Merging upstream version 1.29.0.

Signed-off-by: Daniel Baumann <daniel.baumann@progress-linux.org>

1 files changed, 98 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/docs/configure/start-stop-restart.md b/docs/configure/start-stop-restart.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4967fff08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/configure/start-stop-restart.md
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+<!--
+title: "Start, stop, or restart the Netdata Agent"
+description: "Manage the Netdata Agent daemon, load configuration changes, and troubleshoot stuck processes on systemd and non-systemd nodes."
+custom_edit_url: https://github.com/netdata/netdata/edit/master/docs/configure/start-stop-restart.md
+-->
+
+# Start, stop, or restart the Netdata Agent
+
+When you install the Netdata Agent, the [daemon](/daemon/README.md) is configured to start at boot and stop and
+restart/shutdown.
+
+You will most often need to _restart_ the Agent to load new or editing configuration files. [Health
+configuration](#reload-health-configuration) files are the only exception, as they can be reloaded without restarting
+the entire Agent.
+
+Stopping or restarting the Netdata Agent will cause gaps in stored metrics until the `netdata` process initiates
+collectors and the database engine.
+
+## Using `systemctl`, `service`, or `init.d`
+
+This is the recommended way to start, stop, or restart the Netdata daemon.
+
+- To **start** Netdata, run `sudo systemctl start netdata`.
+- To **stop** Netdata, run `sudo systemctl stop netdata`.
+- To **restart** Netdata, run `sudo systemctl restart netdata`.
+
+If the above commands fail, or you know that you're using a non-systemd system, try using the `service` command:
+
+- **service**: `sudo service netdata start`, `sudo service netdata stop`, `sudo service netdata restart`
+
+## Using `netdata`
+
+Use the `netdata` command, typically located at `/usr/sbin/netdata`, to start the Netdata daemon. 
+
+```bash
+sudo netdata
+```
+
+If you start the daemon this way, close it with `sudo killall netdata`.
+
+## Using `netdatacli`
+
+The Netdata Agent also comes with a [CLI tool](/cli/README.md) capable of performing shutdowns. Start the Agent back up
+using your preferred method listed above.
+
+```bash
+sudo netdatacli shutdown-agent
+```
+
+## Reload health configuration
+
+You do not need to restart the Netdata Agent between changes to health configuration files, such as specific health
+entities. Instead, use [`netdatacli`](#using-netdatacli) and the `reload-health` option to prevent gaps in metrics
+collection.
+
+```bash
+sudo netdatacli reload-health
+```
+
+If `netdatacli` doesn't work on your system, send a `SIGUSR2` signal to the daemon, which reloads health configuration
+without restarting the entire process.
+
+```bash
+killall -USR2 netdata
+```
+
+## Force stop stalled or unresponsive `netdata` processes
+
+In rare cases, the Netdata Agent may stall or not properly close sockets, preventing a new process from starting. In
+these cases, try the following three commands:
+
+```bash
+sudo systemctl stop netdata
+sudo killall netdata
+ps aux| grep netdata
+```
+
+The output of `ps aux` should show no `netdata` or associated processes running. You can now start the Netdata Agent
+again with `service netdata start`, or the appropriate method for your system.
+
+## What's next?
+
+Learn more about [securing the Netdata Agent](/docs/configure/secure-nodes.md).
+
+You can also use the restart/reload methods described above to enable new features:
+
+- [Enable new collectors](/docs/collect/enable-configure.md) or tweak their behavior.
+- [Configure existing health alarms](/docs/monitor/configure-alarms.md) or create new ones.
+- [Enable notifications](/docs/monitor/enable-notifications.md) to receive updates about the health of your
+  infrastructure.
+- Change [the long-term metrics retention period](/docs/store/change-metrics-storage.md) using the database engine.
+
+### Related reference documentation
+
+- [Netdata Agent · Daemon](/daemon/README.md)
+- [Netdata Agent · Netdata CLI](/cli/README.md)
+
+[![analytics](https://www.google-analytics.com/collect?v=1&aip=1&t=pageview&_s=1&ds=github&dr=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fnetdata%2Fnetdata&dl=https%3A%2F%2Fmy-netdata.io%2Fgithub%2Fdocs%2Fconfigure%2Fstart-stop-restart&_u=MAC~&cid=5792dfd7-8dc4-476b-af31-da2fdb9f93d2&tid=UA-64295674-3)](<>)