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Asked: 2024-09-27T05:39:28+05:30 In:

How can I check the status of all services on my Ubuntu system?

I’ve been having a bit of trouble figuring out how to check the status of all services on my Ubuntu system. I recently switched to Ubuntu, and while it’s been a pretty smooth experience for the most part, I can’t seem to wrap my head around managing services.

Every time I want to make sure everything is running smoothly, I feel like I’m in over my head. I’ve tried looking things up online, but I get lost in a sea of terminal commands that make my head spin. When I check the services, I just want to quickly see which ones are active, inactive, or maybe even failed. Is there a straightforward way to do that, or do I have to dive deep into command-line magic?

I did come across a few commands, like `systemctl` or something similar, but then I saw this other command related to `service`, and now I’m confused about which one to use and when. I really just want a simple way to keep track of everything without having to remember a bunch of different commands or syntax that Apple people seem to find oddly satisfying.

Has anyone figured out a user-friendly approach for this? Maybe a one-liner command that gives me a clear overview? Or even an explanation of how the `systemctl` command works in the context of checking service status? Is there a difference between checking service status via the terminal versus some graphical tool?

Also, I’m curious if there are common services I should be keeping an eye on, like networking or firewalls, or if it varies from use case to use case. If I do need to get into the terminal, I hope there’s a way to copy and paste commands easily since I’m not the fastest typist in the world.

If anyone has gone through this and could share their insights or tips, I’d really appreciate it! I just don’t want to screw up my system by accidentally stopping or messing with something important. Thanks!

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    2 Answers






    1. Checking Service Status on Ubuntu


      Check Ubuntu Service Status

      So, you’re new to Ubuntu and figuring out how to check the status of services can be a bit daunting at first, huh? But no worries, it’s not that bad once you get the hang of it!

      Using systemctl

      The command you’re thinking about, systemctl, is your best bet for managing services on Ubuntu. You can use it to check the status of all services with just one command:

      systemctl list-units --type=service --all

      This command will give you a list of all services and their statuses—like whether they are running (active), stopped (inactive), or failed. It’s pretty straightforward!

      About service vs. systemctl

      You mentioned the service command, which is actually older and shows service status too, but systemctl is more modern and it’s what you should use for the most part now. For example, you could check a specific service using:

      systemctl status name-of-your-service

      Just replace name-of-your-service with the actual service name, like nginx or ssh.

      Graphical Tools

      If you prefer clicking around instead of typing commands, you might want to check out Ubuntu System Monitor or install Gnome System Monitor. These tools give you a visual overview of what’s running, which might be more your style.

      Common Services to Watch

      As for services to keep an eye on, generally speaking, the ones related to:

      • Networking (like NetworkManager)
      • Firewall (like ufw if you enabled it)
      • Web server (like apache2 or nginx)

      Copying and Pasting Commands

      And don’t worry about typing everything out! You can easily copy and paste commands from your web browser straight into the terminal. Just highlight the command, right-click, select Copy, then right-click in the terminal and select Paste. This should save you some time!

      Hopefully, this helps simplify things for you and makes managing your services a bit less nerve-wracking. With practice, you’ll be a pro in no time!


    2. To check the status of all services on your Ubuntu system, you can use the `systemctl` command, which is part of the systemd system and service manager. The simplest way to get an overview of all active and inactive services is to use the following command in the terminal: systemctl list-units --type=service --all. This command lists all services along with their current status, allowing you to easily identify if they are active, inactive, or failed without needing to memorize complicated syntax. If you want to filter for only active services, you can use systemctl list-units --type=service --state=active. This should provide a user-friendly overview of the services running on your system, without the need for complex command strings.

      Regarding the service command, it is a simpler interface to manage system services, but it is generally a wrapper around the more powerful systemctl command. The use of systemctl is recommended as it gives you more control and options for service management, including starting, stopping, and checking the status of services. For common services to monitor, keep an eye on essential ones like networking, firewalld, or ssh if you’re accessing your system remotely. In terms of copying and pasting commands, simply use your mouse to highlight the command you want in the terminal, right-click to copy, and then right-click again in the terminal to paste it, making it easier for those who aren’t fast typists. Remember to proceed with caution and ensure you only manage services you understand, as stopping critical services could impact your system’s performance.

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