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kill Command in Linux

kill Command in Linux

By Team Scaler
2 mins read
Last updated: 4 Oct 2023
147 views
Topics Covered

Overview

The 'kill' command in Linux is a powerful tool that you, as a system administrator, can utilize to manage processes effectively. The main purpose of the 'kill' command in Linux is to send a signal to a process, primarily to stop the process. It is important to note that 'kill' doesn't necessarily mean to terminate the process. Depending upon the signal sent, the process may continue running, stop, or even ignore the signal altogether.

Syntax of kill Command in Linux

The basic syntax of the kill command in Linux is as follows:

Where:

  • options: These are optional and modify the behavior of the kill command.
  • signal: This specifies the type of signal to be sent to the process.
  • PID: This is the Process ID to which the signal will be sent.

Options in kill Command in Linux

  1. -l, --list=[signal]: List all signal names, or convert a signal number to a name.

    For example -

    Output:

    This command converts the signal number 9 to its corresponding name, which is 'KILL'.

  2. -s, --signal=[signal]: Specify the signal to be sent.

    For example -

    Output:

    This command sends the HUP (hangup) signal to the process with PID 1234.

  3. -p, --pid: Only print the process ID (PID) to the terminal.

    For example -

    Output:

    This command prints the PID 1234 without sending any signals.

Example Usages

  • Sending a SIGSTOP signal to a process.:

    Output:

    Explanation: This command sends a STOP signal to the process with PID 1234, effectively pausing it.

  • Sending a SIGCONT signal to a paused process.:

    Output:

    Explanation: This command sends a CONT signal to the paused process with PID 1234, causing it to resume its execution.

Tips

  • Before using 'kill' to terminate a process, it is recommended to try sending the SIGTERM (-15) signal first, which asks the process to terminate gracefully.

  • If a process doesn't respond to a SIGTERM signal, you may then use the SIGKILL (-9) signal, which forces the process to terminate immediately.

Advanced Use Cases of kill Command in Linux

  • Killing all processes of a particular name.:

    Output:

    Explanation: This command kills all running instances of 'processname' by sending them the SIGKILL (-9) signal.

  • Killing all processes of a particular user.:

    Output:

    Explanation: This command kills all running processes owned by 'username'.

  • Using the 'kill' command with 'ps' and 'grep' to kill a process.:

    Output:

    Explanation: This command first finds the PID of 'processname' using 'ps', 'grep', and 'awk', and then kills it.

Conclusion

  • 'kill' in Linux is a powerful command to manage processes.

  • Different signals can be sent to a process, affecting its execution in different ways.

  • Always try sending a SIGTERM before a SIGKILL to allow a process to terminate gracefully.