Why Set Up Auto Reboot in Armbian? #
Scheduled reboots help: ✅ Refresh the system in a clean state ✅ Reduce memory leaks ✅ Prevent hangs on low-resource devices (SBC like Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi, etc.)
Method 1: Using Crontab (Recommended) #
Crontab is a built-in Linux tool to schedule commands.
Step 1: Open Terminal & Edit Crontab #
sudo crontab -e
(Choose your preferred editor, like nano)
Step 2: Add Reboot Schedule #
Example reboot daily at 03:00:
0 3 * * * /sbin/reboot
Example reboot every Sunday at 04:00:
0 4 * * 0 /sbin/reboot
Crontab Format Explanation: #
* * * * * command
│ │ │ │ └─ Day (0-7, 0=Sunday)
│ │ │ └─── Month (1-12)
│ │ └───── Date (1-31)
│ └─────── Hour (0-23)
└───────── Minute (0-59)
Step 3: Save & Verify #
-
Press
Ctrl + X→Y→Enterto save -
Check the schedule with:
sudo crontab -l
Method 2: Using Systemd Timer (Alternative) #
If you prefer systemd, follow these steps:
Step 1: Create Service File #
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/reboot.service
Add the following:
[Unit]
Description=Reboot System
[Service]
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=/sbin/reboot
Step 2: Create Timer File #
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/reboot.timer
Example daily reboot at 03:00:
[Unit]
Description=Reboot System Daily
[Timer]
OnCalendar=*-*-* 03:00:00
Persistent=true
[Install]
WantedBy=timers.target
Step 3: Enable the Timer #
sudo systemctl enable reboot.timer
sudo systemctl start reboot.timer
Verify with:
systemctl list-timers
Additional Tips #
🔹 Reboot Log: Add >> /var/log/reboot.log 2>&1 in crontab to log output
🔹 Testing: Test manually with sudo reboot
🔹 Check Timezone: Confirm server time with date or timedatectl
Summary #
With crontab or systemd timer, you can set automatic reboot schedules in Armbian/Linux to keep your system stable. Choose the method you prefer!
