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Autoinstall script for systemd timer and associated service

The following script will install a systemd .timer file and the associated .service file into /etc/systemd/system/ and enable the timer (i.e. start on boot) and start the timer immediately.

install_systemd_timer.sh
#!/bin/bash
# This script installs and enables/starts a systemd timer
# It also installs the service file that is run by the given timer
export NAME=MyService

cat >/etc/systemd/system/${NAME}.service <<EOF
# ADD SYSTEMD SERVICE FILE CONTENT HERE
EOF

cat >/etc/systemd/system/${NAME}.timer <<EOF
# ADD SYSTEMD TIMER FILE CONTENT HERE
EOF

# Enable and start service
systemctl enable --now ${NAME}.timer

In order to modify the script for your systemd service, replace MyService by the desired name of your service in

install_systemd_timer_set_name.sh
export NAME=MyService

insert the content of your .service file at

install_systemd_timer_service_placeholder.sh
# ADD SYSTEMD SERVICE FILE CONTENT HERE

and insert the content of your .timer file at

install_systemd_timer_timer_placeholder.sh
# ADD SYSTEMD TIMER FILE CONTENT HERE

Full example

The following complete example installs a systemd service named MyService that runs /usr/bin/python3 run.py every two hours:

install_systemd_timer_example.sh
#!/bin/bash
# This script installs and enables/starts a systemd timer
# It also installs the service file that is run by the given timer
export NAME=MyService

cat >/etc/systemd/system/${NAME}.service <<EOF
[Unit]
Description=${NAME}

[Service]
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=/usr/bin/python3 run.py
WorkingDirectory=/opt/myproject
EOF

cat >/etc/systemd/system/${NAME}.timer <<EOF
[Unit]
Description=${NAME} timer

[Timer]
OnCalendar=*-*-* 00,02,04,06,08,10,12,14,16,18,20,22:00:00
Persistent=true

[Install]
WantedBy=timers.target
EOF

# Enable and start service
systemctl enable --now ${NAME}.timer
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