runit -service dependencies

G. Pape
runit

# runit - service dependencies

runit’s service supervision resolves dependencies automatically for many or even most service daemons, those that exit if another service they need to function properly is not or no longer available. The runsv supervisor will then start them again, until everything is in shape.

For service daemons with different behavior, or to arrange services more structurally, the sv program can help. A few examples:

For the service daemon floyd, that needs the pinkd service up and running, add `sv start pinkd` to floyd’s `run` script, right after `set -e`.

     #!/bin/sh
     set -e
     sv start pinkd
     exec floyd

When the pinkd service daemon crashes or is restarted for some other reason and the floyd daemon is unable to handle this, add `sv hup floyd` (or whatever the floyd daemon understands) to pinkd’s `finish` script to force its reload or restart.

     #!/bin/sh
     sv hup floyd

If the pinkd service shall be stopped when the floyd service is stopped gracefully, add `test "$1" != 0 || sv down pinkd` to floyd’s `finish` script.

     #!/bin/sh
     test "$1" != 0 || sv down pinkd

Or vice versa.

Explore the sv program for more options.

For service daemons that do not make their service available immediately after starting, a `check` script can be added. The sv program will use this `check` script to better evaluate whether a service is fully started and available, for example:

For a mail service listening on localhost:25, this `check` script could be used

     #!/bin/sh
     exec nc -z localhost 25