📖 ~1 min read
Table of contents
Symptom & Impact
Custom service does not start at boot, leaving dependent applications unavailable.
Environment & Reproduction
Happens when rc.d scripts are edited without correct header metadata for dependency ordering.
Root Cause Analysis
rcorder cannot resolve startup graph because PROVIDE, REQUIRE, or BEFORE tags are incomplete.
Quick Triage
Inspect script headers and compare expected order against active boot sequence.
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
Run ordering checks and review boot logs to find the exact dependency break point.
Solution – Primary Fix
Add accurate rc metadata and retest startup order under clean reboot conditions.
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Solution – Alternative Approaches
Convert the service to explicit orchestration with health checks where strict ordering is required.
Verification & Acceptance Criteria
Service starts automatically at boot and dependencies are active before application launch.
Rollback Plan
Restore previous rc script and disable autostart until dependency metadata is corrected.
Prevention & Hardening
Enforce rc script linting and peer review for any header or startup-order changes.
Related Errors & Cross-Refs
Similar symptoms occur with missing KEYWORD tags and service enable flag misconfiguration.
Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for freebsd-15.
View all freebsd-15 tutorials on the Tutorials Hub →
Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.
References & Further Reading
rc.subr man page, rcorder documentation, and FreeBSD service management guidelines.
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