I suspect this is a dup of bug 1916235 (or it a dup of this); have you tried the workaround (shown below) of allowing systemd-logind network access?
$ sudo systemctl edit systemd-logind (opens an editor, put in the text below and save it, then reboot and retest) [Service] RestrictAddressFamilies=AF_INET IPAddressAllow=any ** Changed in: systemd (Ubuntu) Status: Confirmed => Incomplete -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to systemd in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1915502 Title: "systemd --user" fails to start for non-local users Status in systemd package in Ubuntu: Incomplete Bug description: systemd-logind fails to start the systemd --user process for non-local users on Ubuntu 20.04. This is a reproducible problem; all our systems are displaying the same symptoms. The systems are using Kerberos (Active Directory) for authentication, and NIS for account meta-data and authorisation (groups) A base installation is performed using the server 20.04 ISO image. No additional packages are selected. Post-install, I run: apt-get install tcsh nis krb5-user libpam-krb5 libnss-systemd I set up the NIS client (supply the default domain name, check ypbind is running and ypcat passwd is working) I then set up /etc/krb5.conf for kerberos authentication to a domain controller, confirm that kinit works and a kerberos ticket is issued. I modify /etc/passwd, /etc/group and /etc/shadow, appending a "+" to the end of each. /etc/nsswitch.conf is modified to support compat mode, as well as systemd: passwd: compat systemd group: compat systemd shadow: compat I can log in remotely via ssh using my NIS account and Kerberos credentials. MY NIS meta-data looks like: amcvey:KRB5:<UID>:<GID>:Andy McVey:/home/amcvey:/bin/tcsh (where UID and GID are replaced with values unique to the organisation) On login, the following occurs: hostname:~> systemctl --user Failed to connect to bus: No such file or directory I put pam-systemd and systemd-logind into debug mode to get more information: Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname sshd[1210]: Accepted publickey for amcvey from [redact] port 58849 ssh2: RSA SHA256:[redact] Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname sshd[1210]: pam_unix(sshd:session): session opened for user amcvey by (uid=0) Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Got message type=method_call sender=:1.13 destination=org.freedesktop.login1 path=/org/freedesktop/login1 interface=org.freedesktop.login1.Manager member=CreateSession cookie=2 reply_cookie=0 signature=uusssssussbssa(sv) error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname sshd[1210]: pam_systemd(sshd:session): pam-systemd initializing Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Sent message type=method_call sender=n/a destination=org.freedesktop.DBus path=/org/freedesktop/DBus interface=org.freedesktop.DBus member=GetConnectionUnixUser cookie=40 reply_cookie=0 signature=s error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname sshd[1210]: pam_systemd(sshd:session): Asking logind to create session: uid=198083 pid=1210 service=sshd type=tty class=user desktop= seat= vtnr=0 tty= display= remote=yes remote_user= remote_host=10.105.121.110 Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Got message type=method_return sender=org.freedesktop.DBus destination=:1.6 path=n/a interface=n/a member=n/a cookie=13 reply_cookie=40 signature=u error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname sshd[1210]: pam_systemd(sshd:session): Session limits: memory_max=n/a tasks_max=n/a cpu_weight=n/a io_weight=n/a runtime_max_sec=n/a Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Sent message type=method_call sender=n/a destination=org.freedesktop.DBus path=/org/freedesktop/DBus interface=org.freedesktop.DBus member=GetConnectionUnixProcessID cookie=41 reply_cookie=0 signature=s error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname sshd[1210]: pam_systemd(sshd:session): Failed to create session: No such process Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Got message type=method_return sender=org.freedesktop.DBus destination=:1.6 path=n/a interface=n/a member=n/a cookie=14 reply_cookie=41 signature=u error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Unable to connect to /run/systemd/userdb/io.systemd.Multiplexer: No such file or directory Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: n/a: varlink: setting state idle-client Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: /run/systemd/userdb/io.systemd.DynamicUser: Sending message: {"method":"io.systemd.UserDatabase.GetUserRecord","parameters":{"uid":198083,"service":"io.systemd.DynamicUser"}} Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: /run/systemd/userdb/io.systemd.DynamicUser: varlink: changing state idle-client → awaiting-reply Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: /run/systemd/userdb/io.systemd.DynamicUser: New incoming message: {"error":"io.systemd.UserDatabase.NoRecordFound","parameters":{}} Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: /run/systemd/userdb/io.systemd.DynamicUser: varlink: changing state awaiting-reply → processing-reply Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Got lookup error: io.systemd.UserDatabase.NoRecordFound Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: /run/systemd/userdb/io.systemd.DynamicUser: varlink: changing state processing-reply → idle-client Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Sent message type=error sender=n/a destination=:1.13 path=n/a interface=n/a member=n/a cookie=42 reply_cookie=2 signature=s error-name=org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.UnixProcessIdUnknown error-message=No such process Feb 12 09:51:32 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Failed to process message type=method_call sender=:1.13 destination=org.freedesktop.login1 path=/org/freedesktop/login1 interface=org.freedesktop.login1.Manager member=CreateSession cookie=2 reply_cookie=0 signature=uusssssussbssa(sv) error-name=n/a error-message=n/a: No such process So it seems logind is trying to get the PID of the calling (sshd?) process and failing. What's strange is that if I add my NIS entry directly to /etc/password it works. systemctl --user works, and the following appears in the logs: Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname sshd[1295]: Accepted publickey for amcvey from [redact] port 50775 ssh2: RSA SHA256:[redact] Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname sshd[1295]: pam_unix(sshd:session): session opened for user amcvey by (uid=0) Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Got message type=method_call sender=:1.14 destination=org.freedesktop.login1 path=/org/freedesktop/login1 interface=org.freedesktop.login1.Manager member=CreateSession cookie=2 reply_cookie=0 signature=uusssssussbssa(sv) error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname sshd[1295]: pam_systemd(sshd:session): pam-systemd initializing Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Sent message type=method_call sender=n/a destination=org.freedesktop.DBus path=/org/freedesktop/DBus interface=org.freedesktop.DBus member=GetConnectionUnixUser cookie=43 reply_cookie=0 signature=s error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname sshd[1295]: pam_systemd(sshd:session): Asking logind to create session: uid=[redact] pid=1295 service=sshd type=tty class=user desktop= seat= vtnr=0 tty= display= remote=yes remote_user= remote_host=10.105.121.110 Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Got message type=method_return sender=org.freedesktop.DBus destination=:1.6 path=n/a interface=n/a member=n/a cookie=15 reply_cookie=43 signature=u error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname sshd[1295]: pam_systemd(sshd:session): Session limits: memory_max=n/a tasks_max=n/a cpu_weight=n/a io_weight=n/a runtime_max_sec=n/a Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Sent message type=method_call sender=n/a destination=org.freedesktop.DBus path=/org/freedesktop/DBus interface=org.freedesktop.DBus member=GetConnectionUnixProcessID cookie=44 reply_cookie=0 signature=s error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Got message type=method_return sender=org.freedesktop.DBus destination=:1.6 path=n/a interface=n/a member=n/a cookie=16 reply_cookie=44 signature=u error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Unable to connect to /run/systemd/userdb/io.systemd.Multiplexer: No such file or directory Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: n/a: varlink: setting state idle-client Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: /run/systemd/userdb/io.systemd.DynamicUser: Sending message: {"method":"io.systemd.UserDatabase.GetUserRecord","parameters":{"uid":198083,"service":"io.systemd.DynamicUser"}} Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: /run/systemd/userdb/io.systemd.DynamicUser: varlink: changing state idle-client → awaiting-reply Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: /run/systemd/userdb/io.systemd.DynamicUser: New incoming message: {"error":"io.systemd.UserDatabase.NoRecordFound","parameters":{}} Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: /run/systemd/userdb/io.systemd.DynamicUser: varlink: changing state awaiting-reply → processing-reply Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Got lookup error: io.systemd.UserDatabase.NoRecordFound Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: /run/systemd/userdb/io.systemd.DynamicUser: varlink: changing state processing-reply → idle-client Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Failed to do shadow lookup for UID [redact], ignoring: No such process Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Starting services for new user amcvey. Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Sent message type=method_call sender=n/a destination=org.freedesktop.systemd1 path=/org/freedesktop/systemd1 interface=org.freedesktop.systemd1.Manager member=StartUnit cookie=45 reply_cookie=0 signature=ss error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Got message type=method_return sender=:1.0 destination=:1.6 path=n/a interface=n/a member=n/a cookie=412 reply_cookie=45 signature=o error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Sent message type=signal sender=n/a destination=n/a path=/org/freedesktop/login1 interface=org.freedesktop.login1.Manager member=UserNew cookie=46 reply_cookie=0 signature=uo error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Sent message type=method_call sender=n/a destination=org.freedesktop.systemd1 path=/org/freedesktop/systemd1 interface=org.freedesktop.systemd1.Manager member=StartTransientUnit cookie=47 reply_cookie=0 signature=ssa(sv)a(sa(sv)) error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: Got message type=method_return sender=:1.0 destination=:1.6 path=n/a interface=n/a member=n/a cookie=431 reply_cookie=47 signature=o error-name=n/a error-message=n/a Feb 12 09:59:20 myhostname systemd-logind[903]: New session 4 of user amcvey. root@ottub2004tst01:/etc# dpkg -l | grep systemd ii dbus-user-session 1.12.16-2ubuntu2.1 amd64 simple interprocess messaging system (systemd --user integration) ii libnss-systemd:amd64 245.4-4ubuntu3.4 amd64 nss module providing dynamic user and group name resolution ii libpam-systemd:amd64 245.4-4ubuntu3.4 amd64 system and service manager - PAM module ii libsystemd0:amd64 245.4-4ubuntu3.4 amd64 systemd utility library ii networkd-dispatcher 2.0.1-1 all Dispatcher service for systemd-networkd connection status changes ii python3-systemd 234-3build2 amd64 Python 3 bindings for systemd ii systemd 245.4-4ubuntu3.4 amd64 system and service manager ii systemd-sysv 245.4-4ubuntu3.4 amd64 system and service manager - SysV links ii systemd-timesyncd 245.4-4ubuntu3.4 amd64 minimalistic service to synchronize local time with NTP servers To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/systemd/+bug/1915502/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp