Where Does Avahi Store Service Files?
Avahi publishes .service XML files from /etc/avahi/services, with daemon options in avahi-daemon.conf.
Last updated
Avahi advertises local services from XML files in /etc/avahi/services. Each .service file names one publishable endpoint with its type and port. Drop a file there and Avahi picks it up without touching code.
Daemon behavior comes from avahi-daemon.conf beside it. Host name, browsing domains, and publishing toggles live in that one file. User services under ~/.avahi work per login, while /etc covers the whole machine.
Where Avahi stores this, by platform
/etc/avahi/services
One XML file per published service. Daemon config sits in avahi-daemon.conf in /etc/avahi. Reload the daemon after adding files.
Frequently asked questions
How do I publish a custom mDNS service?
Write a .service XML file into /etc/avahi/services with type and port, then reload avahi-daemon. The entry browses on the LAN immediately. Remove the file to unpublish.
Where is the Avahi host name set?
In avahi-daemon.conf under the server section. Changing it renames every published service at once. Restart the daemon for the new name to propagate.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.