📖 ~1 min read
Table of contents
Symptom & Impact
Service works manually but fails to start automatically after reboot.
Environment & Reproduction
Seen with custom or copied rc.d scripts on FreeBSD 13 hosts.
Root Cause Analysis
Missing or wrong PROVIDE/REQUIRE metadata breaks startup ordering.
Quick Triage
Review script headers, rcvar settings, and enabled flags.
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
Use rcorder output and boot logs to confirm dependency placement.
Solution – Primary Fix
Correct rc.d headers and rc.subr usage, then restart and retest.
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Solution – Alternative Approaches
Use delayed startup fallback while proper dependency wiring is prepared.
Verification & Acceptance Criteria
Service starts after reboot with no ordering warnings in logs.
Rollback Plan
Restore previous script and disable autostart if boot path is impacted.
Prevention & Hardening
Lint rc.d headers in CI before deployment to production hosts.
Related Errors & Cross-Refs
May intersect with network-online and jail startup timing issues.
Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for FreeBSD 13.
View all FreeBSD 13 tutorials on the Tutorials Hub →
Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.
References & Further Reading
rc.subr and rcorder manual pages in FreeBSD documentation.
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