Setting up an init.d service using chef.

_service.md

Sample service script for debianoids

Look at LSB init scripts for more information.

Modified to work with Chef

Usage

template "/etc/init.d/[NAME]" do
  source "service.sh.erb"
  mode   777
  variables(name: NAME, user: USER, command: COMMAND, env: {})
end

directory "/var/log/[NAME]
  mode 777
  user USER
  action :create
end

• <NAME> = $YOUR_SERVICE_NAME
• <DESCRIPTION> = Describe your service here (be concise)
• Feel free to modify the LSB header, I've made default choices you may not agree with
• <COMMAND> = Command to start your server (for example /home/myuser/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd)
• <USER> = Login of the system user the script should be run as (for example myuser)

Start and test your service:

service $YOUR_SERVICE_NAME start
service $YOUR_SERVICE_NAME stop

Uninstall

The service can uninstall itself with service $NAME uninstall. Yes, that's very easy, therefore a bit dangerous. But as it's an auto-generated script, you can bring it back very easily. I use it for tests and often install/uninstall, that's why I've put that here.

Don't want it? Remove lines 56-58 of the service's script.

Logs?

Your service will log its output to /var/log/$NAME/$NAME.log. Don't forget to setup a logrotate :)

service.sh.erb

#!/bin/sh
### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides:          <%= @name %>
# Required-Start:    $local_fs $network $named $time $syslog
# Required-Stop:     $local_fs $network $named $time $syslog
# Default-Start:     2 3 4 5
# Default-Stop:      0 1 6
# Description:       Created by chef from service.sh.erb
### END INIT INFO

SCRIPT='<%= @command %>'
RUNAS=<%= @user %>

PIDFILE=/var/run/<%= @name %>.pid
LOGFILE=/var/log/<%= @name %>/<%= @name %>.log
<% if @env
  @env.each {|name,val| %>
export <%= "#{name}='#{val}'" %>
<%} end %>

start() {
  if [ -f /var/run/$PIDNAME ] && kill -0 $(cat /var/run/$PIDNAME); then
    echo 'Service already running' >&2
    return 1
  fi
  echo 'Starting service <%= @name %>!' >&2
  local CMD="$SCRIPT &> \"$LOGFILE\" & echo \$!"
  su -c "$CMD" $RUNAS > "$PIDFILE"
  echo 'Service started' >&2
}

stop() {
  if [ ! -f "$PIDFILE" ] || ! kill -0 $(cat "$PIDFILE"); then
    echo 'Service not running' >&1
    return 0
  fi
  echo 'Stopping service!' >&2
  kill -15 $(cat "$PIDFILE") && rm -f "$PIDFILE"
  echo 'Service stopped' >&2
}

uninstall() {
  echo -n "Are you really sure you want to uninstall this service? That cannot be undone. [yes|No] "
  local SURE
  read SURE
  if [ "$SURE" = "yes" ]; then
    stop
    rm -f "$PIDFILE"
    echo "Notice: log file is not be removed: '$LOGFILE'" >&2
    update-rc.d -f <%= @name %> remove
    rm -fv "$0"
  fi
}

case "$1" in
  start)
    start
    ;;
  stop)
    stop
    ;;
  uninstall)
    uninstall
    ;;
  restart)
    stop
    start
    ;;
  *)
    echo "Usage: $0 {start|stop|restart|uninstall}"
esac