to disable: $ sudo setenforce 0 to get state: $ getenforce http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/enable-permissive-mode-for-selinux-troubleshooting-purpose.html https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-US/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/6/html/Security-Enhanced_Linux/sect-Security-Enhanced_Linux-Working_with_SELinux-Enabling_and_Disabling_SELinux.html