Unless you’ve been using Linux distributions that intentionally replace systemd for another initialization system, you’ve worked with this tool.

But have you really? If you haven’t spent time diving into how to properly use systemd on your Linux operating systems, you might be missing out on some very helpful features.

This TechRepublic Premium guide, created by Jack Wallen, looks at how to manage systemd on your Linux systems.

Featured text from the download:

HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT SYSTEMD

Fortunately, systemd has a very handy tool that can help you troubleshoot when something goes wrong. That tool is journalctl, which provides a centralized process and logging tool for all things systemd.

If you issue the command journalctl with no arguments, you will see every entry in the log (listed from oldest to newest), so you can comb through it to find out what’s gone wrong. If you want to view those logs in reverse (from newest to oldest), use the reverse option as in journalctl -r. However, that’s not the most efficient use of your time. So instead, you could issue a command like:

journalctl -f

The above command will give you a real-time update on systemd log entries.

Boost your Linux knowledge with our in-depth nine-page PDF guide. Previously priced at $49, this is now available for download at just $9. Alternatively, enjoy complimentary access with a Premium annual subscription. Click here to find out more.

TIME SAVED: Crafting this content required 18 hours of dedicated writing, editing and research.