zypper ps shows deleted plymouthd

This document (000021522) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15

Situation

zypper ps shows deleted plymouthd after each reboot:

n3:~ # zypper ps -s
The following running processes use deleted files:

PID | PPID | UID | User | Command             | Service       
----+------+-----+------+---------------------+---------------
272 | 1    | 0   | root | plymouthd (deleted) | plymouth-start

Resolution

If the desired boot target is GUI / X, ensure that xdm package is installed:

zypper in xdm

If the desired boot target is text mode, change from graphical.target to multi-user.target:

systemctl set-default multi-user.target

Cause

plymouthd daemon, responsible for visually appealing boot animation, continues running after the system fully completed its boot process:

ps -C plymouthd --no-headers -o pid,cmd
272 @usr/sbin/plymouthd --mode=boot --pid-file=/run/plymouth/pid --attach-to-session

systemd deletes plymouth-quit.service job, responsible for sending quit command to plymouthd
due to dependency for graphical.target:

Aug 05 09:03:07 n3 systemd[1]: plymouth-quit.service: Looking at job plymouth-quit.service/stop conflicted_by=no
Aug 05 09:03:07 n3 systemd[1]: plymouth-quit.service: Looking at job plymouth-quit.service/start conflicted_by=no
Aug 05 09:03:07 n3 systemd[1]: plymouth-quit.service: Fixing conflicting jobs plymouth-quit.service/stop,plymouth-quit.service/start by deleting job plymouth-quit.service/stop
Aug 05 09:03:07 n3 systemd[1]: plymouth-quit.service: Deleting job plymouth-quit.service/start as dependency of job graphical.target/stop
Aug 05 09:03:07 n3 systemd[1]: plymouth-quit-wait.service: Deleting job plymouth-quit-wait.service/start as dependency of job graphical.target/stop

This is the result of the missing display-manager.service, which is part of xdm package that is not installed on the system.

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.