How do I install chkconfig on Ubuntu?

Installing and Using chkconfig on Ubuntu

Learn how to install and use the chkconfig utility on Ubuntu, a tool commonly found on RHEL/CentOS for managing system services.

While chkconfig is a staple utility for managing services and runlevels on Red Hat-based systems like CentOS and Fedora, it is not natively available on Debian-based distributions such as Ubuntu. Ubuntu primarily uses systemd (or Upstart in older versions) for service management. However, there are scenarios where you might encounter documentation or scripts that assume the presence of chkconfig. This article will guide you through installing a compatible version of chkconfig on Ubuntu and explain how to use it, along with its systemd equivalents.

Why chkconfig on Ubuntu?

The primary reason to install chkconfig on Ubuntu is compatibility. If you're migrating scripts or configurations from a RHEL/CentOS environment, or if you're working with legacy applications that expect chkconfig to be present, having it can simplify your workflow. It provides a familiar interface for those accustomed to its syntax, even though systemd offers more powerful and granular control.

flowchart TD
    A[User needs chkconfig on Ubuntu] --> B{Why?}
    B --> C[Compatibility with RHEL/CentOS scripts]
    B --> D[Familiarity for users from RHEL/CentOS]
    C --> E[Install chkconfig-sysv]
    D --> E
    E --> F[Use chkconfig or systemctl]
    F --> G{Service Management}

Decision flow for installing chkconfig on Ubuntu

Installation of chkconfig on Ubuntu

Ubuntu provides a package called chkconfig-sysv which emulates the functionality of the original chkconfig for System V init scripts. While systemd is the default init system, this package allows you to use chkconfig commands for services that still rely on traditional init scripts or for a consistent command-line experience.

1. Update Package Lists

Before installing any new packages, it's good practice to update your local package index.

2. Install chkconfig-sysv

Use apt to install the chkconfig-sysv package. This package provides the chkconfig command.

3. Verify Installation

After installation, you can verify that chkconfig is available and check its version.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install chkconfig-sysv
chkconfig --version

Commands to install and verify chkconfig-sysv on Ubuntu

Using chkconfig and its systemd Equivalents

Once installed, chkconfig can be used to list services and manage their runlevel configurations. However, for modern Ubuntu systems, systemctl is the native and more powerful tool. Below, we'll compare common chkconfig commands with their systemd counterparts.

List all services

# chkconfig
chkconfig --list

# systemctl
systemctl list-unit-files --type=service

Check service status

# chkconfig (less direct, shows runlevel config)
chkconfig --list <service_name>

# systemctl (shows active status)
systemctl status <service_name>

Enable service at boot

# chkconfig
chkconfig <service_name> on

# systemctl
systemctl enable <service_name>

Disable service at boot

# chkconfig
chkconfig <service_name> off

# systemctl
systemctl disable <service_name>

Start a service

# chkconfig (does not directly start/stop)
# Use service command or systemctl

# systemctl
systemctl start <service_name>

Stop a service

# chkconfig (does not directly start/stop)
# Use service command or systemctl

# systemctl
systemctl stop <service_name>

In summary, while chkconfig can be installed on Ubuntu for compatibility reasons, systemctl remains the preferred and more powerful tool for managing services on modern Ubuntu systems. Understanding both can be beneficial, especially in mixed environments or when dealing with legacy configurations.