The systemct1 reload sshd command can be used to apply the configuration changes of the SSH server daemon without restarting it. This is useful to avoid interrupting existing connections. The systemct1 stop sshd command would stop the SSH server daemon, not apply the changes. The systemct1 mask sshd command would prevent the SSH server daemon from being started, not apply the changes. The systemct1 start sshd command would start the SSH server daemon if it is not running, but it would not apply the changes if it is already running.