Checking the processes
A stopped or stalled process might make your system inactive.
- Restarting line scrolling
- Using the Ctrl+D key sequence
- Using the Ctrl+C key sequence
- Logging in from a remote terminal or host
- Ending stalled processes remotely
Restarting line scrolling:
Restart line scrolling halted by the Ctrl-S key sequence by doing the following:
- Activate the window or shell with the problem process.
- Press the Ctrl-Q key sequence to restart scrolling. The Ctrl-S key sequence stops line scrolling, and the Ctrl-Q key sequence restarts line scrolling.
If your scroll check did not correct the problem with your inactive system, go to the next section, Using the Ctrl-D key sequence.
Using the Ctrl-D key sequence:
- Activate the window or shell with the problem process.
- Press the Ctrl-D key sequence. The Ctrl-D key sequence sends an end of file (EOF) signal to the process. The Ctrl-D key sequence may close the window or shell and log you out.
If the Ctrl-D key sequence did not correct the problem with your inactive system, go to the next section, Using the Ctrl-C key sequence.
Using the Ctrl-C key sequence:
- Activate the window or shell with the problem process.
- Press the Ctrl-C key sequence. The Ctrl-C key sequence stops the current search or filter.
If the Ctrl-C key sequence did not correct the problem with your inactive system, go to the next section, Logging in from a remote terminal or host:.
Logging in from a remote terminal or host:
- Log in to the system from another terminal if more than one terminal is attached to your system.
- Log in from another host on the network (if your system is connected to
a network) by typing the tn command as follows:
The system asks for your regular login name and password when you use the tn command.tn YourSystemName
If you were able to log in to the system from a remote terminal or host, go to the next section, Ending stalled processes remotely.
If you were not able to log in to the system from a remote terminal or host you need to restart the system.
You can also start a system dump to determine why your system became inactive.
Ending stalled processes remotely:
- List active processes by typing the following ps command:
The -e and -f flags identify all active and inactive processes.ps -ef
- Identify the process ID of the stalled process. For help in identifying processes, use the grep command with a search string. For example, to end the xlock process, type the following to find the process ID:
The grep command allows you to search on the output from the ps command to identify the process ID of a specific process.ps -ef | grep xlock
- End the process by typing the following kill command: Note: You must have root user authority to use the kill command on processes you did not initiate.
If you cannot identify the problem process, the most recently activated process might be the cause of your inactive system. End the most recent process if you think that is the problem.kill -9 ProcessID
If your process checks have not corrected the problem with your inactive system you need to restart the system.