This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to list or show all services either running or stopped on Ubuntu 16.04 | 18.04 LTS.
If you’re a student or new user looking for a Linux system to start learning on, the easiest place to start is Ubuntu Linux OS…. It’s a great Linux operating system for beginners.
Ubuntu is an open source Linux operating systems that runs on desktops, laptops, server and other devices…
During your introduction to Ubuntu, you will find that Linux isn’t so different than Windows and other operating systems in so many ways, especially when it comes to using the system to get work done.…
Both Ubuntu and Windows systems allow you to be productive, easy to use, reliable and enable you to install and run thousands of programs from gaming to productivity suite software for individuals and businesses.
However, when you’re learning to use and understand Ubuntu Linux, you should also learn how to use the command line to terminal. Most Linux users should be able to do some basic command line tasks. This tutorial is going to show you how….
When you’re ready to learn how list services on Ubuntu, follow the guide below:
About systemctl command:
On Linux systems, including Ubuntu the systemctl command utility that can be used to control and manage systemd services. On Ubuntu 16.04, the service command can be use to accomplish the same. Using both systemctl and service command, you can list all services either running, stopped or disabled.
Syntax:
The syntax is the rule and format of how the systemctl command can be used. These syntax options can be reordered, but a straight format must be followed.,.
Below is an example syntax of how to use the systemctl command.
systemctl [OPTIONS.] {COMMAND} .
Options:
The command line options are switches or flags that determined how the commands are executed or controlled. they modify the behavior of the commands. they are separated by spaces and followed after the commands.
Below are some options of the systemctl command:
| COMMAND. | Replace COMMAND.. with the name of the command service names. |
| -t –type=TYPE, –state=STATE | Use the -t or –type or –state=STATE to list units of a particular type of service state: Active, Inactive |
| -a –all | Use the -a or –all to show all properties/all units currently in memory, including dead/empty ones. To list all units installed on the system, use the ‘list-unit-files’ command instead. |
| -r –recursive | Use the -r or –recursive to show unit list of host and local containers |
| –help | Display a help message and exit. |
Examples:
Below are some examples of how to run and use the systemctl on Ubuntu Linux.
Simply run the systemctl command to invoke it.
Starting and Stopping Services
To start or stop services using systemctl command, run the commands below:
sudo systemctl start application.service
To stop:
sudo systemctl stop application.service
You can also reference the application name without the ending .service
Example:
sudo systemctl start application
Restarting and Reloading
If you rather restart or reload you can run the commands below;
sudo systemctl restart application.service
Or reload:
sudo systemctl reload application.service
Reloading a service only reload configuration changes to a running service and won’t entirely restart the service. To fully restart a running service, you use the restart option.
Enabling and Disabling Services
If you want to disable or enable a service, you use the commands below: Enabling a service will allow that server to automatically start up everytime the server starts up. If you disable a service, the service will not run at all unless you reenable it.
sudo systemctl enable application.service
or disable:
sudo systemctl disable application.service
Check service status
To check the status of a service, you use the status option.
sudo systemctl status application.service
Listing all services:
To list all services running or stopped on the server, you run the commands below:
systemctl list-units --all --type=service --no-pager
That should list all service and output similar screen as below:
UNIT LOAD ACTIVE SUB DESCRIPTION accounts-daemon.service loaded active running Accounts Service acpid.service loaded active running ACPI event daemon alsa-restore.service loaded active exited Save/Restore Sound Card State alsa-state.service loaded inactive dead Manage Sound Card State (restore and store) anacron.service loaded inactive dead Run anacron jobs apparmor.service loaded active exited AppArmor initialization apport-autoreport.service loaded inactive dead Process error reports when automatic reporting is enabled apport.service loaded active exited LSB: automatic crash report generation apt-daily-upgrade.service loaded inactive dead Daily apt upgrade and clean activities apt-daily.service loaded inactive dead Daily apt download activities ● auditd.service not-found inactive dead auditd.service avahi-daemon.service loaded active running Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack bolt.service loaded active running Thunderbolt system service colord.service loaded active running Manage, Install and Generate Color Profiles ● connman.service not-found inactive dead connman.service
To list all inactive services, you run the commands below:
systemctl list-units --all --state=inactive
For only active services:
systemctl list-units --all --state=inactive
When you run systemctl with the –help option, you’ll see the help text below:
systemctl [OPTIONS.] {COMMAND} .
Query or send control commands to the systemd manager.
-h --help Show this help
--version Show package version
--system Connect to system manager
--user Connect to user service manager
-H --host=[USER@]HOST
Operate on remote host
-M --machine=CONTAINER
Operate on local container
-t --type=TYPE List units of a particular type
--state=STATE List units with particular LOAD or SUB or ACTIVE state
-p --property=NAME Show only properties by this name
-a --all Show all properties/all units currently in memory,
including dead/empty ones. To list all units installed on
.
If you’re running Ubuntu 16.04, you run the commands below:
service --status-all
That’s it!
Congratulations! You’ve learned how to use the systemctl to manage and list services on Ubuntu.
You may also like the commands below:
Besides, an important aspect of services is the port they use. To determine the port a daemon process is listening on, you can use the netstat or ss tools as shown.