How to troubleshoot issues with systemctl basics?

When troubleshooting issues with systemctl, there are several basic commands and techniques you can use to diagnose and fix problems with systemd services on a Linux system. Here are some key methods:

1. Check Service Status

Use the following command to check the status of a specific service:

systemctl status

2. View Logs

Logs can provide valuable information about what is going wrong. Use the command:

journalctl -u

3. Restart the Service

If the service is not working as expected, try restarting it:

sudo systemctl restart

4. Enable or Disable a Service

To ensure that a service starts on boot, enable it:

sudo systemctl enable

To prevent it from starting on boot, disable it:

sudo systemctl disable

5. Reload Configuration

After making changes, reload the systemd configuration:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

6. Check for Dependency Issues

Check if the service has any unmet dependencies that could be causing failures.

7. Investigate Failed Units

Check if other units are failing that might affect the service:

systemctl --failed

Linux systemctl troubleshoot services systemd command line systemd logs enable service disable service dependency issues