Introduction

One of the most powerful aspects of Red Hat Linux concerns its open method of starting and stopping the operating system, where it loads specified programs using their particular configurations, permits you to change those configurations to control the boot process, and shuts down in a graceful and organized way. While other operating systems attempt to control the way the computer boots or prevent you from customizing what happens at shutdown, Red Hat Linux allows you full access to every step in the process.

Beyond the question of controlling of the boot or shutdown process, the open nature of Red Hat Linux makes it much easier to determine the exact source of most problems associated with starting up or shutting down your system. An understanding of this process is quite beneficial for even basic troubleshooting.