runit is a Unix init scheme that supervises services and can replace sysvinit or work alongside an existing init scheme. As process 1, it manages boot, normal operation, and shutdown in three stages. Its runsv component starts a service and restarts it if it exits; sv reports status and provides controls to start, stop, restart, pause, or signal supervised services. For logs, svlogd can filter messages and write automatically rotated logs. The chpst utility changes process state and sets limits for resources such as memory, open files, process count, output size, core size, and CPU time. runsvdir monitors runsv processes for up to 1,000 service subdirectories. The maker provides source and installation instructions, including a manual installation option that does not require root access. runit is free, with support listed for GNU/Linux, BSD systems, MacOSX, Solaris, and other adaptable Unix systems. Its documentation cautions that UDP logging is unreliable and should be confined to private networks.
Who it is for
runit suits administrators who want to supervise Unix services and control their processes. It can also suit systems where service supervision is needed without replacing the current init scheme.
What is good
- Free, with no commercial limits stated.
- Restarts a service when its run program exits.
- Controls service status and lifecycle through sv.
- Can monitor up to 1,000 service subdirectories.
- Can be installed manually without root access.
What to know first
- UDP logging is unreliable outside private networks.
- Installation requires compiling and installing from source.
Verdict
runit combines init duties with service supervision, logging, and process controls across several Unix systems. Its UDP logging limitation is worth considering if logs would travel over an untrusted network.
runit plans and pricing
All plansCompared on process monitoring software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- GNU/Linux, *BSD, MacOSX, Solaris, other adaptable Unix systems
- Service monitoring
- Yes
- Process controls
- Yes
- Activity logs
- Yes
