Transient timers are temporary timers that are valid only for the current session. These timers can be created to run a program or script directly without requiring service or timer units to be configured within systemd. These units are generated by using the systemd-run command. See the systemd-run(1) manual page for more information.

The parameter options that you would add to the unit-file.timer file also serve as arguments when you use systemd-run command to run a transient timer unit.

The following examples show how to use systemd-run to activate transient timers.

• Run update.service after 2 hours have elapsed.

  sudo systemd-run --on-active="2h" --unit update.service

• Create ~/tmp/myfile after 1 hour.

  sudo systemd-run --on-active="1h" /bin/touch ~/tmp/myfile

• Run ~/myscripts/update.sh 5 minutes after the service manager is started. Use this syntax to run a service after the service manager has started at user login.

  sudo systemd-run --on-startup="5m" ~/myscripts/update.sh

• Run myjob.service 10 minutes after system boot.

  sudo systemd-run --on-boot="10m" --unit myjob.service

• Run report.service at the end of the day.

  sudo systemd-run --on-calendar="17:00:00"