In Linux, what does the command 'systemctl' manage?

The command 'systemctl' is integral to managing system services in Linux, specifically for systems using the systemd initialization system. It allows users to start, stop, enable, disable, restart, and check the status of services (also referred to as daemons).

This command interacts with systemd to control the overall state of services, making it possible to ensure they run as intended during the boot process or when needed. For instance, if an administrator needs to enable a web server to start automatically on boot, the 'systemctl enable' command is used. Similarly, it is employed to troubleshoot services that may be malfunctioning through commands like 'systemctl status' to check their active status.

Given that file permissions, user accounts, and network settings are managed through different commands and tools specific to those functions, 'systemctl' distinctly focuses on the management of system services, underscoring its role in service management.