Last Updated: November 21, 2025
Unit Structure
| Section | Purpose |
|---|---|
[Unit]
|
Describe service + dependencies |
[Service]
|
Define command, restart, user |
[Install]
|
Set `WantedBy` for enabling |
Commands
systemctl start app.service
Bring service online
systemctl enable app.service
Start on boot
systemctl status app.service
View state + journal
journalctl -u app.service -f
Stream logs
Troubleshooting
Confirm `ExecStart`, check permissions, and look for `Main PID` failures in the journal.
💡 Pro Tip:
Run `systemctl daemon-reload` after editing unit files and keep logs in `journalctl -u`.