What about when you reboot your Apache Solr server? Are you going to type in that java -jar start.jar after each reboot? There's an easier way. We are now going to create a startup script to automatically start Apache Solr when you reboot your Ubuntu Server 8.04.x LTS.

This how-to handbook is
- For beginners.
- Using 'java -jar start.jar' method.

STEPS
Type in the following command in TERMINAL to install nano text editor.

sudo apt-get install nano

Type in the following command in TERMINAL to add a new script.

sudo nano /etc/init.d/solr

TERMINAL will display a new page title “GNU nano 2.0.x”.
Paste the below script in this TERMINAL window.

#!/bin/sh -e 

# Starts, stops, and restarts solr 

SOLR_DIR="/apache-solr-1.4.0/example" 
JAVA_OPTIONS="-Xmx1024m -DSTOP.PORT=8079 -DSTOP.KEY=stopkey -jar start.jar" 
LOG_FILE="/var/log/solr.log" 
JAVA="/usr/bin/java" 

case $1 in 
    start) 
        echo "Starting Solr" 
        cd $SOLR_DIR 
        $JAVA $JAVA_OPTIONS 2> $LOG_FILE & 
        ;; 
    stop) 
        echo "Stopping Solr" 
        cd $SOLR_DIR 
        $JAVA $JAVA_OPTIONS --stop 
        ;; 
    restart) 
        $0 stop 
        sleep 1 
        $0 start 
        ;; 
    *) 
        echo "Usage: $0 {start|stop|restart}" >&2 
        exit 1 
        ;; 
esac

• Note: In above script you might have to replace /apache-solr-1.4.0/example with appropriate directory name.

Press CTRL-X keys.
Type in Y
When ask File Name to Write press ENTER key.
You're now back to TERMINAL command line.

Type in the following command in TERMINAL to create all the links to the script.

sudo update-rc.d solr defaults

Type in the following command in TERMINAL to make the script executable.

sudo chmod a+rx /etc/init.d/solr

To test. Reboot your Ubuntu Server.
Wait until Ubuntu Server reboot is completed.
Wait 2 minutes for Apache Solr to startup.
Using your internet browser go to your website and try a Solr search.

That's it. You have successfully created a startup script to automatically start Apache Solr when you reboot your Ubuntu Server. Enjoy.

Sources:
- http://rc98.net/solrinit
- http://19thstreetdesign.com/blog/2009.02.04/installing-apache-solr-drupal-6