Service or Systemctl: Which One to Use

Previously, service command was traditionally used for managing system services. For instance, to restart the Apache web server, you could run:

However, with the introduction of systemd, which has become the standard in many modern Linux distributions, it is now recommended to use systemctl for managing services.

What Is the Difference Between service and systemctl?

Both commands are used to manage system services, but in modern systems, service is essentially a wrapper for systemctl.

The service command was widely used in systems running SysVinit and Upstart, such as older versions of Debian, CentOS 6, and Ubuntu 14.04. It directly interacted with scripts in /etc/init.d/.

On the other hand, systemctl works with systemd, a modern system and service manager that provides more flexible control over processes and their dependencies.

Proof That service Calls systemctl

If you run the following command:

You will see output like this:

This confirms that service actually calls systemctl to execute operations.

You can also inspect the contents of the service command with:

In most modern Linux distributions, it is simply a bash script that internally calls the relevant systemctl commands.

How to Properly Manage Services?

According to modern best practices, it is recommended to use systemctl since it interacts directly with systemd and offers more capabilities.

However, the service command is still available, and in most cases, the final result will be the same.

Alternative Methods for Managing Services

Depending on the initialization system, different commands can be used:

How to Check Which Initialization System Is Used?

To determine which initialization system your system uses, run:

This will display the name of the process running with PID 1, helping to identify whether the system is using systemd, SysVinit, or another service manager.

Conclusion

If your system uses systemd, it is best to use systemctl, as it provides more powerful functionality and is the native tool. However, the service command remains a convenient alternative, especially on systems where systemd is not available.

FAQ

Can I still use the service command instead of systemctl?
Yes, in many modern Linux distributions, the service command is available as a wrapper around systemctl. However, it is recommended to use systemctl directly for better compatibility with systemd

How can I check which init system my Linux system is using?
You can run the following command to determine the init system:

If the output is systemd, your system is using systemd. Otherwise, it may be running an older init system like SysVinit or Upstart.

What happens if I use service on a system with systemd?
On systemd-based systems, service typically acts as a compatibility layer and translates commands into systemctl calls, ensuring that services are managed correctly.

Are there alternatives to systemctl for managing services?
Yes, depending on the init system in use, you may encounter alternatives such as </etc/init.d/,rc-service, sv, s6-rc, and supervisorctl.