8.7. Script Names

Since init scripts live in a single directory, they must share a single namespace. To avoid conflicts, three means of assigning names from this namespace are provided:

Note: In general, if a package or some system function is likely to be used on multiple systems, the package developers or the distribution should get a registered name through LANANA, and distributions should strive to use the same name whenever possible. For applications which may not be essential or may not be commonly installed, the hierarchical namespace may be more appropriate. An advantage to the hierarchical namespace is that there is no need to consult with the LANANA before obtaining an assigned name.

Short names are highly desirable, since system administrators may need to manually start and stop services. Given this, they should be standardized on a per-package basis. This is the rationale behind having the LANANA organization assign these names. The LANANA may be called upon to handle other namespace issues, such as package/prerequisites naming.