Using Terminal to shut down a computer

Question

Level 2

301 points

Using Terminal to shut down a computer

I have a blind server (Macmini) and sometimes a process might hang. It is set to shut down at hour x and start at hour y. However if a process is hanging this will not happen. I want to use Apple Script to run a script after hour x to force the Mac to shut down.

Now I know “sudo shutdown -r now” will do so but it needs a password. I could script the password in the Apple Script but would rather avoid this. It there a way to bypass it all and shut down the Mac completely.

Thanks

Posted on Jun 16, 2020 11:28 PM

Reply

Answer 1

BobHarris

Level 9

57,059 points

Jun 17, 2020 7:20 AM in response to ChangeAgent

You could create a launchctl entry that runs as root, and issues the shutdown command. No 'sudo' needed. Google creating launchctl .plists and setting them up so they are always run.

Or a Unix style 'cron' job under the root account. DO NOT attempt this if you are not comfortable with cron, nor with the Unix style editors (you can become root using sudo su - )

Reply

Answer 2

ChangeAgent Author

Level 2

301 points

Jun 17, 2020 11:43 PM in response to BobHarris

I look in to the launchctl solution.

I used to use CronniX (https://roaringapps.com/app/cronnix) for this under 10.13. a lovely tool! unfortuantely it is 32 bit and they are not bringing it to 64 bit. Is there maybe an other open source of free app that you know about to do this?

I do not feel comfortable to dabble direct in to cron.

Reply

Answer 3

ChangeAgent Author

Level 2

301 points

Jun 17, 2020 11:57 PM in response to VikingOSX

Hi VikingOSX

Thanks for this.

is the vi editor simply a window in the terminal? I ran the command you suggested (sudo visudo) to open it and that is what happened.

Reply

Answer 4

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,310 points

Jun 18, 2020 4:30 AM in response to ChangeAgent

The vi editor launches within the Terminal window, where its libcurses interface takes over until you exit the application.

Reply

Answer 5

ChangeAgent Author

Level 2

301 points

Jun 18, 2020 7:47 AM in response to VikingOSX

OK thanks, so all is well indeed.

Reply

Answer 6

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,310 points

Jun 17, 2020 7:33 AM in response to ChangeAgent

You could try tweaking the /etc/sudoers file to allow /sbin/shutdown to be run by your userid without a password:

# User privilege specification
root    ALL=(ALL) ALL
%admin  ALL=(ALL) ALL
X Y = NOPASSWD: /sbin/shutdown

where X is your user name, and Y is the machine name (without .local).

Use:

sudo visudo

and it will automatically open the /etc/sudoers file in the vi editor. Type a colon, and x to save and exit after your changes.

All you need in an AppleScript is this line when run from your user login where you are also the administrator:

do shell script "sudo /sbin/shutdown -r now"

and as tested on my Mojave machine, a reboot occurs. Sudo will ask for no password when running shutdown.

Reply

Using Terminal to shut down a computer

Similar questions