Search code examples
linuxsystemdsystemctl

Resolve systemd alias (service name)

Systemd supports aliases. For example "httpd.service"

ls -l /etc/systemd/system/httpd.service
  /etc/systemd/system/httpd.service -> /usr/lib/systemd/system/apache2.service

Content of this file:

[Unit]
Description=The Apache Webserver
...
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
Alias=httpd.service apache.service

I would like to resolve the alias in a script.

Example:

If the input is "httpd.service", then the output should be "apache2.service"

I can use shell or python for this script.

How to do this the systemd-way?

Reading the symlink might work, but I guess there is a more official way to resolve the alias.

Solution

  • You should ask for the Id property of the aliased service

    > systemctl show -p Id --value httpd.service
apache2.service

    You can also query the Names property

    > systemctl show -p Names --value httpd.service
httpd.service apache2.service