Listing processes

The ps command lists the processes that you are currently running. Unfortunately, it also has a few variations depending on what kind of workstation you're using.

Look at your workstation and figure out what kind it is. There should be a name on the monitor or the computer box itself. If it is a DEC or a SUN machine, see the DEC and SUN instructions.

Listing processes with jobs

The jobs command lists only the processes you have started from within the Xterm window. Without getting into the details, almost any process you start by typing a command will show up using jobs.

For example, if you start a clock in the background with xclock &, you can use jobs to list the process information.

For example

unity% jobs
[1]  + Running                xclock
unity%

The number in brackets is the job number.

The "+" in the listing means that the process is at the "top" of the process list, and that typing fg, even without the job or PID number, will bring the process to the foreground. A dash (-) indicates the process that is next in line in the list.

"Running" means that the process is currently running. Processes that are suspended list as a form of "Suspended."

The last argument is the name of the process itself, in this case the xclock.

Last modified July 20, 2004 by cawalker