topic Defunct processes in Operating System - HP-UX

Defunct processes

Manoj_36 — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 08:22:45 GMT

We have more than 600 defunct processes on our system. If we do not kill the defunct processes and it keeps on increasing will it cause a condition in which we can error of system can not fork processes . Or defunct processes are not considered for number of processes limit(nproc) of the system becuase defunct processes are dead processes and are just a entery in kernel processes table. Or limit of processes is only for running processes or it is total of processes running and defunct processes.

Re: Defunct processes

Pete Randall — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 08:25:56 GMT

Yes, defunct processes will count toward your nproc total. Usually, the defunct processes end up as zombies (PPID=1) and the only way to get rid of them is to reboot. If the PPID is other than 1, killing the parent should get rid of the defunct process.

Pete

Re: Defunct processes

Manoj_36 — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 08:34:25 GMT

I am satisfied with the answer.