I would like to understand what a masked service is and how to unmask it if need be.

I have been trying to start PostgreSQL on Ubuntu 16.04-LTS using the command

systemctl start postgresql.service.

Both as a user with administrative privileges, as well as root respectively.

Unfortunately, I got

Failed to start postgresql.service: Unit postgresql.service is masked.

printed in both scenarios.


Masking a service will prevent it from starting.

To unmask a service run:

systemctl unmask name.service

Source:

How to Manage Systemd Services on a Linux System | How To Geek