topic Re: process in Operating System - HP-UX

process

Indrajit Bhagat — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 08:51:38 GMT

what is mean by zombie process

Re: process

Torsten. — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 08:53:51 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_process

Re: process

Steven E. Protter — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 08:58:33 GMT

Shalom,

A zombie process is aptly named. It is a process that runs, even uses cpu and memory but does nothing useful and is disconnected from its parent and is not responding.

Normally the only way to get rid of a Zombie process is to reboot.

Application programming issues cause zombies much of the time.

SEP

Re: process

James R. Ferguson — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:00:45 GMT

Hi:

SEP, you should read the link Torsten posted.

Regards!

...JRF...

Re: process

Dennis Handly — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 01:30:05 GMT

>JRF: SEP, you should read the link Torsten posted.

Right. The only problem with that link is it doesn't use the technical term, zombie master. :-)
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1145648

Re: process

whiteknight — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:21:09 GMT

Hi

The reason for the "defunct" processes listed when you use the ps
command is "zombie" processes. This is the name for a process
that terminates for any reason, but whose parent process has not
waited for it to terminate (via wait(2)). The process that terminated
continues to occupy a slot in the process table until its parent process
waits for it. Because it has terminated, however, there is no other space
allocated to it either in user or kernel space.

This is a relatively harmless occurrence that rectifies itself the
next time its parent process waits. The ps(1) command lists zombie
processes as "defunct."

WK
please assign points

Re: process

AL_3001 — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 14:13:44 GMT

Hi Indrajit,
When a process terminates, it sends an exit system call. At this time, the kernel releases resources used by the process. The process becomes a zombie and remains in the zombie state until its parent process gives it permission to die. If the parent process is not responding, the process may be left in a zombie state indefinitely.

Hope this information helps.