pkill(1)

NAME

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

SYNOPSIS

   pgrep [options] pattern
   pkill [options] pattern

DESCRIPTION

   pgrep looks through the  currently  running  processes  and  lists  the
   process  IDs  which  match  the  selection criteria to stdout.  All the
   criteria 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
   process instead of listing them on stdout.

OPTIONS

   -signal
   --signal signal
          Defines the signal to send to each matched process.  Either  the
          numeric or the symbolic signal name can be used.  (pkill only.)

   -c, --count
          Suppress  normal  output;  instead  print  a  count  of matching
          processes.  When count does not  match  anything,  e.g.  returns
          zero, the command will return non-zero value.

   -d, --delimiter delimiter
          Sets  the  string  used to delimit each process ID in the output
          (by default a newline).  (pgrep only.)

   -f, --full
          The pattern is normally only matched against the  process  name.
          When -f is set, the full command line is used.

   -g, --pgroup pgrp,...
          Only  match  processes in the process group IDs listed.  Process
          group 0 is translated into pgrep's or pkill's own process group.

   -G, --group gid,...
          Only match processes whose real group ID is listed.  Either  the
          numerical or symbolical value may be used.

   -i, --ignore-case
          Match processes case-insensitively.

   -l, --list-name
          List the process name as well as the process ID.  (pgrep only.)

   -a, --list-full
          List  the  full  command line as well as the process ID.  (pgrep
          only.)

   -n, --newest
          Select only the newest (most recently started) of  the  matching
          processes.

   -o, --oldest
          Select  only the oldest (least recently started) of the matching
          processes.

   -P, --parent ppid,...
          Only match processes whose parent process ID is listed.

   -s, --session sid,...
          Only  match  processes  whose  process  session  ID  is  listed.
          Session  ID  0 is translated into pgrep's or pkill's own session
          ID.

   -t, --terminal term,...
          Only match processes whose controlling terminal is listed.   The
          terminal name should be specified without the "/dev/" prefix.

   -u, --euid euid,...
          Only  match processes whose effective user ID is listed.  Either
          the numerical or symbolical value may be used.

   -U, --uid uid,...
          Only match processes whose real user ID is listed.   Either  the
          numerical or symbolical value may be used.

   -v, --inverse
          Negates  the  matching.   This option is usually used in pgrep's
          context.  In pkill's context the short  option  is  disabled  to
          avoid accidental usage of the option.

   -w, --lightweight
          Shows  all  thread  ids  instead of pids in pgrep's context.  In
          pkill's context this option is disabled.

   -x, --exact
          Only match processes whose names  (or  command  line  if  -f  is
          specified) exactly match the pattern.

   -F, --pidfile file
          Read  PID's  from  file.  This option is perhaps more useful for
          pkill than pgrep.

   -L, --logpidfile
          Fail if pidfile (see -F) not locked.

   --ns pid
          Match processes that belong to the same namespaces. Required  to
          run  as  root  to match processes from other users. See --nslist
          for how to limit which namespaces to match.

   --nslist name,...
          Match only the provided namespaces. Available  namespaces:  ipc,
          mnt, net, pid, user,uts.

   -V, --version
          Display version information and exit.

   -h, --help
          Display help and exit.

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)

AUTHOR

   Kjetil Torgrim Homme ⟨kjetilho@ifi.uio.no⟩

REPORTING BUGS

   Please send bug reports to ⟨procps@freelists.org⟩

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