How to execute multiple command in ExecStart

Question

I wanted to use systemd to archive some logs periodically. However, it does not work as I wanted it to. According to my test, the second part of in string command failed and I really have no idea what going wrong. Would appreciate if anyone could give me some pointer. Thanks.

Inside Unit File:

ExecStart=/bin/tar -zcvf "/var/log/test/$(/bin/date)_syslog_archive.tar.gz" "/tmp/log/"

Getting error:

Main process exited, code=exited, status=2/INVALIDARGUMENT

Use ExecStart to start a shell script; put your logic in there. There's no shell otherwise, so you can't use shell syntax. — Charles Duffy
– Charles Duffy, Commented Jun 18, 2022 at 1:08
From the tag: systemd questions should be for programming questions using systemd or its libraries. Questions about configuring the daemon (including writing unit files) are better directed to Unix & Linux: unix.stackexchange.com. — Rob
– Rob, Commented Jun 18, 2022 at 9:30

Erwin · Accepted Answer · 2022-06-18 03:00:48Z

1

A separate script is a possible solution, as Charles wrote, or you can run the command with bash -c or sh -c, like this:

/bin/bash -c '/bin/tar -zcvf "/var/log/test/$(/bin/date)_syslog_archive.tar.gz" "/tmp/log/"'

As an aside, you probably want a + parameter of the date command, like date +%s or date +%Y%m%d so that you get something that is suitable for a filename, making it something like this:

/bin/bash -c '/bin/tar -zcvf "/var/log/test/$(/bin/date +%s)_syslog_archive.tar.gz" "/tmp/log/"'

edited Jun 18, 2022 at 3:00

answered Jun 18, 2022 at 2:55

Erwin

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2 Comments

gtfonow Over a year ago

That is essentially just executing a shell script file with all the logics or warping the chained command. Looks like ExecStart is NOT capable of doing multiple in line command execution.

Erwin Over a year ago

Agreed on the "executing a shell script", with the advantage of not having to potentially manage an additional file/script, if you're creating a package or orchestrating the rollout somewhere.

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