# Run as a service on Linux

#### 1. Create a Custom systemd Service

Create a Unit file to define a systemd service: \
File: `sudo vim /etc/systemd/system/myservice.service`

```toml
[Unit]
Description=Extension Name Service
After=network.target

[Service]
User=root
WorkingDirectory=/usr/local/bin
# when using config:
# ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/super-tables-linux
# when NOT using config:
# ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/super-tables-linux –-port 443 –-cert yourdomain.crt –-key yourdomain.key
Restart=always

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

```

This defines a simple service. The critical part is the `ExecStart` directive, which specifies the command that will be run to start the service.

#### 2. Give the service file the proper permissions

```bash
sudo chmod 644 /etc/systemd/system/myservice.service
```

**Start and Enable the Service**

1\. Once you have a unit file, you are ready to test the service:

```bash
sudo systemctl start myservice
```

2\. Check the status of the service:

```bash
sudo systemctl status myservice
```

If the service is running correctly, the output should resemble the following:

```bash
● myservice.service – Example systemd service.
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/myservice.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since Tue 2018-05-01 18:17:14 UTC; 4s ago
Main PID: 16266 (bash)
Tasks: 2 Memory: 748.0K CPU: 4ms CGroup: /system.slice/myservice.service
├─16266 /bin/bash /usr/bin/test_service.sh
└─16270 sleep 30
May 01 18:17:14 localhost systemd[1]: Started Example systemd service..
May 01 18:17:14 localhost cat[16269]: Example service started at 2018-05-01 18:17:14
May 01 18:17:14 localhost bash[16266]: Looping…
```

3\. The service can be stopped or restarted using standard \`systemd\` commands:

```bash
sudo systemctl stop myservice
sudo systemctl restart myservice
```

4\. Finally, use the enable command to ensure that the service starts whenever the system boots:

```bash
sudo systemctl enable myservice
```

5\. (*Optional*) Reboot your Server and check the status of the service:

```bash
sudo systemctl status myservice
```

You should see that the service logged its start time immediately after booting:

```bash
● myservice.service – Example systemd service.
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/myservice.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
Active: active (running) since Wed 2018-05-02 15:03:07 UTC; 48s ago
Main PID: 2973 (bash)
CGroup: /system.slice/myservice.service
├─2973 /bin/bash /usr/bin/test_service.sh
└─3371 sleep 30
May 02 15:03:07 localhost systemd[1]: Started Example systemd service..
May 02 15:03:07 localhost systemd[1]: Starting Example systemd service….
May 02 15:03:07 localhost bash[2973]: Looping…
May 02 15:03:37 localhost bash[2973]: Looping…
```