systemd service for auto-start in Raspberry Pi - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a systemd service file used for in Raspberry Pi?

A systemd service file tells the Raspberry Pi how to start, stop, and manage a program automatically when the system boots or shuts down.

beginner

Which directory usually holds systemd service files for user services?

User systemd service files are usually stored in ~/.config/systemd/user/.

intermediate

What is the purpose of the [Service] section in a systemd service file?

The [Service] section defines how the program runs, including the command to start it (ExecStart) and how it behaves.

beginner

How do you enable a systemd service to start automatically on boot?

You run sudo systemctl enable service_name.service to make the service start automatically when the Raspberry Pi boots.

beginner

What command shows the status and logs of a systemd service?

Use sudo systemctl status service_name.service to see if the service is running and check recent logs.

Where do you place a systemd service file to make it available system-wide?

A /home/pi/

B /usr/local/bin/

C /etc/systemd/system/

D /var/log/

System-wide systemd service files go in /etc/systemd/system/.

Which command starts a systemd service immediately without rebooting?

A sudo systemctl stop service_name.service

B sudo systemctl enable service_name.service

C sudo systemctl status service_name.service

D sudo systemctl start service_name.service

start runs the service now; enable sets it to run on boot.

What does the ExecStart line in a systemd service file specify?

A The command to run the program

B The user who owns the service

C The service description

D The service dependencies

ExecStart tells systemd what command to run to start the service.

How do you reload systemd to recognize a new or changed service file?

A sudo systemctl restart

B sudo systemctl daemon-reload

C sudo systemctl reload

D sudo systemctl enable

After changing service files, daemon-reload tells systemd to re-read them.

Which section in a systemd service file describes when the service should start?

A [Unit]

B [Service]

C [Install]

D [Timer]

The [Unit] section defines metadata and dependencies, including when to start.

Explain how to create and enable a systemd service to auto-start a Python script on Raspberry Pi boot.

Think about the steps from writing the file to making it run automatically.

Describe the role of the [Install] section in a systemd service file.

It connects the service to system startup targets.