rc.local is enabled, and part of the initial boot target... if it exists, and is executable.
Can you please provide steps, or details of your system, on which you observe that it was not executed on boot? when present, and executable? Note by default on ubuntu, there is no rc.local shipped. But would be used, if there is one on boot. # cat /etc/rc.local #!/bin/sh echo Hello rc.local exit 0 # sudo chmod +x /etc/rc.local # sudo reboot # journalctl -b -u rc-local.service -- Logs begin at Thu 2018-05-17 13:22:46 UTC, end at Thu 2018-05-17 13:24:28 UTC. -- May 17 13:23:39 test-rclocal systemd[1]: Starting /etc/rc.local Compatibility... May 17 13:23:39 test-rclocal rc.local[205]: Hello rc.local May 17 13:23:39 test-rclocal systemd[1]: Started /etc/rc.local Compatibility. ** Changed in: systemd (Ubuntu) Status: New => Incomplete -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1771802 Title: enable rc-local.service unit by default To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/systemd/+bug/1771802/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs