What is the primary role of the init process in a Linux system?

The init process has a fundamental role in a Linux system as the first process that is executed by the kernel once the system boots up. Its primary function is to act as a parent of all other processes, managing their creation and termination in a hierarchical structure. Essentially, init is responsible for starting system processes and services, which allows the user space to be operational.

After the kernel completes its initialization tasks, it invokes the init process, which usually has a process ID (PID) of 1. This process then reads its configuration files, which dictate which services and processes should start, subsequently launching them accordingly. This crucial role ensures that the system is properly set up to handle user requests and operations, maintaining the system's overall functionality.

While managing filesystems, handling network connections, and scheduling system tasks are important functions within a Linux environment, they do not directly pertain to the primary role of the init process itself. Instead, these functions are handled by various other subsystems and processes within the Linux architecture.