How to Disable CTRL-ALT-DEL shutdown key on Linux server

[Ctrl]-[Alt]-[Delete] is a shortcut key to shutdown/reboot the server without having to log on but sometimes it will be a problem by accidently pressing the [Ctrl]-[Alt]-[Delete] key in the production Linux server console. In order to prevent the use of [Ctrl]-[Alt]-[Delete] key combination on a production server, we MUST disable it.

Basically it is configured using /etc/inittab file. This is the main configuration file of /sbin/init, which is executed by the kernel on startup. It describes what scripts are used for the different run-levels. Edit /etc/inittab file and comment (or remove it) ctrlaltdel entry.

Edit configuration file:
# vi /etc/inittab

Search for line:
ca::ctrlaltdel:/sbin/shutdown -r -t 4 now

Remove the line or comment out the above line by putting a hash mark (#) in front of it:
#ca::ctrlaltdel:/sbin/shutdown -r -t 4 now

Save the file and exit to shell prompt:
:wq!

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September 4, 2008 · Filed Under How's To, Open Source, Tips

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