a .desktop folder in "~/.config/autostart". – nerdfever.com Feb 06 '23 at 18:54

/etc/rc.local - is it running?

enable scroll lock LED

1 Answers1