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The pkill command in Linux is a powerful tool for terminating processes based on their name or other attributes. This tutorial will introduce you to the pkill command, its usage, and some practical examples.
The basic syntax for the pkill command is as follows:
pkill [options] [pattern]
The pattern is a string that matches the name of the process you want to terminate. When executed, pkill will send a signal to all processes whose names match the pattern.
For example, to terminate all instances of a process named example_process, run:
pkill example_process
The pkill command supports a variety of options to filter and control the processes you want to terminate. Here are some commonly used options:
-u: Match processes by the user who owns them. Provide the username or UID as the argument.pkill -u username pattern
-g: Match processes by the process group. Provide the process group ID as the argument.pkill -g pgid pattern
-P: Match processes by the parent process ID. Provide the parent process ID as the argument.pkill -P ppid pattern
-s: Match processes by the session ID. Provide the session ID as the argument.pkill -s sid pattern
-signal: Send a specific signal to the matched processes. By default, pkill sends the TERM signal (15). You can specify a different signal using its name or number.pkill -HUP pattern
or
pkill -1 pattern
example_process:pkill example_process
example_process owned by the user john:pkill -u john example_process
example_process:pkill -HUP example_process
example_process that belong to the process group with ID 1000:pkill -g 1000 example_process
The pkill command is a powerful tool, and you should use it with care. Terminating critical system processes or processes owned by other users may cause system instability or disrupt ongoing work. Always double-check the process name and filters before using pkill.
In conclusion, the pkill command is an effective way to terminate processes based on their name or other attributes. By understanding the available options and filters, you can use pkill to manage processes efficiently and safely.
How to use pkill to terminate processes:
pkill is used to send signals to processes based on their names or other attributes. To terminate a process by name:
pkill process_name
Killing processes with pkill in Unix-like systems:
Use pkill to terminate processes. For example:
pkill process_name
Terminating user sessions by terminal number with pkill:
To terminate processes associated with a specific terminal, use pkill with the -t option. For instance, to kill processes on terminal 2:
pkill -t 2 process_name
Using pkill to end specific processes in Linux:
Specify process attributes to end specific processes with pkill. For example:
pkill -u username process_name
Advanced options for the pkill command in Linux:
pkill has advanced options. For instance, sending a specific signal (SIGTERM) to processes:
pkill -SIGTERM process_name
Killing processes by name or pattern using pkill:
pkill allows killing processes by name or pattern. For example:
pkill -f "pattern"
pkill vs kill: differences and use cases in Linux:
While kill requires a process ID, pkill allows terminating processes by name or pattern. Example:
kill -9 1234 # Kill process by ID pkill process_name # Kill process by name
Managing user sessions with pkill in the terminal:
Use pkill to manage user sessions. For instance, to end all processes belonging to a specific user:
pkill -u username