How to view the list of running services

In Linux, a service is a background process that performs a specific function or task on a computer or server without direct interaction with the user. Linux services run in the background, are often started when the system boots, and usually do not require a user login.

Why watch running services

Viewing the list of running services in Linux is useful for several reasons:

1. Debugging and diagnostics: Viewing the list of running services helps to determine which services are running on your system and which are currently running. If you find problems with your system, you can check if there are any errors or conflicts among the running services.
2. Resource management: Running services can consume resources such as CPU time, memory, or network resources. Viewing the list of services will help you determine which services consume more resources and possibly lead to inefficient use of the system.
3. Checking for automatic loading: Viewing the list of running services allows you to make sure that only the services you need are automatically loaded at system startup. You can check which services are configured for startup and change this list if necessary.

How to view running services in Linux

To view the list of running services (units) in systemctl, run the systemctl list-units --type=service command, or just systemctl without any parameters. This will show a list of all services in the system, their status (started or stopped), as well as other information about them.

You can also restrict output to running services only by adding the --state=running: systemctl list-units --type=service --state=running parameter. This will only show the running services on the system. If you want more detailed information about each service, you can use the --full` parameter: `systemctl list-units --type=service --full. This will show detailed information about each service, including its description, file paths/

You can also use filtering commands in the output, for example, to find a specific service by its name: systemctl list-units --type=service | grep <service_name>. This will allow you to find the service with the specified name in the list. Please note that to view the list of running services, you need superuser (root) rights or the use of a command with the sudo prefix.