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Signed-off-by: Sami Kerola <kerolasa@iki.fi>
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Sami Kerola 2012-01-08 00:05:05 +01:00
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Why does "ps -aux" complain about a bogus '-'? Why does "ps -aux" complain about a bogus '-'?
According to the POSIX and UNIX standards, the above command asks to display According to the POSIX and UNIX standards, the above command asks to
all processes with a TTY (generally the commands users are running) plus all display all processes with a TTY (generally the commands users are
processes owned by a user named "x". If that user doesn't exist, then ps will running) plus all processes owned by a user named "x". If that user
assume you really meant "ps aux". The warning is given to gently break you of a doesn't exist, then ps will assume you really meant "ps aux". The
habit that will cause you trouble if a user named "x" were created. warning is given to gently break you of a habit that will cause you
trouble if a user named "x" were created.
Why don't I see SMP (per-CPU) stats in top? Why don't I see SMP (per-CPU) stats in top?
You didn't enable it. Press '?' for built-in help or read the man page. Per-CPU You didn't enable it. Press '?' for built-in help or read the man
stats are disabled by default because they take up too much space. Some Linux page. Per-CPU stats are disabled by default because they take up too
systems have hundreds of CPUs. much space. Some Linux systems have hundreds of CPUs.
Why do long usernames get printed as numbers? Why do long usernames get printed as numbers?
The UNIX and POSIX standards require that user names and group names be printed The UNIX and POSIX standards require that user names and group names
as decimal integers when there is not enough room in the column. Truncating the be printed as decimal integers when there is not enough room in the
names, besides being a violation of the standard, would lead to confusion column. Truncating the names, besides being a violation of the
between names like MichelleRichards and MichelleRichardson. The UNIX and POSIX standard, would lead to confusion between names like MichelleRichards
way to change column width is to rename the column: and MichelleRichardson. The UNIX and POSIX way to change column
width is to rename the column:
ps -o pid,user=CumbersomeUserNames -o comm ps -o pid,user=CumbersomeUserNames -o comm
The easy way is to directly specify the desired width: The easy way is to directly specify the desired width:
ps -o pid,user:19,comm
ps -o pid,user:19,comm
Why is %CPU underreported for multi-threaded (Java, etc.) apps? Why is %CPU underreported for multi-threaded (Java, etc.) apps?
You need to upgrade to the 2.6.10 kernel at least. Older kernels do not provide You need to upgrade to the 2.6.10 kernel at least. Older kernels do
a reasonable way to get this information. not provide a reasonable way to get this information.
Why do ps and top show threads individually? Why do ps and top show threads individually?
The 2.4.xx kernel does not provide proper support for grouping threads by The 2.4.xx kernel does not provide proper support for grouping
process. Hacks exist to group them anyway, but such hacks will falsely group threads by process. Hacks exist to group them anyway, but such hacks
similar tasks and will fail to group tasks due to race conditions. The hacks will falsely group similar tasks and will fail to group tasks due to
are also slow. As none of this is acceptable in a critical system tool, task race conditions. The hacks are also slow. As none of this is
grouping is not currently available for the 2.4.xx kernel. The 2.6.xx kernel acceptable in a critical system tool, task grouping is not currently
allows for proper thread grouping and reporting. To take advantage of this, available for the 2.4.xx kernel. The 2.6.xx kernel allows for proper
your programs must use a threading library that features the CLONE_THREAD flag. thread grouping and reporting. To take advantage of this, your
The NPTL pthreads provided by recent glibc releases use CLONE_THREAD. programs must use a threading library that features the CLONE_THREAD
flag. The NPTL pthreads provided by recent glibc releases use
CLONE_THREAD.
What systems are supported? What systems are supported?
Linux 2.4.xx and 2.6.xx are commonly tested and expected to work well. SMP is Linux 2.4.xx and 2.6.xx are commonly tested and expected to work
well supported. Multi-node cluster views require a multi-node /proc filesystem; well. SMP is well supported. Multi-node cluster views require a
without that you will see a single-node view. multi-node /proc filesystem; without that you will see a single-node
view.
Where to I send bug reports? Where to I send bug reports?
You may use the Debian bug tracking system or send your report to You may use the Debian bug tracking system or send your report to
procps@freelists.org (no subscription required) instead. procps@freelists.org (no subscription required) instead.
Why are there so many procps projects? Why are there so many procps projects?
The original maintainer seems to have had little time for procps. Whatever his The original maintainer seems to have had little time for procps.
reasons, the project didn't get maintained. Starting in 1997, Albert Cahalan Whatever his reasons, the project didn't get maintained. Starting in
wrote a new ps program for the package. For the next few years, Albert quietly 1997, Albert Cahalan wrote a new ps program for the package. For the
helped the Debian package maintainer fix bugs. In 2001, Rik van Riel decided to next few years, Albert quietly helped the Debian package maintainer
do something about what appeared to be the lack of a maintainer. He picked up fix bugs. In 2001, Rik van Riel decided to do something about what
the buggy old code in Red Hat's CVS and started adding patches. Meanwhile, appeared to be the lack of a maintainer. He picked up the buggy old
other people have patched procps in a great many ways. code in Red Hat's CVS and started adding patches. Meanwhile, other
people have patched procps in a great many ways.
In 2002, Albert moved procps to http://procps.sourceforge.net. This was done to In 2002, Albert moved procps to http://procps.sourceforge.net. This
ensure that years of testing and bug fixes would not be lost. The major version was done to ensure that years of testing and bug fixes would not be
number was changed to 3, partly to avoid confusing users and partly because the lost. The major version number was changed to 3, partly to avoid
top program had been redone. confusing users and partly because the top program had been redone.
After development essentially stopped on sourceforge.net, in 2011 the project
found a new home at http://gitorious.org/procps. This represents the Debian,
Fedora and openSUSE fork of procps. To avoid confusion and potential name
clashes the package is now known as procps-ng (next generation), the version
number was raised to 3.3.0 and the library soname changed to libproc-ng-3.3.0.
After development essentially stopped on sourceforge.net, in 2011 the
project found a new home at http://gitorious.org/procps. This
represents the Debian, Fedora and openSUSE fork of procps. To avoid
confusion and potential name clashes the package is now known as
procps-ng (next generation), the version number was raised to 3.3.0
and the library soname changed to libproc-ng-3.3.0.
What is being done to procps-ng at its new home? What is being done to procps-ng at its new home?
All programs are in the process of being modernized, both in terms of coding All programs are in the process of being modernized, both in terms of
style and supporting documentation. Autotools have been integrated and the coding style and supporting documentation. Autotools have been
library API has been expanded with many new fields supported such as control integrated and the library API has been expanded with many new fields
groups, supplementary groups, etc. The top program has been rewritten offering supported such as control groups, supplementary groups, etc. The top
many new capabilities while providing performance improvements up to 300%. program has been rewritten offering many new capabilities while
providing performance improvements up to 300%.
Why does ps get signal 17? Why does ps get signal 17?
No ps release has ever had this problem. Most likely your system has been No ps release has ever had this problem. Most likely your system has
broken into. You might want to install a more recent version of the OS. If been broken into. You might want to install a more recent version of
you'd rather take your chances, simply upgrade procps. the OS. If you'd rather take your chances, simply upgrade procps.