service Command
Beginner Systemd & Services man(1)Run a System V init script (legacy service management)
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📅 Updated: Mar 15, 2026
SYNTAX
service SCRIPT COMMAND
What Does service Do?
service is a legacy command for managing System V init scripts. It starts, stops, restarts, and checks the status of services. On modern systemd systems, service acts as a compatibility wrapper for systemctl.
service is simpler than systemctl with a consistent syntax: service NAME ACTION. It still works on all Linux distributions and is found in many existing scripts and documentation.
For new work, use systemctl directly. But service remains useful for quick operations and backward compatibility.
service is simpler than systemctl with a consistent syntax: service NAME ACTION. It still works on all Linux distributions and is found in many existing scripts and documentation.
For new work, use systemctl directly. But service remains useful for quick operations and backward compatibility.
Options & Flags
| Option | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| start | Start a service | sudo service nginx start |
| stop | Stop a service | sudo service nginx stop |
| restart | Restart a service | sudo service nginx restart |
| status | Check service status | service nginx status |
| --status-all | List all services | service --status-all |
Practical Examples
#1 Start service
Starts the nginx service.
$ sudo service nginx start#2 Check status
Shows if the service is running.
$ service nginx status#3 Restart
Restarts PostgreSQL.
$ sudo service postgresql restart#4 List all services
Shows status of all services. [+] running, [-] stopped.
$ service --status-all
Output:
[ + ] nginx\n [ + ] postgresql\n [ - ] apache2
#5 Reload config
Reloads configuration without full restart.
$ sudo service nginx reloadTips & Best Practices
Wrapper for systemctl: On systemd systems, service nginx start actually calls systemctl start nginx. Both work.
Simpler syntax: service name action vs systemctl action name. Some people find service syntax easier to remember.
Use systemctl for new work: systemctl provides more features: enable/disable, mask, journal access. Use service for compatibility only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use service or systemctl?
Use systemctl for full control. service works as a compatibility wrapper and is fine for basic start/stop/restart.
How do I list all services?
service --status-all shows SysV services. systemctl list-units --type=service shows systemd services.
Does service work on modern Linux?
Yes — on systemd systems, service commands are translated to systemctl automatically.
Related Commands
More Systemd & Services Commands
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