Linux Command

1. COMMAND-LINE Options

The command-line syntax for top consists of:

     -hv | -bcisS -d delay -n iterations -p pid [,pid...]

The typically mandatory switches ('-') and even whitespace are completely optional.

• -b : Batch mode operation    Starts top in 'Batch mode', which could be useful for sending output from top to other programs or to a file. In this mode, top will not accept input and runs until the iterations limit you've set with the '-n' command-line option or until killed.

• -c : Command line/Program name toggle    Starts top with the last remembered 'c' state reversed. Thus, if top was displaying command lines, now that field will show program names, and visa versa. See the 'c' interactive command for additional information.

• -d : Delay time interval as:  -d ss.tt (seconds.tenths)    Specifies the delay between screen updates, and overrides the corresponding value in one's personal configuration file or the startup default. Later this can be changed with the 'd' or 's' interactive commands.

  Fractional seconds are honored, but a negative number is not allowed. In all cases, however, such changes are prohibited if top is running in 'Secure mode', except for root (unless the 's' command-line option was used). For additional information on 'Secure mode' see topic 5a. SYSTEM Configuration File.

• -h : Help    Show library version and the usage prompt, then quit.

• -i : Idle Processes toggle    Starts top with the last remembered 'i' state reversed. When this toggle is Off, tasks that are idled or zombied will not be displayed.

• -n : Number of iterations limit as:  -n number    Specifies the maximum number of iterations, or frames, top should produce before ending.

• -u : Monitor by user as:  -u somebody    Monitor only processes with an effective UID or user name matching that given.

• -U : Monitor by user as:  -U somebody    Monitor only processes with a UID or user name matching that given. This matches real, effective, saved, and filesystem UIDs.

• -p : Monitor PIDs as:  -pN1 -pN2 ...  or  -pN1, N2 [,...]    Monitor only processes with specified process IDs. This option can be given up to 20 times, or you can provide a comma delimited list with up to 20 pids. Co-mingling both approaches is permitted.

  This is a command-line option only. And should you wish to return to normal operation, it is not necessary to quit and and restart top  --  just issue the '=' interactive command.

• -s : Secure mode operation    Starts top with secure mode forced, even for root. This mode is far better controlled through the system configuration file (see topic 5. FILES).

• -S : Cumulative time mode toggle    Starts top with the last remembered 'S' state reversed. When 'Cumulative mode' is On, each process is listed with the cpu time that it and its dead children have used. See the 'S' interactive command for additional information regarding this mode.

• -v : Version    Show library version and the usage prompt, then quit.

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