| Linux / Unix Command: pgrep |
NAME
pgrep, pkill - look up or signal processes based on name and other attributesSYNOPSIS
pgrep [-flnvx] [-d delimiter] [-P ppid,...] [-g pgrp,...][-s sid,...] [-u euid,...] [-U uid,...] [-G gid,...]
[-t term,...] [pattern]
pkill [-signal] [-fnvx] [-P ppid,...] [-g pgrp,...]
[-s sid,...] [-u euid,...] [-U uid,...] [-G gid,...]
[-t term,...] [pattern]
DESCRIPTION
pgrep looks through the currently running processes and lists the process IDs which matches the selection criteria to stdout. All the criteria have to match. For example,pgrep -u root sshd
will only list the processes called sshd AND owned by root. On the other hand,
pgrep -u root,daemon
will list the processes owned by root OR daemon.
pkill will send the specified signal (by default SIGTERM) to each process instead of listing them on stdout.
OPTIONS
- -d delimiter
- Sets the string used to delimit each process ID in the output (by default a newline). (pgrep only.)
- -f
- The pattern is normally only matched against the process name. When -f is set, the full command line is used.
- -g pgrp,...
- Only match processes in the process group IDs listed. Process group 0 is translated into pgrep's or pkill's own process group.
- -G gid,...
- Only match processes whose real group ID is listed. Either the numerical or symbolical value may be used.
- -l
- List the process name as well as the process ID. (pgrep only.)
- -n
- Select only the newest (most recently started) of the matching processes.
- -P ppid,...
- Only match processes whose parent process ID is listed.
- -s sid,...
- Only match processes whose process session ID is listed. Session ID 0 is translated into pgrep's or pkill's own session ID.
- -t term,...
- Only match processes whose controlling terminal is listed. The terminal name should be specified without the "/dev/" prefix.
- -u euid,...
- Only match processes whose effective user ID is listed. Either the numerical or symbolical value may be used.
- -U uid,...
- Only match processes whose real user ID is listed. Either the numerical or symbolical value may be used.
- -v
- Negates the matching.
- -x
- Only match processes whose name (or command line if -f is specified) exactly match the pattern.
- -signal
-
Defines the signal to send to each matched process. Either the
numeric or the symbolic signal name can be used. (pkill only.)
OPERANDS
- pattern
-
Specifies an Extended Regular Expression for matching against the
process names or command lines.
EXAMPLES
Example 1: Find the process ID of the named daemon:unix$ pgrep -u root named
Example 2: Make syslog reread its configuration file:
unix$ pkill -HUP syslogd
Example 3: Give detailed information on all xterm processes:
unix$ ps -fp $(pgrep -d, -x xterm)
Example 4: Make all netscape processes run nicer:
unix$ renice +4 `pgrep netscape`
EXIT STATUS
- 0
- One or more processes matched the criteria.
- 1
- No processes matched.
- 2
- Syntax error in the command line.
- 3
-
Fatal error: out of memory etc.
SEE ALSO
ps(1) proc(5) regex(5)STANDARDS
pkill and pgrep were introduced in Sun's Solaris 7. This implementation is fully compatible.Important: Use the man command (% man) to see how a command is used on your particular computer.
