what is the right way to shutdown ubuntu using the command line?

Question

I know that there are several commands that shutdown an Ubuntu computer. I was just wondering if there is a right one to use and what the implications are for using the other ones; or what the various scenarios are for using each of the available commands and their parameters.

for shutdown without administrator password see our Q&A on the dbus way. — Takkat, Mar 03 '13 at 09:17

score 20 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 02 '13 at 22:43

20

The right way to shutdown Ubuntu using the CLI(Command Line Interface) is sudo shutdown now.

answered Mar 02 '13 at 22:43

gabemai

550

4

Wow! That was fast!. Just saw a similar question and was about to delete this one – muyiscoi Mar 02 '13 at 22:44
On my Ubuntu 12.04 system, this doesn't work. The command completes, but no shutdown is initiated. Adding -h doesn't change this. – Reinier Post Dec 09 '15 at 15:34

score 9 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 02 '13 at 22:48

9

You can shutdown safely running:

sudo poweroff

answered Mar 02 '13 at 22:48

Eric Carvalho

54,385

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 03 '13 at 01:45

2

I suggest using shut down preceded with sync - probably old school but it commits unwritten data to disk - especially useful in multiuser systems. Linux System Administrators Guide

answered Mar 03 '13 at 01:45

pfeiffep

748

what is the right way to shutdown ubuntu using the command line?

3 Answers3