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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →NetworkManager-dispatcher is NetworkManager’s event-driven script service. On a system using systemd-networkd, the comparable state-triggered script mechanism is usually networkd-dispatcher, a separate daemon—not a script feature built into .network files. The right choice depends on which service manages the interface and whether your task needs a named event such as a DNS change or simply a link-state transition.
First, identify what “systemd network hooks” means
The name can refer to two different things. systemd-networkd uses .network files to match links and configure them; those files are not a NetworkManager-style script dispatcher. For scripts triggered by systemd-networkd state changes, the commonly used option is networkd-dispatcher, a separate daemon that listens for systemd-networkd signals over D-Bus.
NetworkManager-dispatcher, by contrast, is provided with NetworkManager. It runs user-supplied scripts when NetworkManager detects events. These mechanisms are relevant only when their corresponding network manager controls the interface.
How the event models differ
| Decision point | NetworkManager-dispatcher | systemd-networkd with networkd-dispatcher |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A service provided with NetworkManager | A separate daemon that listens to systemd-networkd over D-Bus |
| What triggers scripts | Named actions, including up, pre-down, DHCP changes, DNS changes, and connectivity changes |
Link-state transitions, with scripts placed in directories named for states |
| Timing model | Documents pre-up and pre-down stages, with a caveat for forced disconnects |
State-oriented triggers; equivalent pre-up or pre-down timing is not established |
| Script inputs | Interface name and action as arguments, plus environment variables whose availability depends on the action and device | Environment variables including IFACE, STATE, AdministrativeState, and OperationalState |
| Ordering and execution | Alphabetical ordering; scripts ordinarily run sequentially, and queued events can become stale | Alphabetical ordering within state directories; invoked in response to D-Bus signals |
| Best fit | A task tied to a specific NetworkManager event, such as DNS or DHCP information changing | A task that should respond to systemd-networkd reaching a particular state |
NetworkManager’s documented action list includes pre-up, up, pre-down, down, dhcp4-change, dhcp6-change, connectivity-change, reapply, and dns-change. Its reference describes pre-up and pre-down scripts as completing before NetworkManager reports full activation or disconnects the interface. However, pre-down is not emitted for forced disconnects, such as carrier loss or a fading wireless signal. Consult the NetworkManager dispatcher reference for action-specific details and environment variables.
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networkd-dispatcher uses state-named directories. Its project documentation lists states such as routable, degraded, carrier, no-carrier, dormant, configured, configuring, and off. The project describes its event set as more limited than NetworkManager-dispatcher’s. See the networkd-dispatcher documentation for the states and setup details it supports.
Where scripts go and what they receive
NetworkManager-dispatcher
The documented script locations are /etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d and /usr/lib/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d, including their subdirectories. Scripts run in alphabetical order; a file under /etc takes precedence over a same-named file under /usr/lib. An ordinary invocation receives the interface name and action as arguments. Environment variables can provide connection identifiers, interface names, and IP-related details, but the available context varies with the action and device.
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Scripts are organized into directories corresponding to link states. The project documents environment variables including IFACE and STATE, along with administrative and operational state values. Confirm the precise paths and behavior against the installed project version and your distribution’s package, rather than assuming every distribution packages it identically.
Execution, timing, and safe script design
NetworkManager-dispatcher scripts run one at a time and asynchronously relative to the main NetworkManager process. They may be killed if they run too long. The reference documents a no-wait.d symlink approach for parallel execution. It also warns that queued events still run even if a later event makes them stale. A callback therefore does not necessarily prove that the interface remains in the state described by the event; check current state before taking an action that depends on it.
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Both approaches execute privileged scripts. For NetworkManager-dispatcher, the documented requirements are regular executable files owned by root, not writable by group or others, and not setuid. The networkd-dispatcher project likewise expects executable, root-owned scripts. Keep scripts focused, filter on the interface or state when appropriate, and make actions safe to repeat; those practices reduce the risk of an unintended or outdated event causing a privileged change.
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Choosing the right mechanism
- Check which service manages the interface. If NetworkManager manages it, use NetworkManager-dispatcher. If systemd-networkd manages it, consider networkd-dispatcher for state-triggered scripts.
- Match the trigger to the job. Choose NetworkManager-dispatcher when you need a documented action such as
dns-change, a DHCP change, or a pre-transition callback. Choose networkd-dispatcher when a systemd-networkd state transition is sufficient. - Check what timing guarantees matter. Do not rely on NetworkManager
pre-downfor forced link loss, or assume state hooks provide the same pre-transition behavior. Recheck current state when queued work could be outdated. - Verify the local installation. Confirm the package, version, script directories, and supported events for your distribution before deploying scripts; availability and packaging of networkd-dispatcher vary.
- Apply least-risk script practices. Set ownership and permissions correctly, make scripts idempotent, and avoid unnecessary privileged actions.
What not to conflate
systemd.networkfiles configure links; they are not themselves a script-hook facility.networkd-dispatcheris separate software, not a built-in part of the.networkfile format.- NetworkManager’s named event actions and networkd-dispatcher’s state-based triggers are not interchangeable event lists.
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