This message [1] identifies that compound target units are the
appropriate mechanism for controlling multiple service units.

The sys-v compatibility helpers (service, {invoke,update}-rc.d,
debhelpers, et al.) currently only consider .service units, ignoring
compound .target units, when doing things such as overriding LSB
scripts, enabling/starting services, etc.

Support for this would be useful for providing systemd scripts for
multi-daemon services such as ISC DHCP server (with IPv4 and IPv6;
discussions ongoing here [2]) and PostgreSQL.

An example patch for /usr/sbin/service is attached. We probe for a
compound .target unit (having component services in the derived
ConsistsOf property) of matching service name invoking this as we
would a plain .service unit.

Would a maintainer kindly let me know whether this approach is
acceptable in which case I will extend it to all of the necessary
support scripts?


[1] https://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/systemd-devel/2015-July/033628.html
[2] https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=792894


Many thanks,

Terry

Hi,

this bug blocks two others (which actually add systemd units), makes a ton
of sense, and we're reasonably close to freeze time.

Please consider applying the supplied patch. Thank you.
(Shall I do an NMU?)