Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ?

From	"Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid>
Newsgroups	comp.os.linux.misc
Subject	Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ?
Date	2025-06-12 12:27 +0200
Message-ID	<3mmqhlxcct.ln2@Telcontar.valinor> (permalink)
References	<kvSdnUB3_JBBGNf1nZ2dnZfqnPudnZ2d@giganews.com> <seeqhlxg92.ln2@Telcontar.valinor> <102e8cm$2k1ci$2@dont-email.me>

Show all headers | View raw

On 2025-06-12 11:58, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 12/06/2025 09:07, Carlos E.R. wrote:
> 
>> EnvironmentFile=-/etc/sysconfig/spamd
> 
> You have a directory called /-etc ???
> 

No. The dash has a meaning in systemd parlance. I confess to not knowing 
what, so I asked chatgpt after looking perfunctorily at 
"https://www.freedesktop.org/software/systemd/man/latest/systemd.service.html". 
This is the answer:

In a **systemd** service file, the line:

```
EnvironmentFile=-/etc/sysconfig/spamd
```

includes a **dash (`-`)** before the path. This dash is 
**significant**—it tells `systemd` to **ignore** the file **if it does 
not exist**.

### Meaning of the dash:

* `EnvironmentFile=/etc/sysconfig/spamd` → systemd **fails** to start 
the service if the file is missing.
* `EnvironmentFile=-/etc/sysconfig/spamd` → systemd **ignores the 
missing file** and continues starting the service without error.

### Use case:

This is helpful when the environment file is **optional** or only 
present in certain configurations or environments.

### Summary:

The dash (`-`) before the path means:

 > *"Use this environment file if it exists; otherwise, proceed without 
it."*

Let me know if you want a breakdown of how `EnvironmentFile` works with 
variables.

-- 
Cheers, Carlos.

Back to comp.os.linux.misc | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar

Thread

Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-06-12 03:46 -0400
  Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2025-06-12 09:06 +0100
    Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-06-12 09:14 +0000
      Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-06-12 15:04 -0400
        Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-06-12 23:43 +0200
          Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-06-12 21:57 +0000
            Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-06-13 00:58 +0200
              Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-06-13 01:05 +0000
              Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-06-12 23:59 -0400
  Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-06-12 10:07 +0200
    Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-06-12 10:58 +0100
      Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-06-12 12:27 +0200
        Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-06-12 21:41 +0000
          Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-06-13 00:59 +0200
            Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-06-13 01:06 +0000
              Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-06-12 23:41 -0400
              Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? candycanearter07 <candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> - 2025-06-13 21:00 +0000
                Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-06-13 23:27 +0000
            Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2025-06-13 09:39 +0100
              Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-06-13 13:13 +0200
                Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-06-13 23:38 +0000
                Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-06-14 01:16 -0400
                Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-06-14 14:54 +0200
                Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-06-14 23:28 +0000
                Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-06-16 12:24 +0200
                Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-06-17 01:08 -0400
          Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2025-06-13 07:29 +0200
            Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-06-13 05:36 +0000
              Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2025-06-13 08:48 +0200
                Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-06-13 06:53 +0000
                Re: Systemd ... Pass CL Params to Pgm ? Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2025-06-13 10:05 +0200

csiph-web