How-To Prevent Re-Execution of Crusoe Lifecycle Scripts

Last Updated: Nov 20, 2025

Introduction

Lifecycle scripts allow you to react to VM state changes, either a VM starting up or a VM shutting down, by running a shell script. Once a lifecycle script is created, you can modify the script directly on the VM by editing the files in /usr/local/bin/crusoe. Changes to this script take effect immediately on the next shutdown or startup. 

This guide shows you how to add logic to your script that prevents it from running in the future, giving you more control over its execution.

Prerequisites

• Access to the Crusoe CLI or UI
• Valid Crusoe authentication credentials

Step-by-Step Instructions

Lifecycle scripts can be configured to prevent them from running on subsequent reboots. 

During VM creation

1. Add a marker to your lifecycle script during VM creation.

   $ cat /usr/local/bin/crusoe/startup
   
   #!/bin/bash
   
   marker=/usr/local/bin/crusoe/scriptran
   
   if [[ -f $marker ]];then
     echo "Startup script already ran. Exiting."
     exit
   fi
   <lifecycle code>
   
   touch $marker
   chattr +i $marker   # Make the marker file immutable

   This script checks if a marker file exists to prevent re-running the script, and if it hasn't run before, it executes the main code and then creates the marker file /usr/local/bin/crusoe/scriptran to indicate completion.

   Note: Force deletion of the marker file will re-enable script execution on next VM reboot.

After VM creation

1. SSH into the VM.

2. Modify the script to remove/comment out everything except #!/bin/bash .

   $ echo '#!/bin/bash' | sudo tee /usr/local/bin/crusoe/startup > /dev/null

3. Stop/Start the VM.
4. Verify the script hasn't run by watching required logs using tool such as journalctl .

Note: You can delete or rename the startup and shutdown scripts in /usr/local/bin/crusoe, but this method will clutter your log history with errors. You can find them on querying with journalctl -u lifecycle-script.service.

Additional Resources

• Crusoe Lifecycle Scripts
• journalctl