[solved] systemctl package as an alternative to systemd?

[Member stevesr0]

I have found several threads on this forum that say that “systemctl” is linked to systemd. For example, see Xecure’s post #45237.

However, the systemctl package in the Debian unstable repository is described as a “daemonless” systemctl command to manage services without systemd. It’s source package is named docker-systemctl-replacement.

It is a script whose only dependency is “any” python3.

To me this suggests that it is an alternative to the systemctl that is part of systemd. And possibly not associated with the concerns that systemd carries for users who wish to avoid it.

Why I care?

I am running antiX Sid without systemd, using elogind and libelogind0 as substitutes. I am enjoying Pipewire and would like to use it with seatd instead. I have seen various schemes to run Pipewire on other nonsystemd distros.

I found one site (https://github.com/pipewire-debian) that suggests that systemctl can be used to enable Pipewire without systemd. In it is the following:

“Mx Linux or init system
(Anyone using systemd ignore this subsection).

For WirePlumber (Recommended)

systemctl –user –now enable wireplumber.service”

(end of quotation.)

So I am wondering if anyone has experience with this (nonsystemd?) systemctl package.

(Whether it will allow me to run Pipewire without elogind and libelogind0 is another story. I plan to query the github person about that.)

Thanks in advance for comments.

stevesr0

• This topic was modified 9 months, 1 week ago by stevesr0.
• This topic was modified 9 months, 1 week ago by stevesr0.
• This topic was modified 9 months, 1 week ago by christophe. Reason: marked solved

[Anonymous]

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I no longer run antiX with sid.

Here under antiX-21_x64-base I have simulated some commands that prove that this systemctl package is readily installable and is not a dependency on systemd.

inxi -Sxxx
System:
  Host: antix21 Kernel: 5.10.104-antix.1-amd64-smp arch: x86_64 bits: 64
    compiler: gcc v: 10.2.1 Desktop: Fluxbox v: 1.3.7 vt: 7 dm: slimski
    v: 1.5.0 Distro: antiX-21_x64-base Grup Yorum 31 October 2021
    base: Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)

apt policy systemctl
systemctl:
  Installiert:           (keine)
  Installationskandidat: 1.4.4181-1.1
  Versionstabelle:
     1.4.4181-1.1 500
        500 http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian bullseye/main amd64 Packages
        500 http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian bullseye/main i386 Packages

apt show systemctl
Package: systemctl
Version: 1.4.4181-1.1
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Source: docker-systemctl-replacement
Maintainer: Dmitry Smirnov <onlyjob@debian.org>
Installed-Size: 279 kB
Depends: python3:any
Recommends: procps
Suggests: tini | dumb-init
Conflicts: systemd
Homepage: https://github.com/gdraheim/docker-systemctl-replacement
Download-Size: 79,8 kB
APT-Sources: http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian bullseye/main amd64 Packages
Description: daemonless "systemctl" command to manage services without systemd
 "systemctl" is a replacement command to control system daemons without
 systemd. "systemctl" is useful in application containers where systemd is
 not available to start/stop services.
 .
 This script can also be run as init of an application container (i.e. the
 main "CMD" on PID 1) where it will automatically bring up all enabled
 services in the "multi-user.target" and where it will reap all zombies
 from background processes in the container. When stopping such a container
 it will also bring down all configured services correctly before exit.

apt rdepends --installed systemctl
systemctl
Reverse Depends:

aptitude why-not systemctl
Not currently installed
The candidate version 1.4.4181-1.1 has priority optional
No dependencies require to remove systemctl

sudo apt install systemctl -s
Paketlisten werden gelesen… Fertig
Abhängigkeitsbaum wird aufgebaut… Fertig
Statusinformationen werden eingelesen… Fertig
Vorgeschlagene Pakete:
  tini | dumb-init
Die folgenden NEUEN Pakete werden installiert:
  systemctl
0 aktualisiert, 1 neu installiert, 0 zu entfernen und 0 nicht aktualisiert.
Inst systemctl (1.4.4181-1.1 Debian:11.4/stable [all])
Conf systemctl (1.4.4181-1.1 Debian:11.4/stable [all])

So, just do it. 😉

[Member stevesr0]

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Hi male,

Thanks for checking that it (apparently) is not obviously linked to systemd in antiX-21 stable!

Then the questions in my mind are:

1. Is this a useful tool to use in antiX?
2. Do its functions overlap with other antiX tools?
3. Does it offer anything that other antiX tools don’t?

ALL COMMENTS APPRECIATED.

Beyond that, my focus was in the possible use of this to enable Pipewire’s use in antiX without elogind or libelogind0. But that question really deserves its own thread – or raising in the thread originated in May 2021 by Xecure [https://www.antixforum.com/forums/topic/pipewire-to-manage-audio-in-antix-21/], which I will do when I have composed a list of the approaches I have seen for running Pipewire without systemd.

stevesr0

[Member stevesr0]

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Hi moderators,

Since it is confirmed that this systemctl from docker-systemctl-replacement ISN’T dependent upon systemd, could this please be marked “solved” and the title changed to “systemctl-replacement NOT dependent upon systemd”?

Thanks.

stevesr0

[Member olsztyn]

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stevesr0 wrote:

Then the questions in my mind are:
1. Is this a useful tool to use in antiX?
2. Do its functions overlap with other antiX tools?
3. Does it offer anything that other antiX tools don’t?

My test environment: antiX 21 Runit, *elogind*-free.
From my experience, systemctl installs fine with no additional dependencies. I have done just rudimentary testing, so not much value.

1 – It appears to run fine and lists services along with their status. I will need to do more examination to assess.
2 – Yes. Systemcrl overlaps with the gui Service Manager tool developed by Xecure. Cross section appears to be the most if not all.
3 – So far I do not know systemctl tool enough to tell.

I would just stress that systemctl appears to not require systemd and moreover it does not seem to require *elogind* stuff either.
Thanks for this discovery…

Live antiX Boot Options (Previously posted by Xecure):
https://antixlinuxfan.miraheze.org/wiki/Table_of_antiX_Boot_Parameters

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