One systemd Unit File, Many Instances: Template Units (with frp as the Example)

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:30:00 +0800

I needed one machine to connect to three different frp servers. Most tutorials solve this by copying frpc.service three times and editing the path in each. Change one parameter and you have to remember to change it in three files — that breaks eventually.

systemd has a built-in answer: template units. Write frpc@.service once, then spin up as many instances as you like. This post walks through the full frp setup first, then shows how the same pattern applies to xray, socat, Python scripts, or anything else you need to run several copies of.

Fixing Tofu Boxes: Making WSL Display Chinese Characters

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:10:00 +0800

A fresh WSL install shows every Chinese character as an empty box. My host system is English Windows, which is probably why: WSL has neither a Chinese locale nor a font capable of rendering the characters. Adding both fixes it.

1. Install the Chinese language pack

sudo apt install language-pack-zh-hans

2. Reconfigure locales

sudo dpkg-reconfigure locales

In the list that appears, select both en_US.UTF-8 and zh_CN.UTF-8, then pick zh_CN.UTF-8 as the default on the next screen.

Linux on Geek Vinkey

One systemd Unit File, Many Instances: Template Units (with frp as the Example)

Fixing Tofu Boxes: Making WSL Display Chinese Characters

1. Install the Chinese language pack

2. Reconfigure locales