PGREP(1)		      Linux Users Manual		     PGREP(1)



NAME
       pgrep,  pkill  -  look  up  or signal processes based on name and other
       attributes


SYNOPSIS
       pgrep [-flvx] [-d delimiter] [-n|-o] [-P ppid,...] [-g pgrp,...]
       [-s sid,...] [-u euid,...] [-U uid,...] [-G gid,...] [-t term,...]
       [pattern]


       pkill [-signal] [-fvx] [-n|-o] [-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 pro
       cess IDs which matches the selection criteria to stdout.  All the cri
       teria 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 pro
       cess instead of listing them on stdout.


OPTIONS
       -c     Suppress normal output; instead print a count of matching pro
	      cesses.

       -c     Suppress normal output; instead print a count of matching pro
	      cesses.

       -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 pgreps or pkills 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.

       -o     Select only the oldest (least 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.	Ses
	      sion ID 0 is translated into pgreps or pkills 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 speci
	      fied) 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:


	      $ pgrep -u root named


       Example 2: Make syslog reread its configuration file:


	      $ pkill -HUP syslogd


       Example 3: Give detailed information on all xterm processes:


	      $ ps -fp $(pgrep -d, -x xterm)


       Example 4: Make all netscape processes run nicer:


	      $ 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.

NOTES
       The process name used for matching is limited to the 15 characters
       present in the output of /proc/pid/stat.  Use the -f option to match
       against the complete command line, /proc/pid/cmdline.

       The running pgrep or pkill process will never report itself as a match.

BUGS
       The options -n and -o and -v can not be combined.  Let me know if you
       need to do this.

       Defunct processes are reported.

SEE ALSO
       ps(1) regex(7) signal(7) killall(1) skill(1) kill(1) kill(2)

STANDARDS
       pkill and pgrep were introduced in Suns Solaris 7.  This implementa
       tion is fully compatible.

AUTHOR
       Kjetil Torgrim Homme 

       Albert Cahalan  is the current maintainer of the
       procps package.

       Please send bug reports to 



Linux				 June 25, 2000			      PGREP(1)