# systemd-networkd Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/systemd-networkd/ 11 people recommended systemd-networkd in Hacker News comments and 6 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 7 of 12 months, in 9 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** People recommend systemd-networkd for its simple configuration and tight integration with systemd-resolved. Critics say it clashes with NetworkManager on some distros and is opaque to debug. Summary written by Claude from 20 comments. It was written before the November 2026 recount, and 19 of those comments still count. ## Why people recommend it - Integrates well with systemd-resolved (4 comments in the sample): "I'm glad systemd-networkd (advertising) and systemd-resolved (finding) just integrate these concerns for me" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49769769)) "systemd-networkd and systemd-resolved do some mutual coordination stuff that's pretty nice" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46367205)) "I'm quite happy with systemd-resolved and systemd-networkd" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48104508)) - Handles DHCP leases and hostnames (2 comments in the sample): "now implements a resolve hook for its internal DHCP server, so that the hostnames tracked in DHCP leases can be resolved locally" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46314053)) "It has been sufficient to add the couple dozen static allocations to the configuration files and forget DHCP exists." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46142690)) - Useful on servers and small boards (2 comments in the sample): "We are running systemd with all bells and whistles on Raspberry Pi based 1 GB RAM systems." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45795138)) "very well documented/organised. I find it pretty useful on servers." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48105024)) - Stable and low maintenance (1 comment in the sample): "I've had the same stable prefix for over a year now, using systemd-networkd" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47893567)) ## What people warn about - Clashes with NetworkManager on some distros (2 comments in the sample): "I have often have to fight between system-networkd and NetworkManager on some distros" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46321807)) "I consider NetworkManager bad and systemd-networkd worse" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48104625)) - Missing some DHCP features (2 comments in the sample): "is no longer supported by systemd-networkd (because they are puritans" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46145575)) "systemd-networkd not handling real world DHCP fields" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46107973)) - Dismissed along with other systemd parts (1 comment in the sample): "not use systemd-networkd or systemd-timesyncd either" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48104385)) ## The badge A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged. ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "systemd-networkd", https://hackerapproved.com/p/systemd-networkd/ (11 recommend, 0 mixed, 6 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026). Counts updated 3 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.