Search:

Home | Internet


The Top Ten Concepts For Linux Newbies - Number 6, Kernel And Processes

By: Levi Reiss

A process is a program in execution. Unix was designed to handle multiple processes. Linux follows this excellent tradition. The operating system gives users and particularly the root user control over processes. Let's examine processes and what they mean to users.

The kernel is the Linux operating system component that handles system management. It is not accessible to ordinary users. You may run Damn Small Linux as the root user and learn about the kernel. Once you demonstrate your mastery of system concepts you may be given permission to apply your knowledge on larger Linux systems.

Part of the kernel's work is managing processes. There are basically four such functions: controlling process execution, allocating memory for processes, scheduling processes, and managing resource access for processes. Let's look briefly at each function.

The kernel creates, terminates, and coordinates processes. The root user and sometimes a regular user have access to these functions. It is possible to terminate a haywire process, one for example that has taken over the computer virtually blocking other processes.

The kernel allocates memory for processes. Root users and their authorized agents may review statistics on memory usage and improve system performance.

Scheduling and resource access help maximize system performance and minimizing user waiting times. Knowledge of how processes work and what is really happening in a busy system can improve system performance and user satisfaction. Sometimes it isn't necessary to spend a penny to improve performance. There is room in the marketplace for specialists in Linux scheduling and resource management. You cannot become such a specialist overnight but you can start by learning the tools with Damn Small Linux.

A given process is identified by a process number. During the course of system execution processes terminate, by themselves or because some one shut them down. Over time other processes are created. The process number always increases until system restart. Some processes are system processes; they are part of the overhead involved in running a system. They work behind the scenes. Other processes are user processes, doing the work that users actually want.

The ps command provides information on running processes. For example, it may provide the name of the user associated with the process, the process identifier, the identifier of the father process (the one that created - the technical word is spawned) the given process, when the process was spawned and other information that may help manage a busy system.

I am sure that you can guess what the kill command does. It has several options, for example, some haywire processes are more difficult to remove than others.

Our next subjects are Linux shells and utilities.

Article Source: http://www.newagelivingarticles.com

Over the years Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet. As you can tell from his wine websites including www.theitalianwineconnection.com he is quite a fan of fine wine, but always in moderation. He teaches various and sundry computer courses including Linux and Windows operating systems at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his new website www.linux4windows.com teaching you how to download and run Damn Small Linux even on that outdated Windows computer which has been gathering dust in the basement.

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Internet Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From - Home | Internet

 Free Traffic


banner











Sign Up for a free account or learn more.
Article Directory Software
Click here to download the exact software that powers this directory for FREE. Start your own article directory today!
Google
Top Authors
Submit Articles
Member Login
Most Popular Articles
Submission Guidelines
Ezine Notifications
Article RSS Feeds
Little Book Of Becoming
Masters of the Secret
The Singularity Is Near
Distribute Your Articles to 1000's!
Wildwind Enterprises
Bookstore
About Us
Link to Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Links
All Links Directory All Links Directory is 100% SEO friendly Directory and Human Edited.

Accurate Online Psychic Readings Lilly provides a unique personal empowerment, spiritual approach to intuitive readings, as well as a vast array of other resources for the spiritual seeker. Access your Spiritual Guidance and turn negative karma into spiritual gold!

Psychic Sights An extensive portal of Psychic links, Metaphysical and New Age links and resources focused on quality.

Earth Spirits.org

Gaiam.com, Inc
Spiritual Cinema Circle
Visit the metaphysical directory for a complete list of metaphysics related websites.
Royalty Free Images
NewAgeLivingArticles.com » Copyright © 2007 WildWind Enterprises
Terms of Service | Submission Guidelines | Contact Us | Link to Us| Privacy Policy | About Us | Article Submissions With A Click 100's of Sites!

Powered by Article Dashboard