On my GuixSD VM (Guix release 0.13) elogind doesn't start at startup, despite (elogind-service) being used in config.scm. I am not using Xorg or a desktop manager like Slim.
Elogind only starts when loginctl is executed as loginctl activates elogind via DBus, meaning that it doesn't record any logins before loginctl is run. I don't believe that this is intended; my Arch Linux install doesn't miss any logins. My config.scm: --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- (services (cons* ;; Networking (service wpa-supplicant-service-type) (service connman-service-type (connman-configuration)) (service tlp-service-type) (service thermald-service-type) (udisks-service) (polkit-service) (elogind-service) (dbus-service) %base-services)) --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8--- Output (just started up vm): --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- gollum login: cavej Password: This is the GNU operating system, welcome! gollum% loginctl dbus[392]: [system] activating service name='org.freedesktop.login1' (using servicehelper) [/gnu/store/ninbsrgj12ik3zjwk0vbcbmhwfkfhj7h-logind.conf:5] Unknown lvalue 'InhibitDelayMaxSecs' in section 'Login' [/gnu/store/ninbsrgj12ik3zjwk0vbcbmhwfkfhj7h-logind.conf:15] Unknown lvalue 'HolfoffTimeoutSecs' in section 'Login' [/gnu/store/ninbsrgj12ik3zjwk0vbcbmhwfkfhj7h-logind.conf:17] Unknown lvalue 'IdleActionSeconds' in section 'Login' [/gnu/store/ninbsrgj12ik3zjwk0vbcbmhwfkfhj7h-logind.conf:19] Unknown lvalue 'RemoveIpc' in section 'Login' dbus[392]: [system] Successfully activated service 'org.freedesktop.login1' New seat seat0. Watching system buttons on /dev/input/event0 (Power Button) SESSION UID USER SEAT 0 sessions listed. gollum% exit Respawning term-tty1 Service term-tty1 has been restarted. This is the GNU system. Welcome. gollum login: cavej Password: New session c1 of user cavej. This is the GNU operating system, welcome! gollum% loginctl SESSION UID USER SEAT c1 30011 cavej seat0 1 sessions listed. --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---