OS Manuals

/usr/bin/busctl

The systemd System and Service Manager

From systemd 262.2-r1 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running busctl --help (exit 0). permalink

> busctl [OPTION…] COMMAND …

Introspect the D-Bus IPC bus.

Commands:
  [list]                                                             List bus names
  tree [SERVICE…]                                                    Show object tree of service
  introspect SERVICE OBJECT [INTERFACE]                              Introspect an object
  monitor [SERVICE…]                                                 Show bus traffic
  capture [SERVICE…]                                                 Capture bus traffic as pcap
  status [SERVICE]                                                   Show bus service, process, or
                                                                     bus owner credentials
  call SERVICE OBJECT INTERFACE METHOD [SIGNATURE [ARGUMENT…]]       Call a method
  emit OBJECT INTERFACE SIGNAL [SIGNATURE [ARGUMENT…]]               Emit a signal
  get-property SERVICE OBJECT INTERFACE PROPERTY…                    Get property value
  wait [SERVICE] OBJECT INTERFACE SIGNAL                             Wait for a signal
  set-property SERVICE OBJECT INTERFACE PROPERTY SIGNATURE ARGUMENT… Set property value
  help                                                               Show this help

Options:
  -h --help                             Show this help
     --version                          Show package version
     --no-pager                         Do not start a pager
     --no-legend                        Do not show headers and footers
  -l --full                             Do not ellipsize output
     --system                           Connect to system bus
     --user                             Connect to user bus
  -H --host=[USER@]HOST                 Operate on remote host
  -M --machine=CONTAINER                Operate on local container
  -C --capsule=NAME                     Operate on capsule
     --address=ADDRESS                  Connect to bus specified by address
     --show-machine                     Show machine ID column in list
     --unique                           Only show unique names
     --acquired                         Only show acquired names
     --activatable                      Only show activatable names
     --match=MATCH                      Only show matching messages
     --size=SIZE                        Maximum length of captured packet
     --list                             Don't show tree, but simple object path list
  -q --quiet                            Don't show method call reply
     --verbose                          Show result values in long format
     --json=FORMAT                      Generate JSON output (pretty, short, or off)
  -j                                    Equivalent to --json=pretty (on TTY) or --json=short
                                        (otherwise)
     --xml-interface                    Dump the XML description in introspect command
     --expect-reply=BOOL                Expect a method call reply
     --auto-start=BOOL                  Auto-start destination service
     --allow-interactive-authorization= Allow interactive authorization for operation
     --timeout=SECS                     Maximum time to wait for method call completion
     --augment-creds=BOOL               Extend credential data with data read from /proc/$PID
     --watch-bind=BOOL                  Wait for bus AF_UNIX socket to be bound in the file system
     --destination=SERVICE              Destination service of a signal
  -N --limit-messages=NUMBER            Stop monitoring after receiving the specified number of
                                        messages

See the busctl(1) man page for details.
Options (30)
OptionDescriptionSource
-h --helpShow this helphelp
--versionShow package versionhelp
--no-pagerDo not start a pagerhelp
--no-legendDo not show headers and footershelp
-l --fullDo not ellipsize outputhelp
--systemConnect to system bushelp
--userConnect to user bushelp
-H --host=[USER@]HOSTOperate on remote hosthelp
-M --machine=CONTAINEROperate on local containerhelp
-C --capsule=NAMEOperate on capsulehelp
--address ADDRESSConnect to bus specified by addresshelp
--show-machineShow machine ID column in listhelp
--uniqueOnly show unique nameshelp
--acquiredOnly show acquired nameshelp
--activatableOnly show activatable nameshelp
--match MATCHOnly show matching messageshelp
--size SIZEMaximum length of captured packethelp
--listDon't show tree, but simple object path listhelp
-q --quietDon't show method call replyhelp
--verboseShow result values in long formathelp
--json FORMATGenerate JSON output (pretty, short, or off)help
-jEquivalent to --json=pretty (on TTY) or --json=short (otherwise)help
--xml-interfaceDump the XML description in introspect commandhelp
--expect-reply BOOLExpect a method call replyhelp
--auto-start BOOLAuto-start destination servicehelp
--timeout SECSMaximum time to wait for method call completionhelp
--augment-creds BOOLExtend credential data with data read from /proc/$PIDhelp
--watch-bind BOOLWait for bus AF_UNIX socket to be bound in the file systemhelp
--destination SERVICEDestination service of a signalhelp
-N --limit-messages=NUMBERStop monitoring after receiving the specified number of messageshelp

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.