The /etc/inittab file is used to define the initialization process of a Linux system. Changes made to this file are usually only applied after a reboot, as the system reads this file during the boot process.
To make changes to the /etc/inittab file effective without rebooting the server, you can use the telinit command. This command allows you to change the system's runlevel, which can in turn trigger the initialization process to read and apply the changes in the /etc/inittab file.
For example, you can use the following command to make changes to the /etc/inittab file effective:
telinit q
This command will send a signal to the init process to re-read the /etc/inittab file and apply any changes.
Keep in mind that using the telinit command may disrupt certain services on the server, as the initialization process may need to stop and start certain services as it applies the changes. As such, it is recommended to use this command with caution and only when necessary.