OpenCPN graceful shutdown

[LennartG]

Having problems getting OpenCPN to do a graceful shutdown using Ubuntu 16.04 and Xfce.
The machine is an OpenCPN-dedicated machine used only for navigation plus some support programs, the user is automatically logged in.
The machine is a 'CAR-PC'-type mini-ITX with an M2-ATX style power supply and is hence powered up/down much like using the start/retset-button on a constantly powered-on PC system.

Systemd is used and the command for shutdown is 'ExecStop=/usr/bin/pkill -15 opencpn', I have not bothered with a pid-file as 'pkill' works just fine when using the service commands.
I am also using the 'Type=oneshot' alternative and 'After=local-fs.target display-manager.service lightdm.service' trying to keep the GUI active during shutdown ('After' and 'Before' are then reversed)


While the machine is running, with the user logged in and displaying the GUI, systemd service can be used to start/stop opencpn using the normal service start and stop commands. OpenCPN is then properly shutdown and the last line in the log displays 'opencpn::MyApp exiting cleanly...', leaving the GUI up.


However, when the machine is powered down using the 'start/reset-button' (read 'power switch'), triggering a SIGTERM signal, it seems to be forced down and not given a chance to save the configuration file. The log file then ends with 'Got quitflag from SIGNAL' or sometimes a few lines after that.

On a regular PC one may use the GUI Restart functionality, or even 'sudo init 6', which apparently uses SIGTERM to shutdown the application. The effect appears to be the same as when using the power switch functionality on the 'CAR-PC'.


This 'forceful' shutdown are causing several problems, among these are:
- The configuration file sometimes gets corrupt (this could be really bad).
- A newly selected chart bundle is forgotten and falls back to the last properly saved selection.
The sometimes corrupted configuration file is the worst and has happened to me on numerous occasions.


A SIGTERM is supposed to trigger a program-friendly shutdown but that appears not to be the case here.
The problem looks similar to bug #2245. I have tried the proposed suggestion using screen, but to no avail. It is never delayed long enough for the log to display 'opencpn::MyApp exiting cleanly...', often not delayed at all.


Is there any way to force a 'graceful' shutdown?
Are there any other systemd '[Unit]'-alternatives that could prove useful?

Just a final note: I am no programmer so some of the above 'SIGTERM' notes are more or less educated guesses learned from experience.



Thanks in advance for any ideas or clues
Lennart

[LennartG]

Problem solved. at least for Ubuntu 16.04. See page https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...linux_shutdown


This might inspire someone to test a similat procedure for Windows. I, myself, have not touched a Windows system in years.