systemd-tty-ask-password-agent

Handle boot-time password requests

TLDR

List pending password requests

$ systemd-tty-ask-password-agent --list

Watch and process requests continuously

$ systemd-tty-ask-password-agent --watch

Query user for pending passwords

$ systemd-tty-ask-password-agent --query

Forward to wall message

$ systemd-tty-ask-password-agent --wall

SYNOPSIS

systemd-tty-ask-password-agent [OPTIONS]

systemd-tty-ask-password-agent handles password requests from systemd services. During boot, services like disk encryption may need passwords; this agent collects and forwards them.The agent monitors password request files and presents prompts to users on appropriate terminals.

PARAMETERS

--list

List pending password requests

--watch

Continuously process password requests

--query

Process pending requests by querying user on current TTY

--wall

Forward requests as wall messages

--console

Ask on console instead of current TTY

INSTALL

sudo apt install systemd

sudo dnf install systemd

sudo pacman -S systemd

sudo zypper install systemd

brew install systemd

nix profile install nixpkgs#systemd

CAVEATS

Used primarily during boot for disk encryption passwords. Multiple agents can run simultaneously. The --wall option broadcasts to all terminals.

HISTORY

systemd-tty-ask-password-agent provides the user-facing component of systemd's password query infrastructure, enabling early-boot password prompts without a full login environment.