Options for systemctl
Command Line – systemctl
© Lead Image © kbuntu, 123RF.com
Every major aspect of a system that runs in userland can be controlled by systemctl, a command that acts on systemd's units.
Systemd has replaced init in most distributions for several years. Yet for many users, it remains mostly unknown. One reason for this obscurity is that, to avoid confusion, distributions hide systemd with aliases to traditional commands. It is only when you look into the intricacies of systemctl, a systemd command that views and manages a system, that you begin to appreciate how far-reaching systemd actually is.
Like other init systems, systemd's main purpose is to start and control services that must be started after the kernel – those that run in userland, as it is sometimes expressed. The difference is that systemctl's controls extend to other parts of a system as well and are far more extensive than init's or Upstart's controls. systemctl carries out these tasks by acting upon systemd's units. Units are often described – not very usefully – as objects that systemd knows how to manage. A more revealing explanation is by example. You can get a general overview from the different types of units, each identified by a suffix: .service, .socket, .device, .mount, and so on. For a more detailed example, enter:
systemctl list-unit-files
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Ubuntu Core 26 Offers Game-Changing Enterprise Features
Ubuntu Core 26 could be a game-changer for organizations looking for increased security and reliability.
-
AI Flooding the Linux Kernel Security Mailing List
AI is giving Linus Torvalds a headache, but not in the way you might think.
-
Top Priorities for Open Source Pros Seeking a New Job
Professional fulfillment tops the list, according to LPI report.
-
Container-Based Fedora Hummingbird Designed for Agent-First Builders
Fedora Hummingbird brings the same approach to the host OS as it does to containers to level up security.
-
Linux kernel Developers Considering a Kill Switch
With the rise of Linux vulnerabilities, the kernel developers are now considering adding a component that could help temporarily mitigate against them… in the form of a kill switch.
-
Fedora 44 Now Gaming Ready
The latest version of Fedora has been released with gaming support.
-
Manjaro 26.1 Preview Unveils New Features
The latest Manjaro 26.1 preview has been released with new desktop versions, a new kernel, and more.
-
Microsoft Issues Warning About Linux Vulnerability
The company behind Windows has released information about a flaw that affects millions of Linux systems.
-
Is AI Coming to Your Ubuntu Desktop?
According to the VP of Engineering at Canonical, AI could soon be added to the Ubuntu desktop distribution.
-
Framework Laptop 13 Pro Competes with the Best
Framework has released what might be considered the MacBook of Linux devices.