28 September 2017

How To Setup Autorun a Python Script Using Systemd

Written by Rahul K. | September 28, 2017

Linux Tutorials python script, service, systemctl, systemd

Question – How to autorun a Python script using systemd. How to create own systemd service using Python script. How to configure Python script to start as systemd. How to manage Python service with systemctl?

Use this tutorial to run your Python script as system service under systemd. You can easily start, stop or restart your script using systemctl command. This will also enable to autorun Python script on system startup.

Step 1 – Dummy Python Application

First of all, I have used a dummy Python script which listens on a specified port. Edit a Python file as following

$ sudo vi /usr/bin/dummy_service.py

and add following content for dummy, You can use your own Python script as per requirements.

#!/usr/bin/python3

import socket
s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
s.bind(("localhost", 9988))
s.listen(1)

while True:
    conn, addr = s.accept()
    data = conn.recv(1024)
    conn.close()
    my_function_that_handles_data(data)

#!/usr/bin/python3

import socket

s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)

s.bind(("localhost", 9988))

s.listen(1)

while True:

conn, addr = s.accept()

data = conn.recv(1024)

conn.close()

my_function_that_handles_data(data)

Step 2 – Create Service File

Now, create a service file for the systemd as following. The file must have .service extension under /lib/systemd/system/ directory

$ sudo vi /lib/systemd/system/dummy.service

and add the following content in it. Change Python script filename ad location. Also update the Description.

[Unit]
Description=Dummy Service
After=multi-user.target
[email protected]

[Service]
Type=simple
ExecStart=/usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/dummy_service.py
StandardInput=tty-force

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Step 3 – Enable Newly Added Service

Your system service has been added to your service. Let’s reload the systemctl daemon to read new file. You need to reload this deamon each time after making any changes in in .service file.

$ sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Now enable the service to start on system boot, also start the service using the following commands.

$ sudo systemctl enable dummy.service
$ sudo systemctl start  dummy.service

Step 4 – Start/Start/Status new Service

Finally check the status of your service as following command.

$ sudo systemctl status dummy.service

Use below commands to stop, start and restart your service manually.

$ sudo systemctl stop dummy.service          #To stop running service 
$ sudo systemctl start dummy.service         #To start running service 
$ sudo systemctl restart dummy.service       #To restart running service

Step 1 – Dummy Python Application

Step 2 – Create Service File

Step 3 – Enable Newly Added Service

Step 4 – Start/Start/Status new Service

Rahul K.

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