title: what is the purpose of the magic number in linux reboots?
body: <p>On the Wikipedia page for Linus Torvalds, it states that:  </p>
  
  <p>'The Linux kernel's reboot system call accepts their dates of birth (written in hexadecimal) as magic values'. </p>
  
  <p>And documentation for the Linux reboot function shows that it needs two magic numbers, 'magic' and 'magic2' too reboot.</p>
  
  <p>What is the purpose of these magic numbers? Why can't the function operate without them?</p>
  
  <p>Thanks</p>