> Yes, that produces the same outcome (using shutdown -fr now). The
> machine _looks_ as though it is shutting down from the messages on the
> console, but it doesn't get any further than killing most of the
> processes (This is from the CGI script, BTW).
I've had the same problem.  I've written a little program
that calls shutdown, but the machine doesn't shut down.
Some processes die, but then it hangs.  I've not tracked
down the problem, but I suspect that shutdown (and reboot)
manages to kill itself somehow.

        -- Lennart