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+# Start, stop, or restart the Netdata Agent
+
+When you install the Netdata Agent, the [daemon](/src/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](/src/cli/README.md) capable of performing shutdowns. Start the Agent back up
+using your preferred method listed above.
+
+```bash
+sudo netdatacli shutdown-agent
+```
+
+## Netdata MSI installations
+
+Netdata provides an installer for Windows using WSL, on those installations by using a Windows terminal (e.g. the Command prompt or Windows Powershell) you can:
+
+- Start Netdata, by running `start-netdata`
+- Stop Netdata, by running `stop-netdata`
+- Restart Netdata, by running `restart-netdata`
+
+## 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.
+
+## Starting Netdata at boot
+
+In the `system` directory you can find scripts and configurations for the
+various distros.
+
+### systemd
+
+The installer already installs `netdata.service` if it detects a systemd system.
+
+To install `netdata.service` by hand, run:
+
+```sh
+# stop Netdata
+killall netdata
+
+# copy netdata.service to systemd
+cp system/netdata.service /etc/systemd/system/
+
+# let systemd know there is a new service
+systemctl daemon-reload
+
+# enable Netdata at boot
+systemctl enable netdata
+
+# start Netdata
+systemctl start netdata
+```
+
+### init.d
+
+In the system directory you can find `netdata-lsb`. Copy it to the proper place according to your distribution
+documentation. For Ubuntu, this can be done via running the following commands as root.
+
+```sh
+# copy the Netdata startup file to /etc/init.d
+cp system/netdata-lsb /etc/init.d/netdata
+
+# make sure it is executable
+chmod +x /etc/init.d/netdata
+
+# enable it
+update-rc.d netdata defaults
+```
+
+### openrc (gentoo)
+
+In the `system` directory you can find `netdata-openrc`. Copy it to the proper
+place according to your distribution documentation.
+
+### CentOS / Red Hat Enterprise Linux
+
+For older versions of RHEL/CentOS that don't have systemd, an init script is included in the system directory. This can
+be installed by running the following commands as root.
+
+```sh
+# copy the Netdata startup file to /etc/init.d
+cp system/netdata-init-d /etc/init.d/netdata
+
+# make sure it is executable
+chmod +x /etc/init.d/netdata
+
+# enable it
+chkconfig --add netdata
+```
+
+_There have been some recent work on the init script, see PR
+<https://github.com/netdata/netdata/pull/403>_
+
+### other systems
+
+You can start Netdata by running it from `/etc/rc.local` or equivalent.