Intelligent system reboot scheduler with flexible timing and day-of-week restrictions.
auto-reboot schedules system reboots based on:
- System update requirements (
/var/run/reboot-required) - Maximum uptime threshold (default: 14 days)
- Manual force reboot requests
Key features: Automatic sudo elevation, systemd timer integration, dry-run safety, schedule management, and syslog audit trails.
# Check if reboot needed (dry run by default)
auto-reboot
# Schedule reboot if conditions are met
auto-reboot -N
# Force reboot at 3 AM
auto-reboot --force-reboot --reboot-time 03:00 -N
# List scheduled reboots
auto-reboot --list
# Delete all scheduled reboots
auto-reboot --delete-all# Install script and dependencies
auto-reboot --install
# Manual installation
sudo cp auto-reboot /usr/local/bin/
sudo chmod 770 /usr/local/bin/auto-reboot
sudo chown root:sudo /usr/local/bin/auto-reboot- Linux with systemd
- Bash 4.0+
- systemd-run (systemd-container package)
- Membership in sudo group or root access
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-n, --dry-run |
Test mode without executing (default) |
-N, --not-dry-run |
Execute the reboot schedule |
-f, --force-reboot |
Force reboot regardless of conditions |
-h, --help |
Show help message |
-V, --version |
Show version |
-i, --install |
Install to /usr/local/bin |
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-m, --max-uptime-days DAYS |
Max uptime before reboot (default: 14) |
-r, --reboot-time HH:MM |
Schedule time (default: 22:00) |
-a, --allowed-days DAYS |
Restrict to specific days |
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-l, --list |
Show all scheduled reboots |
-d, --delete TIMER |
Delete specific timer |
-D, --delete-all |
Delete all timers (with confirmation) |
The --allowed-days option accepts:
- Short names:
Sun,Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri,Sat - Full names:
Sunday,Monday, etc. - Numbers:
0(Sunday) through6(Saturday) - Multiple:
Mon,Wed,Frior1,3,5
# Check reboot status
auto-reboot
# Output:
# Host: server01
# Uptime: up 15 days, 3 hours
# Reboot-required: present
# Status: Reboot required
# - Reason: System updates require reboot
# - Reason: Uptime (15 days) exceeds maximum (14 days)
# Delay: 43200
# Scheduled: 2025-07-22 22:00:00 WITA
# auto-reboot: systemd-run: [DRY RUN] Reboot scheduled in 43200 seconds
# auto-reboot: [DRY RUN] Use 'auto-reboot' with option '-N' to execute
# Actually schedule the reboot
auto-reboot -N# Reboot only on weekends at 3 AM
auto-reboot --allowed-days Sat,Sun --reboot-time 03:00 -N
# Reboot Sunday night/Monday morning at 1 AM
auto-reboot --allowed-days Mon --reboot-time 01:00 -N# Reboot if uptime exceeds 7 days
auto-reboot --max-uptime-days 7 -N
# Weekly reboot on Sunday at 4 AM if uptime > 7 days
auto-reboot -m 7 -r 04:00 -a Sun -N# List all scheduled reboots
auto-reboot --list
# Output:
# Active auto-reboot schedules:
# =============================
# 1. auto-reboot-1753063354.timer - Scheduled: Mon 2025-07-21 22:00:00 WITA
# 2. auto-reboot-1753064000.timer - Scheduled: Sun 2025-07-28 03:00:00 WITA
# =============================
# Total: 2 scheduled reboot(s)
# Delete specific timer (using ID)
auto-reboot --delete 1753063354
# Delete all scheduled reboots
auto-reboot -D
# Output:
# Found 2 auto-reboot schedule(s):
# auto-reboot-1753063354.timer
# auto-reboot-1753064000.timer
#
# Delete all schedules? [y/N] y
# auto-reboot: Deleting auto-reboot-1753063354.timer...
# auto-reboot: Successfully deleted auto-reboot-1753063354.timer
# auto-reboot: Deleting auto-reboot-1753064000.timer...
# auto-reboot: Successfully deleted auto-reboot-1753064000.timer
# auto-reboot: Deleted 2 auto-reboot schedule(s).# Add to root's crontab
# Daily check at 11 PM, reboot on Sunday at 4 AM if needed
0 23 * * * /usr/local/bin/auto-reboot -m 14 -r 04:00 -a Sun -N
# Check every 6 hours, reboot anytime if uptime > 30 days
0 */6 * * * /usr/local/bin/auto-reboot -m 30 -N
# Weekly forced reboot on Sunday at 3 AM
0 2 * * 0 /usr/local/bin/auto-reboot -f -r 03:00 -N# Force immediate reboot (at next scheduled time)
auto-reboot --force-reboot -N
# Force reboot in 5 minutes (using custom time)
auto-reboot -f -r $(date -d "+5 minutes" +%H:%M) -N
# Cancel all pending reboots
auto-reboot --delete-all| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
MACHINE_REBOOT_TIME |
Default reboot time | 22:00 |
MACHINE_UPTIME_MAXDAYS |
Default max uptime | 14 |
# Set defaults via environment
export MACHINE_REBOOT_TIME="03:00"
export MACHINE_UPTIME_MAXDAYS="7"
auto-reboot -N- No day restrictions: Schedules for today at specified time, or tomorrow if time has passed
- With day restrictions: Finds next allowed day within 7 days
- Force reboot: Ignores all conditions except time/day restrictions
All reboot schedules and deletions are logged to syslog:
# View logs
sudo journalctl -t auto-reboot
# Example log entries:
# Jul 21 09:28:22 server01 auto-reboot: Scheduling system reboot in 46898s for user admin (uptime: 15d)
# Jul 21 09:28:34 server01 auto-reboot: Successfully scheduled reboot for 2025-07-21 22:30:12
# Jul 21 09:46:48 server01 auto-reboot: Deleted scheduled reboot timer: auto-reboot-1753061346.timer by user admin- Dry run by default: Prevents accidental reboots
- Automatic sudo: Elevates privileges when needed
- Confirmation prompts: For delete-all operations
- Audit trail: Syslog entries for all operations
- Validation: Comprehensive input checking
- Timer persistence: Survives system restarts
# Verify systemd-run is available
which systemd-run || auto-reboot --install
# Check systemd status
systemctl is-system-running
# List all system timers (including auto-reboot)
systemctl list-timers --all | grep auto-reboot
# Check timer details
systemctl status auto-reboot-XXXXXX.timer
# View recent logs
journalctl -t auto-reboot --since "1 hour ago"- Restricted to root and sudo group members
- File permissions: 770 (owner: root, group: sudo)
- All operations logged with username
- No sensitive data in logs
GPL-3.0 - See LICENSE for details.
Current version: 1.0.422