How to restart a CentOS Server or Desktop

To restart a CentOS system, you can use both the command line (shell) and the desktop environment (GUI).

Using the Command Line (Shell) to restart CentOS

  1. Open a terminal: You can open a terminal in CentOS by pressing `Ctrl+Alt+T` or by searching for "Terminal" in the application menu. Alternatively, connect to the system using SSH if you want to reboot a remotely managed server
  2. Use the reboot command: In the terminal, simply type the following command and press Enter:sudo reboot

    You may need to enter your root or administrator password to execute this command because it requires superuser privileges.

  3. Wait for the system to restart: The system will initiate a reboot, and all processes will be stopped, and the system will shut down. It will then start up again automatically.

Using the Desktop Environment (GUI) to restart CentOS

  1. In the top right corner of the desktop environment, you'll typically find a power icon. It might look like a circle with a vertical line, a power button, or a similar symbol. Click on it to open the power menu.
  2. In the power menu, you should see options like "Restart," "Reboot," or something similar. Click on this option.
  3. You might be asked to confirm your choice to restart the system. Click "OK" or "Restart" to proceed.
  4. Now wait for the system to restart. After confirming, the system will initiate a reboot, this may take some time. It will gracefully shut down running processes, close applications, and then start up again.

Using either method will restart your CentOS system. The command line method is especially useful when you need to restart the system remotely or if you encounter issues with the desktop environment.

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