systemctl-isolate
Switch to a specific target
TLDR
SYNOPSIS
systemctl isolate UNIT
DESCRIPTION
systemctl isolate starts the specified unit and its dependencies while stopping all other units not required by that unit. This is similar to changing runlevels in SysV init systems.Units with `IgnoreOnIsolate=yes` are not stopped during isolation. The `.target` suffix is assumed if no extension is provided.
COMMON TARGETS
graphical.target — Full GUI environment (replaces SysV runlevel 5).multi-user.target — Text-mode multi-user (runlevel 3).rescue.target — Single-user rescue mode (runlevel 1) with most filesystems mounted.emergency.target — Minimal emergency shell with only the root filesystem mounted read-only.reboot.target, poweroff.target, halt.target — Transitional targets that cleanly bring the system to the matching state.
CAVEATS
Only units that have AllowIsolate=yes can be isolated to. This is a disruptive operation that stops every running unit not required by the new target except those declaring IgnoreOnIsolate=yes. Requires root privileges. To make a target the default at boot, use systemctl set-default instead.
HISTORY
The isolate subcommand provides runlevel-like behavior in systemd, allowing transitions between different system states while maintaining compatibility with the target-based boot model.
SEE ALSO
systemctl(1), systemctl-default(1), systemctl-rescue(1)
