Fixing Slow Linux Boot

fix slow linux boot

Fixing Slow Linux Boot with systemd-analyze

If your Linux system boots slowly, use systemd-analyze to find the cause and disable unneeded services.

Steps

  1. Analyze boot times:

    systemd-analyze blame

    This shows all services and how long each took to start.

  2. Disable unnecessary services:

    sudo systemctl disable --now <service-name>

    Use disable to stop a service from starting at boot and --now to stop it immediately. If a service must never start, consider sudo systemctl mask <service-name>.

    Warning: Do not disable essential services (e.g., networking, sshd on remote servers, or hardware-critical services).

  3. Check dependency chains (optional):

    systemd-analyze critical-chain

    This displays services that block or delay the boot due to dependencies.

Notes

  • Re-run systemd-analyze blame after changes to verify improvements.
  • When unsure about a service, search its purpose or test by stopping it temporarily before disabling.

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