# Molly-Guard: a Lifesaver on a Ubuntu Server

DevFeed: [Molly-Guard: a Lifesaver on a Ubuntu Server](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/molly-guard-a-lifesaver-on-a-ubuntu-server-11216.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.ipspace.net/2025/07/molly-guard-ubuntu/>)

Published: 2025-07-02T06:18:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [ipSpace.net blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/ipspace-net-blog.md>)

Topics: [Ubuntu](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ubuntu.md>), [Vagrant](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/vagrant.md>), [Cisco](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cisco.md>), [Open Source](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/open-source.md>), [Server](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/server.md>), [Command-line interface](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cli.md>)

Tags: [cisco](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cisco.md>), [networking](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/networking.md>), [open-source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source.md>), [ssh](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ssh.md>), [terminal](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/terminal.md>), [ubuntu](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ubuntu.md>), [ubuntu-server](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ubuntu-server.md>), [vagrant](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/vagrant.md>)

## AI overview

The author describes nearly powering off the wrong Ubuntu server instead of a Vagrant VM and recommends the molly-guard package. The package intercepts reboot-related commands during SSH sessions and asks for the target hostname. The article contrasts this safeguard with the lack of an equivalent mechanism on Cisco IOS devices.

## Source excerpt

Have you ever managed to type reload in the wrong terminal window and brought down a core switch (I probably did)? I managed to do the Ubuntu equivalent of that stupidity: I told my main Ubuntu server to sudo poweroff instead of doing that to a Vagrant VM. Fortunately, the open-source world doesn't have to rely on the roadmaps created by networking vendors' product managers; if there's a big enough pain, someone will solve it. Read more ...