Rebooting is the procedure of restarting a system or a computer. It is a common operation that can assist users in fixing some issues, applying updates, clearing memory-changing configurations, or switching to a different kernel. Mostly, Linux systems require a reboot (necessary) to apply changes that affect the kernel or other core components such as in Debian 12.

This article will cover all the possible methods to reboot a Debian 12 system, along with detailed steps for each one.

How to Reboot in Debian 12?

Rebooting in Debian 12 is a simple and quick process that can be done in several ways. Users can use the command line, keyboard shortcuts, and graphical interface to reboot their system.

To reboot Debian 12, use the stated methods:

• Method 1: Using the Reboot Command
• Method 2: Using the Shutdown Command
• Method 3: Using the systemctl Command
• Method 4: Using init Command
• Method 5: Using Shortcut Key
• Method 6: Using Restart Option (GUI)

Important: Before rebooting, users always save their work and close any applications to avoid data loss or corruption.

Method 1: Using the Reboot Command

The simplest and most common way to reboot a Debian 12 system is to use the reboot command. It executes as root or with sudo privileges. It immediately initiates a graceful shutdown and restart of the system. Let’s reboot the system:

Instant Reboot

To reboot the Debian 12 system, use the “reboot” command along with the “sudo” privileges. It instantly reboots the operating system:

sudo reboot

Reboot Specific Time

To reboot the system for a particular time, utilize the “-t” option followed by the number of seconds to wait before rebooting. For instance, reboot after “5 minutes” the system, via the “300 seconds”:

sudo reboot -t 300

By following these steps, users can reboot the Debian 12 system safely and efficiently.

Method 2: Using the Shutdown Command

This is another way to reboot your system that gives you more control over the process. It is possible with the “shutdown” command with some options. Let’s take a look at rebooting the Debian system:

Instant Reboot

The shutdown command with the -r option is utilized to reboot the Linux system including Debian 12. For instance, to reboot the system immediately, use the “now” utility:

sudo shutdown -r now

Reboot Specific Time

This command can also specify a delay or a message before rebooting. For example, to

reboot the system after 3 minutes and display a message to other users, execute the below command with the “+3” flag:

sudo shutdown -r +3

Optional: Reboot (Exact Time)

Users can also mention a time for the same command to take effect. For instance, to reboot the system at 10:00 PM, use the “shutdown -r” command with the “22:00”:

sudo shutdown -r 22:00

This method has rebooted Debian 12 using the shutdown command.

Method 3: Using the systemctl Command

Another way to reboot a Debian 12 system is to use the systemctl command, which is part of the systemd init system. This command performs a similar action as the “reboot” command:

sudo systemctl reboot

Note: The systemctl command also supports other options such as power off, halt, suspend, and hibernate.

Optional: Power off System (Instantly)

For instance, to power off your system using systemctl, use the “poweroff” utility with the “sudo” privileges:

sudo systemctl poweroff

Method 4: Using init Command

Users can also utilize the “init” command to reboot the system by specifying the number “6”. Here, the 6 number gives commands to the system to reboot:

/sbin/init 6

Note: There are 7 run levels of the computer. Usually, 0 initializes the halt state, on the other hand, 6 is used for reboot.

Method 5: Using Shortcut Key

If the system is unresponsive, users can also use the magic “SysRq/PrtScr” key combination to force a reboot. To use this method, press and hold the “Alt” and “SysRq/PrtScr” keys on your keyboard, and then hit the “R E I S U B” keys in sequence. Each key has a specific function that will try to reboot the system safely.

It reboots the Debian system instantly by executing the above sequence.

Precautions: Rebooting can have drawbacks, such as losing unsaved data, disrupting services, or causing downtime. Therefore, it is advisable to reboot only when it is required or recommended by the system administrator.

Method 6: Using Restart Option (GUI)

For a GUI environment, such as GNOME or KDE, users can reboot the system. Usually, there is an option to reboot or restart the system in the main menu or the power menu of the desktop environment.

For instance, hit the right-upper corner of the interface, then pick the “Power” icon, and choose “Restart” option:

It prompts for confirmation before rebooting the system. Hit again the “Restart” option as below:

In this way, the Debian 12 reboots using the graphical representation.

Conclusion

Rebooting is useful for applying updates, fixing errors, or configuring the kernel. To reboot in Debian 12, use the “ reboot”, “shutdown -r”, “systemctl reboot”, and “init 6” commands. Alternatively, users can utilize the “Restart” option from the Power icon. The easiest way is to use the “Restart” option from the “Power” icon (GUI) to reboot the Debian system. Also, if users are in the terminal, then go with the “ reboot” command (recommended).

This guide has done possible ways to reboot the Debian 12 system, depending on the situation and the user’s preference.