Services, also known as daemons, are fundamental components of a Linux system that run silently in the background “without direct user interaction”. They perform crucial tasks that keep the system operational and provide additional functionalities.
Generally, services can be categorized into two types:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
System Services | Essential internal services required for startup and proper OS function |
User-Installed | Added by users for specific features like server applications |
Info
Daemons typically have names ending with
d(e.g.,sshd,systemd).
# Start the service
systemctl start ssh
# Show runtime status
systemctl status ssh
# Enable service run after startup (automatically)
systemctl enable ssh
# List all services
systemctl list-units --type=service
# View the logs of service
journalctl -u ssh.service --no-pager