🖥️ Understanding Linux Process Management 🚀
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Satyam Ahirrao

Satyam Ahirrao @satyam-ahirrao

About: I'm a Linux SysAdmin exploring the exciting landscape of DevOps. Join me as I document my learning process and share practical advice.

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🖥️ Understanding Linux Process Management 🚀

Publish Date: Mar 14
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Managing processes in Linux is crucial for system performance and stability. This guide simplifies process management, explaining key concepts step by step.

📌 What is a Process?

  • A process is any running task in the system.
  • Every process has a unique Process ID (PID).
  • The kernel creates a PID in RAM.
  • Process details are stored in the /proc directory.

🖥️ System Resources Affecting Performance

  • CPU 🖥️: Executes instructions.
  • RAM 💾: Stores temporary data (volatile storage).
  • Disk 📀: Persistent storage (HDD/SSD).
  • Network 🌐: Handles communication.
  • Operating System 🖥️: Manages everything.

🔍 Checking Process Information

List Running Processes: 

ps
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  • Shows processes running in the current terminal. 
ps -e
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  • Displays all system processes.

Find Process ID (PID): 

pidof <command>
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  • Gets the PID of a running command. 
ps -el
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  • Shows a detailed list of all processes. 
ps -aux
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  • Displays processes with user and resource usage info.

📌 Checking Path & Executing Commands

Check where commands are searched: 

echo $PATH
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  • If a command fails, possible reasons: ✅ Incorrect PATH 🛣️ ✅ Missing permissions 🔒 ✅ Not installed ❌ ✅ Corrupt binary ⚠️

🏆 Managing System Performance

Check running processes efficiently: 

top
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  • Linux Task Manager.
  • Press q to quit. 
top -p <pid>
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  • Check resource usage for a specific process.

Find Maximum PIDs Allowed: 

sysctl -a | grep max | grep pid
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View Process Tree: 

pstree
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  • Displays process hierarchy.

🚀 Process Lifecycle

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1️⃣ Running (R) 🏃‍♂️

  • Actively using CPU time.
  • Next in queue = Runnable.

2️⃣ Sleeping (S) 💤

  • Waiting for execution.

3️⃣ Uninterruptible Sleep (D) 🛑

  • Disk-related sleep.
  • Cannot be killed easily.
  • Solution: Check logs or reboot 🔄.

📌 Debugging Uninterruptible Sleep:

   dmesg
   journalctl
   tail -f /var/log/messages
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4️⃣ Zombie (Z) 🧟

  • A child process whose parent is unresponsive.
  • Can block system resources.

5️⃣ Suspended (T) ⏸️

  • Stopped by admin.
  • Can be resumed later.

6️⃣ Dead 💀

  • Crashed or failed to start.

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🔥 Process Creation & Management

  • Processes are managed using system calls like:
    • fork() 🍼: Creates a child process.
    • malloc() 🛠️: Allocates memory.
  • Resource Manager: Handles swapper & scheduler to optimize performance.

📢 Conclusion 🎯

Understanding Linux process management is essential for maintaining system stability and optimizing performance. By monitoring processes, managing resources, and troubleshooting efficiently, you can ensure a smooth Linux experience. Keep exploring and mastering Linux! 🚀🐧

✨ Stay tuned for more Linux tips! 🚀

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