Linux shutdown command

[Gilbo]

I know I can reboot a computer at a specific time by typing:

shutdown -r 17:30

The thing I'm curious about is that the command doesn't return me to the console, so I want to hit CTRL+C and exit. This seems to me to not be the "proper' way, since it aborts the shutdown. Is there a better way?

I don't want to have to keep a terminal window open on my local computer all day. I know about using a detached screen, but is there a simpler way?

 

[Fushigi]

Does Linux support adding an ampersand to the end of a command to submit it as a separate job/process? If so, "shutdown -r 17:30 &" ought to work.

(I used to do this back in the '80s when testing software on DEC Ultrix & IBM CPIX Unix variants.)

 

[Mercutio]

You can CTRL-Z and then type bg to background the task.
Or you can do

shutdown -r 17:30 &

And start the task in the background in the first place.

 

[Gilbo]

Thanks guys. I knew there was a better way than using a detached screen...