Using the ps Command in the ChromeOS Linux Environment
The ps command in Linux is used to display information about currently running processes. It provides details such as process IDs (PIDs), CPU and memory usage, and command execution details. This guide covers how to effectively use ps in the ChromeOS Linux (Crostini) environment.
Basic Usage
Listing Processes for the Current User
To display processes for the current user:
bash
ps
This shows a simple list of running processes started by the user in the current shell.
Displaying All Running Processes
To see all processes running on the system:
bash
ps aux
Explanation of columns: - USER – User who owns the process - PID – Process ID - %CPU – CPU usage percentage - %MEM – Memory usage percentage - VSZ – Virtual memory size - RSS – Resident memory size - TTY – Terminal associated with the process - STAT – Process state - START – Time when the process started - TIME – Total CPU time used - COMMAND – Command that launched the process
Filtering Processes by Name
To find a specific process by name:
bash
ps aux | grep process_name
For example, to find all running Chrome processes:
bash
ps aux | grep chrome
Displaying a Process Tree
To view running processes in a tree format:
bash
ps axjf
Displaying Processes for a Specific User
To list all processes owned by a specific user:
bash
ps -u username
Displaying Process IDs Only
To get a list of PIDs for a specific process:
bash
ps -C process_name -o pid=
For example, to get the PID of bash:
bash
ps -C bash -o pid=
Practical Use Cases
- Checking system resource usage:
bash ps aux --sort=-%cpu | head - Finding and terminating a process:
bash kill $(ps -C process_name -o pid=) - Monitoring processes in real time:
bash watch "ps aux --sort=-%mem | head"
Conclusion
The ps command is an essential tool for monitoring system processes in the ChromeOS Linux environment. Whether checking running processes, filtering specific ones, or managing system resources, ps provides valuable insights into system activity.