How to debug systemd-networkd?
activate debug logging using service-log-level
You can leverage systemctl's service-log-level command:
# set current log level of systemd-networkd.service to "debug":
systemctl service-log-level systemd-networkd.service debug
# syntax:
# systemctl service-log-level SERVICE [LEVEL]
# LEVEL:
# a value in the range 0…7
# or one of the strings emerg, alert, crit, err, warning, notice, info, debug
# check current log level of systemd-networkd.service by not specifying a level:
systemctl service-log-level systemd-networkd.service
monitor/see systemd-networkd.service logs
journald's systemd-networkd.service-specific log entries can then be monitored with:
journalctl --unit=systemd-networkd.service --follow
or short
journalctl -u systemd-networkd -f
Example journald log entries with "systemd-networkd log on debug level" when executing networkctl renew eth0 on my system:
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: Got message type=method_call sender=:1.31 destination=org.freedesktop.network1 path=/org/freedesktop/network1 interface=org.freedesktop.network1.Manager member=RenewLink cookie=2 reply_cookie=0 signature=i error-name=n/a error-message=n/a
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: Sent message type=method_call sender=n/a destination=org.freedesktop.DBus path=/org/freedesktop/DBus interface=org.freedesktop.DBus member=GetConnectionUnixUser cookie=59 reply_cookie=0 signature=s error-name=n/a error-message=n/a
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: Got message type=method_return sender=org.freedesktop.DBus destination=:1.15 path=n/a interface=n/a member=n/a cookie=17 reply_cookie=59 signature=u error-name=n/a error-message=n/a
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: Sent message type=method_return sender=n/a destination=:1.31 path=n/a interface=n/a member=n/a cookie=60 reply_cookie=2 signature=n/a error-name=n/a error-message=n/a
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: DHCP CLIENT (0x359abcde): REQUEST (renewing)
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: DHCP CLIENT (0x359abcde): ACK
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: DHCP CLIENT (0x359abcde): lease expires in 59min 58s
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: DHCP CLIENT (0x359abcde): T2 expires in 49min 25s
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: DHCP CLIENT (0x359abcde): T1 expires in 26min 54s
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: eth0: State changed: configured -> configuring
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: Sent message type=signal sender=n/a destination=n/a path=/org/freedesktop/network1/link/_32 interface=org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties member=PropertiesChanged cookie=61 reply_cookie=0 signature=sa{sv}as error-name=n/a error-message=n/a
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: eth0: Updating address: 10.0.3.165
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: eth0: Remembering updated address: 10.0.3.165/24 (valid for 1h)
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: eth0: link_check_ready(): static routes are not configured.
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: eth0: DHCP: No routes received from DHCP server: No data available
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: eth0: Configuring route: dst: 10.0.3.1/32, src: n/a, gw: n/a, prefsrc: 10.0.3.165, scope: link, table: main, proto: dhcp, type: unicast
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: eth0: Configuring route: dst: n/a, src: n/a, gw: 10.0.3.1, prefsrc: 10.0.3.165, scope: global, table: main, proto: dhcp, type: unicast
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: eth0: link_check_ready(): dhcp4:no dhcp6_addresses:no dhcp_routes:no dhcp_pd_addresses:no dhcp_pd_routes:no ndisc_addresses:yes ndisc_routes:yes
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: eth0: State changed: configuring -> configured
Sep 08 13:45:43 abdull systemd-networkd[572]: Sent message type=signal sender=n/a destination=n/a path=/org/freedesktop/network1/link/_32 interface=org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties member=PropertiesChanged cookie=62 reply_cookie=0 signature=sa{sv}as error-name=n/a error-message=n/a
Whereas when systemd-networkd.service is on the default info log level, there are no log entries when when executing networkctl renew eth0 on my system.
Comparison between this service-log-level solution and the drop-in solution:
|
service-log-level |
drop-in |
requires/implies systemctl daemon-reload |
no ✔️ |
yes ❌ |
requires systemd-networkd.service restart |
no ✔️ |
yes ❌ |
configuration persists after systemd-networkd.service |
no ❌ |
yes ✔️ |
| configuration persists after computer reboot |
no ❌ |
yes ✔️ |
| easy oneliner for turning debugging on and off |
yes ✔️ |
no ❌ |
Note: checkmark (✔️) and chrossmark (❌) characters indicate desirable or undesirable trait (depending on context).