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Linux systemd Units and Timers Cheat Sheet

Linux systemd Units and Timers•Permalink

Work with timer units, socket activation, path units, transient services, and user services.

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## Timers
List timers
↗#
systemctl list-timers

# Show active timers and next run times.

List all timers
↗#
systemctl list-timers --all

# Show all timers including inactive ones.

Show timer status
↗#
systemctl status logrotate.timer

# Inspect one timer unit.

Enable and start timer
↗#
sudo systemctl enable --now myjob.timer

# Activate a timer and persist it across boots.

Start timer now
↗#
sudo systemctl start myjob.timer

# Start a timer without enabling it.

Run the timer's service manually
↗#
sudo systemctl start myjob.service

# Start the paired service unit directly.

## Other Unit Types
List socket units
↗#
systemctl list-units --type=socket

# Show socket-activated units.

List path units
↗#
systemctl list-units --type=path

# Show path-based activation units.

List mount units
↗#
systemctl list-units --type=mount

# Show mount units known to systemd.

List targets
↗#
systemctl list-units --type=target

# Show active target units.

## User Units and Transient Units
List user units
↗#
systemctl --user list-units

# Show units under the user service manager.

Enable user service
↗#
systemctl --user enable --now syncthing.service

# Enable and start a per-user service.

Enable linger for user
↗#
sudo loginctl enable-linger jon

# Keep user services running without an active login session.

Run a transient service
↗#
systemd-run --unit=adhoc-backup --description="Ad hoc backup" /usr/local/bin/backup.sh

# Create and run a one-off transient unit.

Run command in transient scope
↗#
systemd-run --scope rsync -av ./src/ /mnt/backup/

# Place an existing process subtree under a systemd scope.

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