Loading ...Schedule Windows server to reboot or shutdown automatically
Sometime it is necessary to reboot (or shutdown) windows server. Under UNIX or Linux you can use reboot / hal t/shutdown command via cron jobs or at command. But, when it comes to Windows server there is no built in command exist. Only Windows 2000 Resource Kit offers shutdown command line utility.
However, sysinternals has nifty utility called PsShutdown. It is a command-line utility similar to the shutdown utility from the Windows 2000 Resource Kit, but with the ability to do much more. In addition to supporting the same options for shutting down or rebooting the local or a remote computer, PsShutdown can logoff the console user or lock the console (locking requires Windows 2000 or higher). PsShutdown requires no manual installation of client software.
How do I schedule Windows Server Reboot / Shutdown?
You can download PsShutdown from sysinternals web site.
Store file on Windows server in folder. I use folder called C:\admutils. Next open windows command prompt (Start > Run > cmd) and use windows at command to schedule reboot:
c:> at 2:00am c:\admutils\psshutdown.exe -r -f -c -t 10
Above command will reboot system at 2am. If you want to shutdown system:
c:> at 1:00am c:\admutils\psshutdown.exe -s -f -c -t 10
Where,
- -s: Shutdown windows server
- -r: Reboot windows server
- -f: Forces all running application to exit
- -c: Allow the shutdown to by cancel by user
- -t: Specifies the countdown in seconds until the shutdown
For more information read official psshutdown documentation. Read at command help by typing at /? command.
Want to stay up to date with the latest Linux tips, news and announcements? Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter or full RSS feed to get all updates.
You can Email this page to a friend.
You may also be interested in...
- How to: Shutdown Linux box automatically
- Linux Disable the Ctrl-Alt-Delete shutdown keys
- Linux Shutdown Command and Logfile
- Linux last reboot time and date find out
- Best Linux / UNIX Posts of 2007: Part ~ II
Discussion on This Article:
Leave a Reply
We encourage your comments, and suggestions. But please stay on topic, be polite, and avoid spam. Thank you very much for stopping by our site!
Tags: command_prompt, logoff, nifty_utility, psshutdown, shutdown_command, shutdown_utility, shutdown_windows_server, sysinternals, windows_2003_resource_kit, windows_command ~ Last updated on: September 13, 2007
Excellent information, I thought you guys only likes UNIX / Linux
Keep it up good work.
Windows server already includes a shutdown command called just shutdown!
Ok I will try reading the post next time
You should also add the command “-accepteula” to the psshutdown command, because otherwise the task will hang, idicating a “running” state in Scheduled Tasks. It’s just waiting for the EULA agreement, which it doesn’t show.
So, to complete the example before, type:
“at 2:00am c:\admutils\psshutdown.exe -r -f -c -t 10 -accepteula”.
@TimBee,
Thanks for pointing out this issue.
Appreciate your post.
NixCraft -> Thank YOU for this helpful article!
great. I was experiencing problem with shutdown built-in command.
just discovered this website, looks very interresting.
What switch do I need to do a weekly restart?
Dan,
Use windows schedule task option and select weekly option.
Nice article.. It has helped me a lot. Thank you.
Thank you. A very usful bit of information, just what the doctor ordered.
a’noon everyone.I am running, win server2003. I have tried… the above. and it does nto work for me-I must be doing something wrong. I have typed the following. in the cmd prompt. C:\>at 11:45am c:\pstools\psshutdown.exe -r -f -c -t 10
I press enter and I get the following message. “Added a new job with job ID = 1″
NOTHING happens….at the said time…!!!! what am I missing? the official documentation, states that I have to put in the comp name? is this what I am missing???? please help. many thanks, J
PS: how can I view these said jobs as well? I now apparently have 3 jobs pending.thanks. J
There is no need to reponde to my 1st message, I never saw the add -accepteula part. It now seems to work. Blindin, thanks. Can I get some script to make this run daily, without any manual intervention.
Use the task scheduler in Windows 2000/2003 server by visiting My Comp > Control Panel > Scheduled Tasks
HTH
yea thanks-I found that….im just being thick.monday morning hang over :).thanks
for the ones who wonder, it looks like ’scheduled tasks’ is just a frontend to at, so if you wanna schedule some tasks, you can also use at /? to find out how
of course you’ll find out that entering just
at
will display the current jobs
at /delete
will delete the thing and so forth
happy hacking 2 all
testing today the command, i’ve found that -accepteula is not a supported parameter on recent version of psshutdown, as jeff smith pointed earlier
Works great with -accepteula, thanks
I tried it with the accepteula switch and it still did not work……………….I am using windows 2003 server and R2
My mistake i had to update to the latest version of the tool once i did that the -accepteula worked fine
You can also do this through Scheduled Tasks. Go to Control Panel->Scheduled Tasks->Add Task. Select Browse and go to %Windows%\System32\ and select shutdown.exe. You can then follow the wizard to select how often and at what time. You’ll need to provide account login info that has admin privileges on the machine. At end select the option to display advanced properties. Under the Task pane you’ll see it is going to run C:\WINDOWS\system32\shutdown.exe. You can add the /r option to restart - or any other you may need such as /t 60 to wait 60 seconds before restarting.