Tuning Processes

Introduction

In real-time systems some processes can cause huge problems, or slowing down the system performance. In such situations we need to tune the running processes. With tuning I mean stopping or killing the process. To be able to do this and to know when we need to know what processes currently runnig and when process start up? Especially, administrators need this. Because unexpected processes needs to be down or stop in systems such as servers, gaming boxes or other real-time systems. By saying processes I mean all applications and services in the system. So after that we need to view the running processes, let's look at that.

Viewing Running Processes

The only thing that consume your system resources are running processes. If your computer seems to be running slower than normal, then it is probably because of some misbehaving running processes or some running processes that use more than resources our system have.

There a couple of ways to view running processes, these are:

     1. top command: this command lists all running processes by ordering them cpu usage and memory usages.
     2. ps -ef command: this command lists every running processes in full detail.
     3. The Graphical System Monitor(System►Administration►System Monitor): also enables you to list all the running processes.

Sample listing of running processes from ps-ef command:

mustafa@mustafa-Lenovo-G550 ~ $ ps -ef UID PID PPID C STIME TTY TIME CMD root 1 0 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /sbin/init root 2 0 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [kthreadd] root 3 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [ksoftirqd/0] root 6 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [migration/0] root 7 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [watchdog/0] root 8 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [migration/1] root 10 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:02 [ksoftirqd/1] root 11 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [watchdog/1] root 12 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [cpuset] root 13 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [khelper] root 14 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [kdevtmpfs] root 15 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [netns] root 17 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [sync_supers] root 18 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [bdi-default] root 19 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [kintegrityd] root 20 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [kblockd] root 22 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [ata_sff] root 23 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [khubd] root 24 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [md] root 25 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [kworker/0:2] root 26 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:01 [kworker/1:1] root 27 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [khungtaskd] root 28 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [kswapd0] root 29 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [ksmd] root 30 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [khugepaged] root 31 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [fsnotify_mark] root 32 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [ecryptfs-kthrea] root 33 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [crypto] root 42 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [kthrotld] root 44 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [scsi_eh_0] root 45 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [scsi_eh_1] root 46 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [scsi_eh_2] root 47 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [scsi_eh_3] root 48 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [scsi_eh_4] root 51 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [kworker/u:4] root 52 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [kworker/u:5] root 54 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [kworker/1:2] root 55 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [binder] root 75 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [deferwq] root 76 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [charger_manager] root 77 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [devfreq_wq] root 235 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [jbd2/sda2-8] root 236 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [ext4-dio-unwrit] root 256 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [flush-8:0] root 333 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 upstart-udev-bridge --daemon root 335 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /sbin/udevd --daemon root 411 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [kpsmoused] root 459 335 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /sbin/udevd --daemon root 460 335 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /sbin/udevd --daemon root 535 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [hd-audio0] root 633 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 smbd -F 102 651 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 dbus-daemon --system --fork root 659 633 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 smbd -F root 674 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/modem-manager root 682 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/bluetoothd root 703 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 NetworkManager syslog 706 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 rsyslogd -c5 root 711 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [krfcommd] root 718 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/policykit-1/polkitd --n avahi 729 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 avahi-daemon: running [mustafa-L avahi 732 729 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 avahi-daemon: chroot helper root 745 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/cupsd -F root 751 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 upstart-socket-bridge --daemon root 755 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /sbin/wpa_supplicant -B -P /run/ root 1031 1 0 Ağu04 tty4 00:00:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty4 root 1037 1 0 Ağu04 tty5 00:00:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty5 root 1046 1 0 Ağu04 tty2 00:00:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty2 root 1047 1 0 Ağu04 tty3 00:00:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty3 root 1057 1 0 Ağu04 tty6 00:00:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty6 root 1071 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 acpid -c /etc/acpi/events -s /va root 1072 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 cron daemon 1073 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 atd root 1179 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/mdm root 1180 1179 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/mdm root 1215 1180 2 Ağu04 tty8 00:00:18 /usr/bin/X :0 -audit 0 -auth /va root 1366 1 0 Ağu04 tty1 00:00:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty1 root 1377 703 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /sbin/dhclient -d -4 -sf /usr/li nobody 1381 703 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/dnsmasq --no-resolv -- root 1534 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 nmbd -D root 1551 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/console-kit-daemon --n mustafa 1624 1180 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 x-session-manager mustafa 1696 1624 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/bin/ssh-agent /usr/bin/dbus mustafa 1699 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with mustafa 1700 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 //bin/dbus-daemon --fork --print mustafa 1705 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/MateConf/mateconfd-2 mustafa 1713 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/bin/mate-keyring-daemon --s mustafa 1716 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/bin/mate-settings-daemon mustafa 1722 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd mustafa 1726 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs//gvfsd-fuse -f /ru mustafa 1736 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/bin/pulseaudio --start --lo rtkit 1738 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/rtkit/rtkit-daemon mustafa 1741 1736 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/pulseaudio/pulse/gconf- mustafa 1743 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconf/ mustafa 1745 1624 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:01 marco mustafa 1749 1624 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:01 mate-panel mustafa 1751 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-udisks2-volum root 1755 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/udisks2/udisksd --no-de mustafa 1762 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gphoto2-volum mustafa 1766 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-afc-volume-mo mustafa 1770 1624 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:04 caja mustafa 1773 1624 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/polkit-mate/polkit-mate mustafa 1774 1624 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 mate-volume-control-applet mustafa 1776 1624 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 mate-bluetooth-applet mustafa 1778 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/matecomponent/matecompo mustafa 1784 1624 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 nm-applet mustafa 1787 1624 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/bin/python /usr/share/syste mustafa 1788 1624 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/bin/python /usr/bin/mintupd mustafa 1789 1624 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 mate-power-manager mustafa 1792 1788 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 sh -c /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintUpd mustafa 1793 1792 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 python /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintUp mustafa 1808 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 mate-screensaver mustafa 1815 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:01 python /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMe mustafa 1817 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:02 /usr/lib/mate-panel/wnck-applet mustafa 1821 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:01 /usr/lib/mate-sensors-applet/mat mustafa 1823 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/mate-panel/clock-applet mustafa 1825 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/mate-panel/notification root 1833 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/upower/upowerd mustafa 1854 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/at-spi2-core/at-spi-bus mustafa 1861 1854 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /bin/dbus-daemon --config-file=/ mustafa 1887 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/at-spi2-core/at-spi2-re root 2000 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/udisks/udisks-daemon root 2001 2000 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 udisks-daemon: not polling any d mustafa 2009 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-trash --spaw root 2049 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/system-tools-backends mustafa 2071 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-metadata root 2106 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/bin/perl /usr/share/system- mustafa 2120 1 1 Ağu04 ? 00:00:14 chromium-browser --disable-new-t mustafa 2124 2120 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 chromium-browser --disable-new-t mustafa 2125 2120 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chromi mustafa 2126 2125 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 chromium-browser --type=zygote mustafa 2130 2126 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 chromium-browser --type=zygote mustafa 2167 2130 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:03 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chro mustafa 2235 2130 2 Ağu04 ? 00:00:18 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chro root 2250 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /sbin/mount.ntfs /dev/sda3 /medi root 2253 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [jbd2/sda6-8] root 2254 2 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 [ext4-dio-unwrit] mustafa 2271 1 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/libreoffice/program/oos mustafa 2289 2271 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:05 /usr/lib/libreoffice/program/sof mustafa 2305 2130 0 Ağu04 ? 00:00:05 /usr/lib/chromium-browser/chro root 2312 2 0 00:03 ? 00:00:00 [kworker/0:1] root 2314 2 0 00:09 ? 00:00:00 [kworker/1:0] root 2315 2 0 00:09 ? 00:00:00 [kworker/0:0] mustafa 2323 1 6 00:11 ? 00:00:01 gedit /media/mustafa/b7b4896e-15 mustafa 2329 1 6 00:11 ? 00:00:00 mate-terminal mustafa 2334 2329 0 00:11 ? 00:00:00 gnome-pty-helper mustafa 2335 2329 3 00:11 pts/0 00:00:00 bash mustafa 2383 2335 0 00:11 pts/0 00:00:00 ps -ef mustafa@mustafa-Lenovo-G550 ~ $

Sample listing of running processes from top command:

mustafa@mustafa-Lenovo-G550 ~ $ top top - 00:14:58 up 18 min, 2 users, load average: 0,26, 0,24, 0,21 Tasks: 145 total, 2 running, 143 sleeping, 0 stopped, 0 zombie %Cpu(s): 1,2 us, 1,0 sy, 0,0 ni, 97,3 id, 0,5 wa, 0,0 hi, 0,0 si, 0,0 st KiB Mem: 2011432 total, 1398156 used, 613276 free, 96836 buffers KiB Swap: 487420 total, 0 used, 487420 free, 643724 cached PID USER PR NI VIRT RES SHR S %CPU %MEM TIME+ COMMAND 1215 root 20 0 167m 26m 12m S 3,0 1,4 0:31.58 Xorg 10 root 20 0 0 0 0 S 0,3 0,0 0:02.60 ksoftirqd/1 2235 mustafa 20 0 959m 128m 25m S 0,3 6,6 0:30.43 chromium-browse 2289 mustafa 20 0 1113m 118m 66m S 0,3 6,0 0:06.83 soffice.bin 2329 mustafa 20 0 520m 16m 11m S 0,3 0,8 0:02.65 mate-terminal 2398 mustafa 20 0 26156 1628 1152 R 0,3 0,1 0:00.10 top 1 root 20 0 24500 2460 1356 S 0,0 0,1 0:00.65 init 2 root 20 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 kthreadd 3 root 20 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.51 ksoftirqd/0 6 root rt 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 migration/0 7 root rt 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 watchdog/0 8 root rt 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.01 migration/1 11 root rt 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.01 watchdog/1 12 root 0 -20 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 cpuset 13 root 0 -20 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 khelper 14 root 20 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 kdevtmpfs 15 root 0 -20 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 netns 17 root 20 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 sync_supers 18 root 20 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 bdi-default 19 root 0 -20 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 kintegrityd 20 root 0 -20 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 kblockd 22 root 0 -20 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 ata_sff 23 root 20 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 khubd 24 root 0 -20 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 md 25 root 20 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.31 kworker/0:2 26 root 20 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:02.00 kworker/1:1 27 root 20 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 khungtaskd 28 root 20 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 kswapd0 29 root 25 5 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 ksmd 30 root 39 19 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 khugepaged 31 root 20 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 fsnotify_mark 32 root 20 0 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 ecryptfs-kthrea 33 root 0 -20 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 crypto 42 root 0 -20 0 0 0 S 0,0 0,0 0:00.00 kthrotld

Killing Processes

To kill a process, we can use PID(process id). As you can see from outputs of two commands above we have process ids for each running process. For example, to kill PID 217 we type kill 217. This command will kill the process have PID of 217. To suspend (stop) a running process use kill -STOP PID, to continue to a suspended process use kill -CONT PID.

Example: As an example run an application, find its PID using above commands, and first kill, then suspend and later allow to continue the process.

Finally, we finished the tuning process techniques in linux. I hope it will help you..

If you have any question or need some help about tuning process , leave a comment below.