How to run a script with systemd right before shutdown?

Question

What do I need to put in the [install] section, so that systemd runs /home/me/so.pl right before shutdown and also before /proc/self/net/dev gets destroyed?

[Unit]
Description=Log Traffic

[Service]
ExecStart=/home/me/so.pl

[Install]
?

Answer 1

I am not totally sure but i don't think you need the install part though i added it explicitly. I also didn't test it but i think it should help you get started:

[Unit]
Description=Log Traffic
Requires=network.target
After=network.target
Before=shutdown.target
DefaultDependencies=no

[Service]
ExecStart=/home/me/so.pl
Type=oneshot
RemainAfterExit=yes

[Install]
WantedBy=shutdown.target

Answer 2

The suggested solution is to run the service unit as a normal service - have a look at the [Install] section. So everything has to be thought reverse, dependencies too. Because the shutdown order is the reverse startup order. That's why the script has to be placed in ExecStop.

The following solution is working for me:

[Unit]
Description=...

[Service]
Type=oneshot
RemainAfterExit=true
ExecStart=/bin/true
ExecStop=<your script/program>

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Have a look at RemainAfterExit this line is needed because otherwise the service get's stopped as soon as the start action finishes.

I just got it from systemd IRC, credits are going to mezcalero.

Answer 3

As far as I can see this does what I need (but I don't exactly why).

[Unit]
Description=Log Traffic
DefaultDependencies=no
Before=shutdown.target reboot.target halt.target


[Service]
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/perl /home/me/log_traffic.pl --stop
Type=oneshot