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Stop Using systemctl Blindly: Master Advanced Service Management Techniques!

howtouselinux
6 min readJan 31, 2025

If you’re a Linux user, you’re likely familiar with systemctl.

It’s your go-to command for managing services like starting, stopping, or checking the status of services.

But let’s be honest—if that’s all you’re using it for, you're barely scratching the surface.

Think of systemctl like a smartphone—you can make calls, but you’re missing out on all the features that make it powerful.

In this article, we’re going to supercharge your service management skills by unlocking advanced techniques and tools that go way beyond the basics.

Ready to level up? Let’s dive in!

Why systemctl Alone is Not enough

First off, let’s clear the air. systemctl is a robust tool, no doubt.

It’s perfect for simple tasks, but if you're only using it to start and stop services, you're missing out on the full potential of systemd.

Here’s what you're not seeing:

  1. Limited Visibility: systemctl status gives a snapshot, but what if you need real-time updates or historical logs?
  2. Basic Logs: journalctl can help, but it’s overwhelming—how do you filter logs by time, service, or…

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howtouselinux
howtouselinux

Written by howtouselinux

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