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Simulate Host Faults

This document describes how to shut down or reboot a Linux host using Chaosd, through the command line or HTTP service.

warning

Host faults affect the entire host, including Chaosd and your remote connection. Run Chaosd with permission to shut down or reboot the host, usually as root.

Shutdown and reboot cannot be recovered by Chaosd. Neither chaosd recover <UID> nor DELETE /api/attack/{uid} can undo these operations. Setting duration does not automatically power the host back on or reverse a reboot. Arrange a way to power the host back on before testing shutdown.

Create a host fault using the command line​

View the supported host actions and their help information:

chaosd attack host --help
chaosd attack host shutdown --help
chaosd attack host reboot --help

Shut down the host​

chaosd attack host shutdown

Chaosd invokes the system's shutdown command. Shutdown timing follows the behavior of that command on the host.

Reboot the host​

chaosd attack host reboot

Chaosd invokes the system's reboot command.

Create a host fault using the HTTP service​

info

The host HTTP endpoint is available starting with Chaosd v1.6.0. Chaosd v1.5.0 does not expose this endpoint.

Host faults are available directly through Chaosd. Chaos Mesh's PhysicalMachineChaos does not currently provide shutdown or reboot actions.

Start Chaosd on the host where you want to inject the fault:

chaosd server --host 127.0.0.1 --port 31767

The following examples send requests from the same host. For remote access, see Deploy Chaosd server for TLS and client certificate configuration.

Send a POST request to /api/attack/host with a JSON body. The action field is required and accepts shutdown or reboot. The optional uid field identifies the experiment. If omitted, Chaosd generates a UID. You do not need to specify kind.

Shut down the host​

curl -X POST 'http://127.0.0.1:31767/api/attack/host' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"action":"shutdown"}'

Reboot the host​

curl -X POST 'http://127.0.0.1:31767/api/attack/host' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"action":"reboot"}'

The connection might close as the host shuts down or reboots, before you receive an HTTP response.