# Eudev

Related articles

- OpenRC
- udev

Warning: This package will remove systemd as it replaces udev. Therefore, you should install an alternative init system and have it boot successfully under that init system prior to installing eudev.

`eudev` is a fork of udev started by the Gentoo project, with the goal of isolation from the init system. It is primarily designed and tested with OpenRC, but is agnostic to any other init systems.

## Installation

Install the eudevAUR package. Alternatively, install eudev-gitAUR for the development version.

This package will also remove libsystemd as it replaces a part of it. The missing libraries are available from libsystemd-standaloneAUR. You may also want systemd-dummyAUR to satisfy the missing systemd dependency.

Alternatively, rebuild packages linked to libsystemd using ABS, or install `nosystemd` variants from the AUR.

## Replacing the systemd package

The systemd packages include several components besides the init system and systemd-udev:

- systemd libraries linked against software such as Xorg. See #Installation.
- systemd-tmpfiles to create temporary files on system startup. Some rc scripts reimplement this, for example tmpfiles.sh.
- systemd-sysusers to allocate system users and groups in pacman `.install` files

## Troubleshooting

### Reboot not possible

If you have removed systemd without booting to the new init, a reboot is not possible in regular ways. Enable SysRq keys:

    # sysctl kernel.sysrq=1

and press `Alt-SysRq-S`, `Alt-SysRq-U` and `Alt-SysRq-B` in succession. This syncs all mounted file systems, remounts all disk as read-only, and reboots the system, respectively. If latter is not possible, press `Alt-SysRq-O` to poweroff).

In case the system is only remotely accessible, you must sync and remount read-only its filesystems before triggering an immediate reboot (edit your filesystems accordingly):

    # sync
    # mount -f /home -o remount,ro
    # sync
    # mount -f / -o remount,ro
    # echo b >| /proc/sysrq-trigger

### Fails to start

Check the init script for eudev (aliased to udev, so `/etc/openrc/init.d/udev` on an OpenRC setup for example) and ensure the command points to `/usr/bin/udevd`.

### netctl

netctl is not compatible due to dependency on systemd libs. Install netcfgAUR instead.

### Device naming

Your net devices will follow the pre-systemd pattern: from example `wlp1s0` should be renamed to `wlan0`. You have to set your net configuration properly.

### sysctl

Your files in `/etc/sysctl.d/` might disappear after removing systemd. OpenRC reads `/etc/sysctl.conf`.

## See also

- Github: Eudev

Category:

- Hardware detection and troubleshooting