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A [[WikiPedia:Daemon_(computing)|daemon]], or system service, is a background process usually started during the initial boot sequence by [[Init]]. Daemons typically run independent of users, waiting for system events to occur and providing services in response. Some common daemons include: A [[WikiPedia:Daemon_(computing)|daemon]], or system service, is a background process usually started during the boot sequence. Daemons typically run independent of users, waiting for events to occur and providing services in response. Some common daemons include:
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== Daemons in Debian ==
Debian makes use of [[WikiPedia:Init#SysV-style|System V]]-style init scripts for daemon management. This allows daemons to operate conditionally, based on the current RunLevel of the computer. For example, a daemon can be configured to run only when the computer is in single-user mode (runlevel 1) or, more commonly, when in multi-user mode (runlevels 2-5). For more information, see [[Init]] and [[RunLevel]].


== Daemon management with systemd ==
Since [[DebianJessie]], [[systemd]] is used to manage daemons.

=== Common daemon control ===
Daemons are controlled with the systemctl command:
{{{
# systemctl <COMMAND> <NAME>
}}}
where NAME is the name of the service or daemon. The most common commands for controlling daemons are:
 * '''start''': starts a service immediately
 * '''stop''': stops a service immediately
 * '''restart''': restarts a service
 * '''reload''': asks a service to reload its configuration
 * '''status''': shows the current status of a service

For instance, the sshd daemon is restarted by
{{{
# systemctl restart ssh
}}}

=== Enable/disable daemons ===
The systemctl command is also used to enable or disable the start of a daemon during system boot:
{{{
# systemctl <COMMAND> <NAME>
}}}
where NAME is the name of the service or daemon. The most important commands to enable/disable daemons are:
 * '''enable''': enable service to be started during boot sequence
 * '''disable''': do not start service during boot sequence
 * '''is-enabled''': check if a service is already enabled

Note that the enable/disable commands only affect the system at the next boot. To change the system immediately, use the ''--now'' option. For instance:
{{{
# systemctl --now disable ssh
}}}
will prevent starting sshd at the next boot and stop the daemon immediately.


== Daemon management with sysvinit ==
Before [[DebianJessie]], [[WikiPedia:Init#SysV-style|System V]]-style init scripts were used for daemon management by default. This allows daemons to operate conditionally, based on the current RunLevel of the computer. For example, a daemon can be configured to run only when the computer is in single-user mode (runlevel 1) or, more commonly, when in multi-user mode (runlevels 2-5). For more information, see [[Init]] and [[RunLevel]].
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== Daemon management ==
=== A brief introduction to Debian init scripts ===
=== A brief introduction to Debian sysvinit init scripts ===
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''Note: Many daemons provide essential services to a working Debian installation; others can pose unnecessary security risks when enabled carelessly. Caution should be used whenever managing daemons. When in doubt, refer to the documentation of the daemon itself.'' ''Note: When in doubt, refer to the documentation of the daemon itself.''
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==== Enabling daemons ====
To (re)enable a daemon (using the default settings) run the following command, where ''<daemon>'' corresponds to the name of the init script as listed in {{{/etc/init.d/}}}:

To (re)enable/disable a daemon (using the default settings & runlevels) run the following command, where ''<daemon>'' corresponds to the name of the init script as listed in {{{/etc/init.d/}}}:
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# insserv <daemon> # update-rc.d <daemon> enable|disable
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==== Disabling daemons ====
To disable a daemon at its default runlevels, execute the following command, where ''<daemon>'' corresponds to the name of the init script as listed in {{{/etc/init.d/}}}:
{{{
# insserv -r <daemon>
}}}
For more detail on what these commands do, refer to the [[DebianMan:8/update-rc.d|update-rc.d manpage]].
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For more detail on what these commands do, refer to the [[DebianMan:8/insserv|insserv manpage]].

These commands assume the daemon's script in /etc/init.d has the appropriate LSB headers. For more information on Debian's new way of enabling/disabling scripts see [[https://wiki.debian.org/LSBInitScripts/DependencyBasedBoot]] and [[https://wiki.debian.org/LSBInitScripts]].
For more information on Debian's way of managing and writing init scripts see [[LSBInitScripts/DependencyBasedBoot]] and [[LSBInitScripts]].

Translation(s): English - Français - Italiano


A daemon, or system service, is a background process usually started during the boot sequence. Daemons typically run independent of users, waiting for events to occur and providing services in response. Some common daemons include:

  • sshd - listens for and manages incoming ?SSH connections

  • acpid - listens for power management events and executes scripts based on them

  • apache - provides a local HTTP web server

Daemon management with systemd

Since DebianJessie, systemd is used to manage daemons.

Common daemon control

Daemons are controlled with the systemctl command:

# systemctl <COMMAND> <NAME>

where NAME is the name of the service or daemon. The most common commands for controlling daemons are:

  • start: starts a service immediately

  • stop: stops a service immediately

  • restart: restarts a service

  • reload: asks a service to reload its configuration

  • status: shows the current status of a service

For instance, the sshd daemon is restarted by

# systemctl restart ssh

Enable/disable daemons

The systemctl command is also used to enable or disable the start of a daemon during system boot:

# systemctl <COMMAND> <NAME>

where NAME is the name of the service or daemon. The most important commands to enable/disable daemons are:

  • enable: enable service to be started during boot sequence

  • disable: do not start service during boot sequence

  • is-enabled: check if a service is already enabled

Note that the enable/disable commands only affect the system at the next boot. To change the system immediately, use the --now option. For instance:

# systemctl --now disable ssh

will prevent starting sshd at the next boot and stop the daemon immediately.

Daemon management with sysvinit

Before DebianJessie, System V-style init scripts were used for daemon management by default. This allows daemons to operate conditionally, based on the current RunLevel of the computer. For example, a daemon can be configured to run only when the computer is in single-user mode (runlevel 1) or, more commonly, when in multi-user mode (runlevels 2-5). For more information, see Init and RunLevel.

The Debian Policy Manual (sections 9.3 and 9.4) is an excellent resource for better understanding daemon init scripts in Debian.

A brief introduction to Debian sysvinit init scripts

Daemon init scripts are stored in /etc/init.d/ along with the system's other boot-time init scripts.

When a daemon is enabled or disabled, symbolic links targeting the respective init script are created or removed under the various /etc/rc*.d/ directories, corresponding to the RunLevel(s) in which the daemon is to run.

Daemon init scripts are treated as configuration files by dpkg. This means they remain on the system after a package is uninstalled, unless the 'purge' option is used.

Common daemon controls

Most daemon scripts accept a common set of options, which can be passed directly to the script at the command line, for example:

# service ssh restart
Restarting OpenBSD Secure Shell server: sshd.

A brief description of the most common options follows:

  • start: start a service

  • stop: stop a service

  • restart: restart a service without reloading its job config file

  • reload: send a SIGHUP signal to running process

  • status: return the status of a service

Starting and stopping daemons in this manner is temporary and will not survive a reboot. Refer to the next section to enable/disable daemons on a permanent basis.

Enable/disable daemons

Note: When in doubt, refer to the documentation of the daemon itself.

To (re)enable/disable a daemon (using the default settings & runlevels) run the following command, where <daemon> corresponds to the name of the init script as listed in /etc/init.d/:

# update-rc.d <daemon> enable|disable

For more detail on what these commands do, refer to the update-rc.d manpage.

For more information on Debian's way of managing and writing init scripts see LSBInitScripts/DependencyBasedBoot and LSBInitScripts.

GUI utilities for daemon management

Several GUI tools exist to make daemon management even simpler; some popular examples available for Debian include: rcconf and sysv-rc-conf.

See also


CategoryBootProcess