# systemd.kill

## NAME



           systemd.kill - Process killing procedure configuration
    


## SYNOPSIS



           _service_.service, _socket_.socket, _mount_.mount, _swap_.swap,
           _scope_.scope
    


## DESCRIPTION



           Unit configuration files for services, sockets, mount points, swap
           devices and scopes share a subset of configuration options which
           define the killing procedure of processes belonging to the unit.
    
           This man page lists the configuration options shared by these five
           unit types. See systemd.unit(5) for the common options shared by
           all unit configuration files, and systemd.service(5),
           systemd.socket(5), systemd.swap(5), systemd.mount(5) and
           systemd.scope(5) for more information on the configuration file
           options specific to each unit type.
    
           The kill procedure configuration options are configured in the
           [Service], [Socket], [Mount] or [Swap] section, depending on the
           unit type.
    


## OPTIONS



           _KillMode=_
               Specifies how processes of this unit shall be killed. One of
               **control-group** , **mixed** , **process** , **none**.
    
               If set to **control-group** , all remaining processes in the
               control group of this unit will be killed on unit stop (for
               services: after the stop command is executed, as configured
               with _ExecStop=_). If set to **mixed** , the **SIGTERM** signal (see
               below) is sent to the main process while the subsequent
               **SIGKILL** signal (see below) is sent to all remaining processes
               of the unit's control group. If set to **process** , only the main
               process itself is killed (not recommended!). If set to **none** ,
               no process is killed (strongly recommended against!). In this
               case, only the stop command will be executed on unit stop, but
               no process will be killed otherwise. Processes remaining alive
               after stop are left in their control group and the control
               group continues to exist after stop unless empty.
    
               Note that it is not recommended to set _KillMode=_ to **process** or
               even **none** , as this allows processes to escape the service
               manager's lifecycle and resource management, and to remain
               running even while their service is considered stopped and is
               assumed to not consume any resources.
    
               Processes will first be terminated via **SIGTERM**(unless the
               signal to send is changed via _KillSignal=_ or
               _RestartKillSignal=_). Optionally, this is immediately followed
               by a **SIGHUP**(if enabled with _SendSIGHUP=_). If processes still
               remain after:
    
               •   the main process of a unit has exited (applies to
                   _KillMode=_ : **mixed**)
    
               •   the delay configured via the _TimeoutStopSec=_ has passed
                   (applies to _KillMode=_ : **control-group** , **mixed** , **process**)
    
               the termination request is repeated with the **SIGKILL** signal or
               the signal specified via _FinalKillSignal=_ (unless this is
               disabled via the _SendSIGKILL=_ option). See kill(2) for more
               information.
    
               Defaults to **control-group**.
    
               Added in version 187.
    
           _KillSignal=_
               Specifies which signal to use when stopping a service. This
               controls the signal that is sent as first step of shutting
               down a unit (see above), and is usually followed by **SIGKILL**
               (see above and below). For a list of valid signals, see
               signal(7). Defaults to **SIGTERM**.
    
               Note that, right after sending the signal specified in this
               setting, systemd will always send **SIGCONT** , to ensure that even
               suspended tasks can be terminated cleanly.
    
               Added in version 187.
    
           _RestartKillSignal=_
               Specifies which signal to use when restarting a service. The
               same as _KillSignal=_ described above, with the exception that
               this setting is used in a restart job. Not set by default, and
               the value of _KillSignal=_ is used.
    
               Added in version 244.
    
           _SendSIGHUP=_
               Specifies whether to send **SIGHUP** to remaining processes
               immediately after sending the signal configured with
               _KillSignal=_. This is useful to indicate to shells and
               shell-like programs that their connection has been severed.
               Takes a boolean value. Defaults to "no".
    
               Added in version 207.
    
           _SendSIGKILL=_
               Specifies whether to send **SIGKILL**(or the signal specified by
               _FinalKillSignal=_) to remaining processes after a timeout, if
               the normal shutdown procedure left processes of the service
               around. When disabled, a _KillMode=_ of **control-group** or **mixed**
               service will not restart if processes from prior services
               exist within the control group. Takes a boolean value.
               Defaults to "yes".
    
               Added in version 187.
    
           _FinalKillSignal=_
               Specifies which signal to send to remaining processes after a
               timeout if _SendSIGKILL=_ is enabled. The signal configured here
               should be one that is not typically caught and processed by
               services (**SIGTERM** is not suitable). Developers can find it
               useful to use this to generate a coredump to troubleshoot why
               a service did not terminate upon receiving the initial **SIGTERM**
               signal. This can be achieved by configuring _LimitCORE=_ and
               setting _FinalKillSignal=_ to either **SIGQUIT** or **SIGABRT**.
               Defaults to **SIGKILL**.
    
               Added in version 240.
    
           _WatchdogSignal=_
               Specifies which signal to use to terminate the service when
               the watchdog timeout expires (enabled through _WatchdogSec=_).
               Defaults to **SIGABRT**.
    
               Added in version 240.
    


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