service Command Reference: Usage & CI Examples

service runs init scripts to start, stop, and query services.

service is a portable wrapper that runs SysV init scripts (and redirects to systemd where present). It is handy in containers and images that ship init scripts but do not boot systemd.

Common flags and usage

service <name> start|stop|restart: control a service
service <name> status: show current status
service --status-all: list known services and state
Runs /etc/init.d/<name> under the hood
On systemd hosts it forwards to systemctl

Example

shell

service postgresql start
service postgresql status

In CI

In a Debian/Ubuntu container without systemd, service postgresql start runs the init script directly and works where systemctl fails. It does not wait for readiness, so still follow it with a probe like pg_isready.

Key takeaways

service runs SysV init scripts and works without systemd.
It is the container-friendly way to start a bundled service.
It does not wait for readiness, so pair it with a probe.

Related guides

systemctl Command Reference: Flags, Usage & CI ExamplesReference for systemctl: start, status, is-active, enable, the no-systemd-in-containers caveat, and a CI exam… journalctl Command Reference: Flags, Usage & CI ExamplesReference for journalctl: -u, -f, --since, -n, -p, -b, and a CI example that dumps a failing service unit log… pg_isready Command Reference: Flags, Exit Codes & CI ExamplesReference for pg_isready: -h, -p, -t, -q, the 0/1/2/3 exit codes, and a CI wait loop that blocks until a Post…