Systemd - Task Scheduling

Schedule tasks on Linux using systemd timers and services.

Create Timer and Service

Create a Service

• Create a file /etc/systemd/system/myscript.service

[Unit]
Description="Put a description of the service"

[Service]
Type=simple
ExecStart=/path/to/your/script.sh
User=user_who_runs_the_program
Group=group_who_runs_the_program

• Type

  • simple

  • exec

  • forking

  • oneshot

  • dbus

  • notify

  • idle

Create a Timer

• Create a file /etc/systemd/system/myscript.timer

[Unit]
Description="Description of the timer"

[Timer]
OnCalendar=daily
Persistent=true  # Run missed executions if system was off

[Install]
WantedBy=timers.target

• Value for OnCalendar is on the systemd.time syntax: *-*-* *:*:*

  • Special keywords: hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly

• AccuracySec=1min Allow a 1-minute delay to group wakeups.

• RandomizedDelaySec=30min Add random delay (up to 30 min).

• Persistent=true Run missed jobs if the system was off.

• WakeSystem=true Wake up the system to run the job (requires suspend/hibernate support).

Enable & Start the Timer

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable myscript.timer
sudo systemctl start myscript.timer

More information

• man systemd.timer

• man systemd.time