systemd-run Command Examples

Run programs in transient scope units, service units, or path-, socket-, or timer-triggered service units. More information: https://www.freedesktop.org/software/systemd/man/systemd-run.html.

• Start a transient service:

sudo systemd-run {{command}} {{argument1 argument2 ...}}

• Start a transient service under the service manager of the current user (no privileges):

systemd-run --user {{command}} {{argument1 argument2 ...}}

• Start a transient service with a custom unit name and description:

sudo systemd-run --unit={{name}} --description={{string}} {{command}} {{argument1 argument2 ...}}

• Start a transient service that does not get cleaned up after it terminates with a custom environment variable:

sudo systemd-run --remain-after-exit --set-env={{name}}={{value}} {{command}} {{argument1 argument2 ...}}

• Start a transient timer that periodically runs its transient service (see man systemd.time for calendar event format):

sudo systemd-run --on-calendar={{calendar_event}} {{command}} {{argument1 argument2 ...}}

• Share the terminal with the program (allowing interactive input/output) and make sure the execution details remain after the program exits:

systemd-run --remain-after-exit --pty {{command}}

• Set properties (e.g. CPUQuota, MemoryMax) of the process and wait until it exits:

systemd-run --property MemoryMax={{memory_in_bytes}} --property CPUQuota={{percentage_of_CPU_time}}% --wait {{command}}

• Use the program in a shell pipeline:

{{command1}} | systemd-run --pipe {{command2}} | {{command3}}