systemd nss-systemd 8 nss-systemd libnss_systemd.so.2 Provide UNIX user and group name resolution for user/group lookup via Varlink libnss_systemd.so.2 nss-systemd is a plug-in module for the GNU Name Service Switch (NSS) functionality of the GNU C Library (glibc), providing UNIX user and group name resolution for services implementing the User/Group Record Lookup API via Varlink, such as the system and service manager systemd1 (for its DynamicUser= feature, see systemd.exec5 for details) or systemd-homed.service8. This module also ensures that the root and nobody users and groups (i.e. the users/groups with the UIDs/GIDs 0 and 65534) remain resolvable at all times, even if they aren't listed in /etc/passwd or /etc/group, or if these files are missing. This module preferably utilizes systemd-userdbd.service8 for resolving users and groups, but also works without the service running. To activate the NSS module, add systemd to the lines starting with passwd: and group: in /etc/nsswitch.conf. It is recommended to place systemd after the files or compat entry of the /etc/nsswitch.conf lines so that /etc/passwd and /etc/group based mappings take precedence. Here is an example /etc/nsswitch.conf file that enables nss-systemd correctly: passwd: compat mymachines systemd group: compat [SUCCESS=merge] mymachines [SUCCESS=merge] systemd shadow: compat hosts: files mymachines resolve [!UNAVAIL=return] dns myhostname networks: files protocols: db files services: db files ethers: db files rpc: db files netgroup: nis systemd1, systemd.exec5, nss-resolve8, nss-myhostname8, nss-mymachines8, nsswitch.conf5, getent1