Run as Linux SYSTEMD service.md

Run bot(s) as Linux systemd service(s)

Configure pycryptobot to run as a Linux systemd service. Services can be launched automatically every time the server boots.
The services are managed using the systemd controls: start, stop, status, restart, enable, disable

Creating a Python virtual Environment

It is a best Python practice running applications in separate virtual environments. This avoids that the Python working environment is altered when the operating system is updated. An additional library that support Python virtual environments, is required:

sudo apt install -y python3-venv  

Once installed, a virtual environment can be created and activated. Note that a single virtual environment is shared by all pycryptobots:

python3 -m venv ~/.venvs
source ~/.venvs/bin/activate

Also append the environment activation line to .bashrc This activates the virtual environment every time a shell opens (i.e. via ssh):

echo 'source ~/.venvs/bin/activate' >> ~/.bashrc

Creating a systemd service file

To run a pycryptobot as a systemd service, create for each bot a systemd service file in the systemd services configuration folder /etc/systemd/system

For each currency create a new service file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/<service-name>.service

Choosing a service name that contains the names of the crypto and fiat currencies simplifies later services management. Example: sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/ada-eur.service

Paste the lines below into each service file:

[Unit]  
Description=PyCryptobot - <currency name>  
After=network.target  
  
[Service]  
User=ubuntu  
Group=ubuntu  
WorkingDirectory=/home/ubuntu/<folder where the pycryptobot code and config resides>  
Environment="PATH=/home/ubuntu/.venvs/bin/python3"  
ExecStart=/home/ubuntu/.venvs/bin/python3 pycryptobot.py  
Restart=on-failure

[Install]  
WantedBy=multi-user.target  

Replace the <placeholders> in the lines Description= and WorkingDirectory= with correct data for the currency
being configured.

Let systemd reload the service files and update the list of available services with the newly added files:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

NOTE: this step has to be repeated every time a service file is updated

Now the service(s) are available and can be managed using the standard systemd controls:

To START a pycryptobot service

A single service:

sudo systemctl start ada-eur.service

Multiple services:

sudo systemctl start ada-eur.service bch-eur.service btc-eur.service eos-eur.service eth-eur.service ltc-eur.service

or even with a wildcard:

sudo systemctl start *-eur.service

To STOP a pycryptobot service

A single service:

sudo systemctl stop ada-eur.service

Multiple services:

sudo systemctl stop ada-eur.service bch-eur.service btc-eur.service eos-eur.service eth-eur.service ltc-eur.service

or even with a wildcard:

sudo systemctl stop *-eur.service

ENABLE or DISABLE services to launch during server startup

Enabling the service(s) to start at startup once a network connection is available:

sudo systemctl enable *-eur.service 

which enables all services in one go.

Disabling the service(s) to start at startup:

sudo systemctl disable *-eur.service 

which disables all services in one go.

Query the STATUS of a(ll) service(s)

To query the status of a service or all services:

sudo systemctl status *-eur.service