bashANYsystemctlstartservice
bash
sudo systemctl start nginxStarts the service right away but does not enable it on boot.
Linux systemd Services Cheat Sheet
Core systemctl commands, unit inspection, service lifecycle management, dependencies, and operational workflows.
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Service Lifecycle
Start, stop, restart, reload, and inspect services.
bashANYsystemctlstopservice
bash
sudo systemctl stop nginxStops the active unit.
bashANYsystemctlrestartservice
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sudo systemctl restart nginxUseful after config or code changes.
bashANYsystemctlreloadservice
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sudo systemctl reload nginxOnly works for services that implement reload.
bashANYsystemctlreloadrestart
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sudo systemctl reload-or-restart nginxSafe operational convenience command.
bashANYsystemctlstatusservice
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systemctl status nginxDisplays high-level service health and recent logs.
bashANYsystemctlis-activescript
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systemctl is-active nginxUseful in scripts and health checks.
bashANYsystemctlfailedscript
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systemctl is-failed nginxGood for automation and troubleshooting.
Enable, Disable, Mask
Control startup behavior and boot-time activation.
bashANYsystemctlenableboot
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sudo systemctl enable nginxCreates the appropriate symlinks so the service starts at boot.
bashANYsystemctldisableboot
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sudo systemctl disable nginxPrevents the service from starting automatically.
bashANYsystemctlenablestart
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sudo systemctl enable --now nginxCommon operational shortcut.
bashANYsystemctldisablestop
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sudo systemctl disable --now nginxUseful during maintenance or decommissioning.
bashANYsystemctlmasksafety
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sudo systemctl mask nginxStrongest disable. Even manual starts are blocked.
bashANYsystemctlunmaskservice
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sudo systemctl unmask nginxRequired before the service can start again.
bashANYsystemctlenabledboot
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systemctl is-enabled nginxReturns enabled, disabled, masked, or other states.
List and Inspect Units
Discover loaded units, failed units, and service metadata.
bashANYsystemctllist-unitsdiscover
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systemctl list-unitsGeneral entry point for discovering what's running.
bashANYsystemctlserviceslist
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systemctl list-units --type=serviceUseful for service inventory and troubleshooting.
bashANYsystemctlunit-filesservice
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systemctl list-unit-files --type=serviceDisplays enablement states for installed service definitions.
bashANYsystemctlfailedtroubleshooting
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systemctl --failedOne of the fastest ways to spot broken units.
bashANYsystemctlshowproperties
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systemctl show nginxMachine-friendly property view for scripts or deep inspection.
bashANYsystemctlshowActiveState
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systemctl show nginx -p ActiveState -p SubStateHelpful in shell scripts and monitoring checks.
bashANYsystemctlcatdrop-ins
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systemctl cat nginxShows vendor unit plus override snippets.
bashANYsystemctlstatusdocs
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systemctl status sshdThe status output often includes docs references and last log messages.
Dependencies and Targets
Understand ordering, wants, requires, and targets.
bashANYsystemctldependenciesgraph
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systemctl list-dependencies nginxUseful to understand related services and startup order.
bashANYsystemctlreversedependencies
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systemctl list-dependencies --reverse network-online.targetGood for impact analysis.
bashANYsystemctltargetboot
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systemctl get-defaultOften graphical.target or multi-user.target.
bashANYsystemctltargetboot
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sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.targetPersists the default startup target.
bashANYsystemctlisolatetarget
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sudo systemctl isolate rescue.targetCan stop unrelated units to reach the target state.
Daemon Operations
Reload manager state and reset failures.
bashANYsystemctldaemon-reloadunit-files
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sudo systemctl daemon-reloadRun this after editing or creating unit files.
bashANYsystemctldaemon-reexecadvanced
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sudo systemctl daemon-reexecAdvanced maintenance action; not needed for normal unit edits.
bashANYsystemctlreset-failedmaintenance
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sudo systemctl reset-failedUseful after fixing a broken service.
bashANYsystemctldaemon-reloadrestart
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sudo systemctl daemon-reload && sudo systemctl restart myappTypical operator sequence after editing a custom unit.
Shutdown and Reboot
Reboot, halt, poweroff, rescue, and emergency mode.
bashANYsystemctlrebootsystem
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sudo systemctl rebootPreferred systemd-based reboot command.
bashANYsystemctlpoweroffsystem
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sudo systemctl poweroffStops services cleanly before poweroff.
bashANYsystemctlhaltsystem
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sudo systemctl haltLess common than poweroff or reboot.
bashANYsystemctlrescuetarget
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sudo systemctl rescueUseful for maintenance with minimal services.
bashANYsystemctlemergencyrecovery
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sudo systemctl emergencyMost minimal recovery environment.
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