systemd.special

Index

## Name

systemd.special — Special systemd units

## Synopsis

`basic.target`, `bluetooth.target`, `ctrl-alt-del.target`, `cryptsetup.target`, `dbus.service`, `dbus.socket`, `default.target`, `display-manager.service`, `emergency.target`, `exit.target`, `final.target`, `getty.target`, `graphical.target`, `hibernate.target`, `http-daemon.target`, `halt.target`, `kbrequest.target`, `kexec.target`, `local-fs.target`, `local-fs-pre.target`, `mail-transfer-agent.target`, `multi-user.target`, `network.target`, `nss-lookup.target`, `nss-user-lookup.target`, `poweroff.target`, `printer.target`, `reboot.target`, `remote-fs.target`, `remote-fs-pre.target`, `rescue.target`, `rpcbind.target`, `runlevel2.target`, `runlevel3.target`, `runlevel4.target`, `runlevel5.target`, `shutdown.target`, `sigpwr.target`, `sleep.target`, `smartcard.target`, `sockets.target`, `sound.target`, `suspend.target`, `swap.target`, `sysinit.target`, `syslog.socket`, `syslog.target`, `system-update.target`, `time-sync.target`, `umount.target`

## Description

A few units are treated specially by systemd. They have special internal semantics and cannot be renamed.

## Special System Units

`basic.target`

  A special target unit covering early boot-up.

  systemd automatically adds dependencies of the types Requires and After for this target unit to all SysV service units configured for runlevel 1 to 5.

  Usually this should pull-in all sockets, mount points, swap devices and other basic initialization necessary for the general purpose daemons. Most normal daemons should have dependencies of type After and Requires on this unit.

`bluetooth.target`

  This target is started automatically as soon as a bluetooth controller is plugged in or becomes available at boot.

`ctrl-alt-del.target`

  systemd starts this target whenever Control+Alt+Del is pressed on the console. Usually this should be aliased (symlinked) to `reboot.target`.

`cryptsetup.target`

  A target that pulls in setup services for all encrypted block devices.

`dbus.service`

  A special unit for the D-Bus system bus. As soon as this service is fully started up systemd will connect to it and register its service.

`dbus.socket`

  A special unit for the D-Bus system bus socket. All units with `Type=dbus` automatically gain a dependency on this unit.

`default.target`

  The default unit systemd starts at bootup. Usually this should be aliased (symlinked) to `multi-user.target` or `graphical.target`.

  The default unit systemd starts at bootup can be overridden with the `systemd.unit=` kernel command line option.

`display-manager.service`

  The display manager service. Usually this should be aliased (symlinked) to `gdm.service` or a similar display manager service.

  systemd automatically adds dependencies of type After for this target unit to all SysV init script service units with a LSB header referring to the `$x-display-manager` facility, for compatibility with Debian.

`emergency.target`

  A special target unit that starts an emergency shell on the main console. This unit is supposed to be used with the kernel command line option `systemd.unit=` and has otherwise little use.

`final.target`

  A special target unit that is used during the shutdown logic and may be used to pull in late services after all normal services are already terminated and all mounts unmounted.

`getty.target`

  A special target unit that pulls in all local TTY `getty` instances.

`graphical.target`

  A special target unit for setting up a graphical login screen. This pulls in `multi-user.target`.

  Units that are needed for graphical login shall add Wants dependencies for their unit to this unit (or `multi-user.target`) during installation.

`hibernate.target`

  A special target unit for hibernating the system. This pulls in `sleep.target`.

`http-daemon.target`

  A target for pulling in an HTTP server if there is any.

  systemd automatically adds dependencies of type After for this target unit to all SysV init script service units with a LSB header referring to the `$httpd` facility.

`halt.target`

  A special target unit for shutting down and halting the system.

  Applications wanting to halt the system should start this unit.

`kbrequest.target`

  systemd starts this target whenever Alt+ArrowUp is pressed on the console. This is a good candidate to be aliased (symlinked) to `rescue.target`.

`kexec.target`

  A special target unit for shutting down and rebooting the system via kexec.

  Applications wanting to reboot the system with kexec should start this unit.

`local-fs.target`

  systemd automatically adds dependencies of type After to all mount units that refer to local mount points for this target unit. In addition, systemd adds dependencies of type Wants to this target unit for those mounts listed in `/etc/fstab` that have the `auto` and `comment=systemd.mount` mount options set.

  systemd automatically adds dependencies of type After for this target unit to all SysV init script service units with an LSB header referring to the `$local_fs` facility.

`local-fs-pre.target`

  This target unit is automatically ordered before all local mount points marked with `auto` (see above). It can be used to execute certain units before all local mounts.

`mail-transfer-agent.target`

  The mail transfer agent (MTA) service. Usually this should pull-in all units necessary for sending/receiving mails on the local host.

  systemd automatically adds dependencies of type After for this target unit to all SysV init script service units with an LSB header referring to the `$mail-transfer-agent` or `$mail-transport-agent` facilities, for compatibility with Debian.

`multi-user.target`

  A special target unit for setting up a multi-user system (non-graphical). This is pulled in by `graphical.target`.

  Units that are needed for a multi-user system shall add Wants dependencies to this unit for their unit during installation.

`network.target`

  systemd automatically adds dependencies of type After for this target unit to all SysV init script service units with an LSB header referring to the `$network` facility.

`nss-lookup.target`

  A target that should be used as synchronization point for all host/network name service lookups. Note that this is independent of user/group name lookups for which `nss-user-lookup.target` should be used. systemd automatically adds dependencies of type After for this target unit to all SysV init script service units with an LSB header referring to the `$named` facility.

`nss-user-lookup.target`

  A target that should be used as synchronization point for all user/group name service lookups. Note that this is independent of host/network name lookups for which `nss-lookup.target` should be used.

`poweroff.target`

  A special target unit for shutting down and powering off the system.

  Applications wanting to power off the system should start this unit.

  `runlevel0.target` is an alias for this target unit, for compatibility with SysV.

`printer.target`

  This target is started automatically as soon as a printer is plugged in or becomes available at boot.

`reboot.target`

  A special target unit for shutting down and rebooting the system.

  Applications wanting to reboot the system should start this unit.

  `runlevel6.target` is an alias for this target unit, for compatibility with SysV.

`remote-fs.target`

  Similar to `local-fs.target`, but for remote mount points.

  systemd automatically adds dependencies of type After for this target unit to all SysV init script service units with an LSB header referring to the `$remote_fs` facility.

`remote-fs-pre.target`

  This target unit is automatically ordered before all remote mount points marked with `auto` (see above). It can be used to execute certain units before all remote mounts.

`rescue.target`

  A special target unit for setting up the base system and a rescue shell.

  `runlevel1.target` is an alias for this target unit, for compatibility with SysV.

`rpcbind.target`

  systemd automatically adds dependencies of type After for this target unit to all SysV init script service units with an LSB header referring to the `$rpcbind` facility.

`runlevel2.target`

  This is a target that is called whenever the SysV compatibility code asks for runlevel 2. It is a good idea to make this an alias for (i.e. symlink to) `multi-user.target`.

`runlevel3.target`

  This is a target that is called whenever the SysV compatibility code asks for runlevel 3. It is a good idea to make this an alias for (i.e. symlink to) `multi-user.target` or `graphical.target`.

`runlevel4.target`

  This is a target that is called whenever the SysV compatibility code asks for runlevel 4. It is a good idea to make this an alias for (i.e. symlink to) `multi-user.target` or `graphical.target`.

`runlevel5.target`

  This is a target that is called whenever the SysV compatibility code asks for runlevel 5. It is a good idea to make this an alias for (i.e. symlink to) `multi-user.target` or `graphical.target`.

`shutdown.target`

  A special target unit that terminates the services on system shutdown.

  Services that shall be terminated on system shutdown shall add Conflicts dependencies to this unit for their service unit, which is implicitly done when `DefaultDependencies=yes` is set (the default).

  systemd automatically adds dependencies of type Conflicts to this target unit for all SysV init script service units that shall be terminated in SysV runlevels 0 or 6.

`sigpwr.target`

  A special target that is started when systemd receives the SIGPWR process signal, which is normally sent by the kernel or UPS daemons when power fails.

`sleep.target`

  A special target unit that is pulled in by `suspend.target` and `hibernate.target` and may be used to hook units into the sleep state logic.

`smartcard.target`

  This target is started automatically as soon as a smartcard controller is plugged in or becomes available at boot.

`sockets.target`

  A special target unit that sets up all service sockets.

  Services that can be socket-activated shall add Wants dependencies to this unit for their socket unit during installation.

`sound.target`

  This target is started automatically as soon as a sound card is plugged in or becomes available at boot.

`suspend.target`

  A special target unit for suspending the system. This pulls in `sleep.target`.

`swap.target`

  Similar to `local-fs.target`, but for swap partitions and swap files.

`sysinit.target`

  A special target unit covering early boot-up scripts.

  systemd automatically adds dependencies of the types Wants and After for all SysV service units configured for runlevels that are not 0 to 6 to this target unit. This covers the special boot-up runlevels some distributions have, such as S or b.

`syslog.socket`

  The socket unit where syslog implementations should listen on. All userspace log messages will be made available on this socket. For more information about syslog integration, please consult the Syslog Interface document.

`syslog.target`

  systemd automatically adds dependencies of type After for this target unit to all SysV init script service units with an LSB header referring to the `$syslog` facility.

`system-update.target`

  A special target unit that is used for off-line system updates. systemd-system-update-generator(8) will redirect the boot process to this target if `/system-update` exists. For more information see the System Updates Specification.

`time-sync.target`

  systemd automatically adds dependencies of type After for this target unit to all SysV init script service units with an LSB header referring to the `$time` facility.

`umount.target`

  A special target unit that umounts all mount and automount points on system shutdown.

  Mounts that shall be unmounted on system shutdown shall add Conflicts dependencies to this unit for their mount unit, which is implicitly done when `DefaultDependencies=yes` is set (the default).

## Special User Units

When systemd runs as a user instance, the following special units are available, which have similar definitions as their system counterparts: `default.target`, `shutdown.target`, `sockets.target`

In addition the following special unit is understood only when systemd runs as service instance:

`exit.target`

  A special service unit for shutting down the user service manager.

  Applications wanting to terminate the user service manager should start this unit. If systemd receives SIGTERM or SIGINT when running as user service daemon it will start this unit.

  Normally, this pulls in `shutdown.target` which in turn should be conflicted by all units that want to be shut down on user service manager exit.

## See Also

systemd(1), systemd.unit(5), systemd.service(5), systemd.socket(5), systemd.target(5), bootup(7)