Tools & Commands · Linux and Windows Commands
systemctl
Services · Intermediate
Controls services on Linux systems that use systemd. It can show whether a service is running, and privileged users can start or stop one.
The status view is the safe first question: is this service running, and did it fail? Starting and stopping are changes and belong in a maintenance window.
Example: systemctl status ssh shows whether the secure-shell service is active and prints recent log lines.
Command
Platform: Linux with systemd
systemctl status ssh
active (running) means the service is up. The recent log lines often explain a failure. This status check does not change the service.
Common misconception
- It applies to systemd hosts. Other Unix systems use different service commands.