Gksudo gives a Usage Error with options

**DocWho27** · February 25th, 2011

I'm trying to have my system shutdown at specified times. To do this I would use a crontab and gksudo, but there's a problem. I want to halt my system after the fact so I've been trying this:

Code:

gksudo -S shutdown -h now

The problem is with the -h option, since it works without it.

Thanks for the help!

Ubuntu x64
Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.3 Ghz

**DanneStrat** · February 25th, 2011

Originally Posted by DocWho27

I'm trying to have my system shutdown at specified times. To do this I would use a crontab and gksudo, but there's a problem. I want to halt my system after the fact so I've been trying this:

Code:

gksudo -S shutdown -h now

The problem is with the -h option, since it works without it.

Thanks for the help!

Ubuntu x64
Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.3 Ghz

I noticed that you use "gksudo" for your

command which should only be used for graphical applications.

Since you're trying to run a "non gui" terminal application,

use "sudo".

Do this instead:

Code:

sudo shutdown -h now

Do you know that you can schedule a shutdown

at a specific time(without using cron) by doing for example:

Code:

sudo shutdown -h 12:00

Then the computer would shutdown at 12:00am.

**lisati** · February 26th, 2011

I noticed you'd used gksudo too. Please have a look here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo

**DocWho27** · February 26th, 2011

I do know that I can schedule a single shutdown at any specified time, but I want to have my system shut down every every night on it's own (more or less).

There is a good chance that I won't have a terminal open open at the time specified, so I chose to use gksudo.

I guess any app that runs advanced power management (such as hibernate & shutdown at specified times) would be another answer to what I'm looking for.

**DanneStrat** · February 26th, 2011

Originally Posted by DocWho27

I do know that I can schedule a single shutdown at any specified time, but I want to have my system shut down every every night on it's own (more or less).

There is a good chance that I won't have a terminal open open at the time specified, so I chose to use gksudo.

I guess any app that runs advanced power management (such as hibernate & shutdown at specified times) would be another answer to what I'm looking for.

You can do the following:

Install "gnome-schedule" from the repositories.

You want to make a scheduled task

to shut down your computer.

The "shutdown" command requires

elevated privilegies so you have to start

gnome-schedule with "gksudo".

Open a terminal and run:

Code:

gksudo gnome-schedule

Make a new scheduled task to run every

day and set the time you want.

In the "command" box type the following:

Code:

/sbin/shutdown -h now

Now go ahead and apply the new task.

Let me know if it works.

**DocWho27** · February 26th, 2011

Thanks! That helped a bunch!

I ran into a slight snag with trying to save unsaved documents, but I found gnome-session-save --logout and that should do the trick. Just need to write a script that runs session-save and then shutdown.

Thanks again!

**DanneStrat** · February 26th, 2011

Originally Posted by DocWho27

Thanks! That helped a bunch!

I ran into a slight snag with trying to save unsaved documents, but I found gnome-session-save --logout and that should do the trick. Just need to write a script that runs session-save and then shutdown.

Thanks again!

Alright!

Good luck!