We'll use tomcat as an example, as it doesnt have a script by default

1. Make a tomcat startup script called /etc/init.d/tomcat
1.a Ensure that you can call it with start and stop parameters
1.b Make sure these lines are present (after the #! line):

#
# chkconfig: 345 98 98
# description: Tomcat Catalina server for running IDP software
#

2. Use the following command: chkconfig --add tomcat
3. Then to get it to start at bootup, use: chkconfig tomcat on
4. If you need to check the status of any service, use: chkconfig --list <service name>

note that the numbers in the chkconfig: line represent 1) the runlevels (3, 4 & 5 in this case) the service will run at. 2) the start priority 3) the stop priority

This allows you to make any software begin at system startup time. Remember that runlevel 3 is basic console and runlevel 5 is GUI (XWindows/Gnome/KDE etc).

Using chkconfig to make software start at reboot

Bash