On Sat, 12 Feb 2000, Adam Wendt wrote:
> Whats rpciod?
Sounds like "Remote Procedure Call Input/Output Daemon". It has something
to do with the kernel-level RPC support code.
> This may be related to why it doesn't die but what does it mean when the
> name of the proccess is in [ ] brackets like this:
> root 353 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Feb06 0:00 [rpciod]
The brackets indicate that it is a kernel thread, not a mere mortal process.
Kernel threads can be considered untouchable.
> What exactly is a zombie proccess, how does it affect me, and what can I
> do to get rid of them?
Every process in a Unix system (except for init) has a parent. When a Unix
process exits (or does something else interesting), its parent gets sent a
SIGCHLD signal. A zombie process is one which has exited, but its parent
hasn't handled the SIGCHLD signal yet. The kernel has to keep some
information around about that process so it can provide it to its parent; that
is what the zombie process represents.
Any zombies will remain until their parent acknowledges the SIGCHLD signal.
You cannot kill them; they are already dead (hence the name). Normally, a
parent will handle the signal fairly quickly and the zombie will disappear.
But if the parent is busy or hung, they will stick around. If a child's
parent exits, the init process adopts the child, and will handle any SIGCHLD
signals it gives off. Thus, you can get rid of a zombie by killing its
parent.
--
Ben Scott
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