Ubuntu - Run command on start-up with “sudo”

Question

I would like to run a sudo command when Ubuntu starts up (before anyone logs in):

sudo searchd

How would I do this?

Answer 1

You can add the command in the /etc/rc.local script that is executed at the end of startup.

Write the command before exit 0. Anything written after exit 0 will never be executed.

Answer 2

Edit the tty configuration in /etc/init/tty*.conf with a shellscript as a parameter :

(...)
exec /sbin/getty -n -l  theInputScript.sh -8 38400 tty1
(...)

This is assuming that we're editing tty1 and the script that reads input is theInputScript.sh.

A word of warning this script is run as root, so when you are inputing stuff to it you have root priviliges. Also append a path to the location of the script.

Important: the script when it finishes, has to invoke the /sbin/login otherwise you wont be able to login in the terminal.