Too many processes question.

Matthew J. Roth mroth at imminc.com
Thu Jan 25 23:24:38 UTC 2007


Les wrote:
> Here is the output:
> # top -b -n 1
> top - 10:38:49 up 1 day, 19:16,  1 user,  load average: 0.19, 0.52, 0.79
> Tasks: 113 total,   1 running, 112 sleeping,   0 stopped,   0 zombie
> Cpu(s): 11.3%us,  1.5%sy,  0.1%ni, 85.8%id,  1.2%wa,  0.1%hi,  0.0%si,
> 0.0%st
> Mem:    254824k total,   248528k used,     6296k free,     3076k buffers
> Swap:   524280k total,    87628k used,   436652k free,    68036k cached
>
>   PID USER      PR  NI  VIRT  RES  SHR S %CPU %MEM    TIME+  
> COMMAND            
> 17220 root      15   0  2156  912  704 R  5.6  0.4   0:00.07 
> top                
>     1 root      15   0  2032  564  540 S  0.0  0.2   0:02.88 
> init               
>     2 root      RT   0     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> migration/0        
>     3 root      34  19     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.03 
> ksoftirqd/0        
>     4 root      RT   0     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> watchdog/0         
>     5 root      10  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.63 
> events/0           
>     6 root      14  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.05 
> khelper            
>     7 root      10  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.02 
> kthread            
>    53 root      10  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.30 
> kblockd/0          
>    54 root      20  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> cqueue/0           
>    55 root      20  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> ksuspend_usbd      
>    58 root      10  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.03 
> khubd              
>    60 root      10  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.02 
> kseriod            
>    88 root      10  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> kapmd              
>    93 root      15   0     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:02.13 
> pdflush            
>    94 root      15   0     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:02.21 
> pdflush            
>    95 root      10  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:08.64 
> kswapd0            
>    96 root      20  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> aio/0              
>   257 root      11  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> kpsmoused          
>   279 root      12  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> ata/0              
>   280 root      12  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> ata_aux            
>   287 root      13  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> kmirrord           
>   292 root      14  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> ksnapd             
>   295 root      10  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:11.12 
> kjournald          
>   328 root      11  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> kauditd            
>   362 root      17  -4  2916  372  336 S  0.0  0.1   0:01.39 
> udevd              
>   598 root      10  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.01 
> kgameportd         
>   697 root      11  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> ac97/0             
>  1289 root      13  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> kmpathd/0          
>  1323 root      13  -5     0    0    0 S  0.0  0.0   0:00.00 
> kjournald          
>  1813 root      15   0  9540 4716  324 S  0.0  1.9   0:00.11 
> restorecond        
>  1824 root      18   0  1696  516  472 S  0.0  0.2   0:00.37 
> syslogd            
>  1827 root      18   0  1644  380  328 S  0.0  0.1   0:00.07 
> klogd              
>  1854 root      15   0  2124  312  264 S  0.0  0.1   0:00.97 
> mcstransd          
>  1867 rpc       16   0  1780  396  392 S  0.0  0.2   0:00.00 
> portmap            
>  1921 root      15   0  4924  260  236 S  0.0  0.1   0:00.05 
> rpc.idmapd         
>  1941 dbus      18   0 13080 1248  984 S  0.0  0.5   0:36.77 
> dbus-daemon        
>  1993 root      19   0  6260  752  636 S  0.0  0.3   0:08.64 
> automount          
>  2038 root      18   0 15292  332  328 S  0.0  0.1   0:00.01 
> hpiod              
>  2043 root      15   0 13032  856  580 S  0.0  0.3   0:02.32 
> python             
>  2089 ntp       15   0  4840 4840 3856 S  0.0  1.9   0:00.87 
> ntpd               
>  2115 root      15   0  8984  832  636 S  0.0  0.3   0:01.25 
> sendmail           
>  2126 smmsp     15   0  7920  636  524 S  0.0  0.2   0:00.05 
> sendmail           
>  2138 root      15   0  1868  280  260 S  0.0  0.1   0:00.37 
> gpm                
>  2149 root      18   0  5392  612  544 S  0.0  0.2   0:00.51 
> crond              
>  2182 xfs       18   0  4132 1188  500 S  0.0  0.5   0:01.16 
> xfs                
>  2213 root      18   0  2584  344  300 S  0.0  0.1   0:00.02 
> atd                
>  2229 root      18   0 47464  31m 3000 S  0.0 12.6  15:29.20 
> yum-updatesd       
>  2257 haldaemo  15   0  6560 2216 1252 S  0.0  0.9   1:45.20 
> hald               
>  2258 root      15   0  3104  892  804 S  0.0  0.4   0:00.09 
> hald-runner        
>  2266 haldaemo  18   0  2348  576  572 S  0.0  0.2   0:00.00 
> hald-addon-keyb    
>  2270 haldaemo  15   0  2344  576  572 S  0.0  0.2   0:00.00 
> hald-addon-keyb    
>  2278 haldaemo  15   0  2344  604  580 S  0.0  0.2   0:00.59 
> hald-addon-keyb    
>  2288 root      18   0  1920  528  508 S  0.0  0.2   0:11.16 
> hald-addon-stor    
>  2290 root      18   0  1924  528  508 S  0.0  0.2   0:05.41 
> hald-addon-stor    
>  2326 root      15   0  1960  768  624 S  0.0  0.3   0:06.07 
> dhcdbd             
>  2342 root      15   0 14544 1528 1332 S  0.0  0.6   0:06.01 
> NetworkManager     
>  2358 root      15   0  3156  988  868 S  0.0  0.4   0:00.03 
> NetworkManagerD    
>  2453 root      18   0  1952  432  284 S  0.0  0.2   0:00.21 
> smartd             
>  2461 root      18   0  1624  368  364 S  0.0  0.1   0:00.00 
> mingetty           
>  2462 root      18   0  1628  368  364 S  0.0  0.1   0:00.00 
> mingetty           
>  2463 root      19   0  1628  368  364 S  0.0  0.1   0:00.00 
> mingetty           
>  2464 root      20   0  1624  368  364 S  0.0  0.1   0:00.00 
> mingetty           
>  2465 root      21   0  1628  368  364 S  0.0  0.1   0:00.00 
> mingetty           
>  2466 root      23   0  1628  368  364 S  0.0  0.1   0:00.00 
> mingetty           
>  2541 root      18   0  4488  988  984 S  0.0  0.4   0:00.01 
> prefdm             
>  2544 root      15   0 15376 1956 1952 S  0.0  0.8   0:00.32 
> gdm-binary         
>  2633 root      18   0 15764 1768 1712 S  0.0  0.7   0:00.39 
> gdm-binary         
>  4079 root      15   0  9748 1204 1088 S  0.0  0.5   0:02.89 
> cupsd              
>  9138 lesh      15   0  2520 1132  960 S  0.0  0.4   0:05.79 
> gam_server         
> 11489 root      15   0 33772  13m 6200 S  0.0  5.5  18:23.24 
> Xorg               
> 11712 lesh      15   0 22416 5296 4312 S  0.0  2.1   0:00.88 
> gnome-session      
> 11768 lesh      18   0  4288  344  220 S  0.0  0.1   0:00.03 
> ssh-agent          
> 11771 lesh      18   0  2736  484  404 S  0.0  0.2   0:00.00 
> dbus-launch        
> 11772 lesh      15   0 13080  972  728 S  0.0  0.4   0:00.24 
> dbus-daemon        
> 11779 lesh      16   0  7480 3760 1656 S  0.0  1.5   0:06.36 
> gconfd-2           
> 11782 lesh      20   0  2532  536  456 S  0.0  0.2   0:00.00 
> gnome-keyring-d    
> 11784 lesh      15   0 33364 5932 4620 S  0.0  2.3   0:10.97 
> gnome-settings-    
> 11800 lesh      15   0 17664 8088 5932 S  0.0  3.2   0:44.01 
> metacity           
> 11804 lesh      15   0 66300 4456 3660 S  0.0  1.7   0:28.23 
> gnome-power-man    
> 11807 lesh      18   0 70660 9.8m 7324 S  0.0  4.0   0:10.75 
> gnome-panel        
> 11809 lesh      20   0  105m 8924 7368 S  0.0  3.5   0:07.55 
> nautilus           
> 11814 lesh      15   0 38528 2152 1620 S  0.0  0.8   0:00.99 
> bonobo-activati    
> 11822 lesh      16   0 11164 2380 2036 S  0.0  0.9   0:00.14 
> gnome-vfs-daemo    
> 11826 lesh      15   0 69672 9.8m 7344 S  0.0  3.9   0:14.49 
> wnck-applet        
> 11830 lesh      15   0 97148 5552 5004 S  0.0  2.2   0:00.46 
> trashapplet        
> 11839 lesh      15   0 16056 4428 3652 S  0.0  1.7   0:09.53 
> gnome-screensav    
> 11847 lesh      15   0 22564 5112 4596 S  0.0  2.0   0:00.43 
> notification-ar    
> 11849 lesh      15   0 69080 6404 5668 S  0.0  2.5   0:02.73 
> mixer_applet2      
> 11851 lesh      19   0 27900 7004 5800 S  0.0  2.7   0:05.77 
> clock-applet       
> 11863 lesh      15   0  2440  728  692 S  0.0  0.3   0:00.55 
> mapping-daemon     
> 11871 lesh      16   0 44236 4996 4652 S  0.0  2.0   0:00.42 
> eggcups            
> 11879 lesh      15   0 22116 3112 3104 S  0.0  1.2   0:00.10 
> gnome-volume-ma    
> 11886 lesh      15   0 24580 8460 5444 S  0.0  3.3   0:01.43 
> puplet             
> 11887 lesh      15   0 89664  20m 9572 S  0.0  8.3   2:23.51 
> beagled            
> 11891 lesh      15   0 68256 8604 6736 S  0.0  3.4   2:15.95 
> nm-applet          
> 11898 lesh      18   0  5900 1032 1028 S  0.0  0.4   0:00.04 
> escd               
> 11960 lesh      15   0 14900 3464 3128 S  0.0  1.4   0:06.72 
> pam-panel-icon     
> 12052 root      15   0  1804  616  516 S  0.0  0.2   0:03.32 
> pam_timestamp_c    
> 12155 lesh      15   0  100m 5640 3776 S  0.0  2.2   0:01.80 
> evolution-data-    
> 13644 lesh      22   0 70940 7724 6228 S  0.0  3.0   0:00.49 
> evolution-alarm    
> 16910 lesh      30  15 38172  14m 7888 S  0.0  6.0   0:06.58 
> beagled-helper     
> 16981 lesh      15   0 60916 8372 5792 S  0.0  3.3   0:01.19 
> notification-da    
> 16984 root      15   0  2280 1088  788 S  0.0  0.4   0:00.01 
> dhclient           
> 17057 lesh      15   0  188m  24m  16m S  0.0  9.8   0:27.39 
> evolution          
> 17104 lesh      15   0 31132  26m 2564 S  0.0 10.5   0:08.36 
> spamd              
> 17108 lesh      18   0 31264  25m 1996 S  0.0 10.3   0:00.47 
> spamd              
> 17112 lesh      15   0 83784  12m 8472 S  0.0  5.1   0:21.06 
> gnome-terminal     
> 17117 lesh      18   0  2440  664  564 S  0.0  0.3   0:00.01 
> gnome-pty-helpe    
> 17118 lesh      16   0  4624 1432 1156 S  0.0  0.6   0:00.19 
> bash               
> 17149 lesh      15   0 80044  19m  13m S  0.0  7.9   0:06.39 
> gedit              
> 17151 root      18   0  4808 1208  956 S  0.0  0.5   0:00.05 
> su                 
> 17155 root      15   0  4624 1444 1168 S  0.0  0.6   0:00.15 
> bash               
>
> [root at localhost ~]#
>
> Other that just entirely too many things running, this doesn't seem to
> tell much about the problem.
> Note that I run Gnome desktop, but there are a large number of items
> beginning with "k", which I thought indicated
> the KDE versions of software.
>
> Regards,
> Les H
Les,

Steve Siegfried provided some excellent advice, but I'd like to add a 
few more points.  Your computer definitely looks to be memory bound.  I 
totaled the %MEM column and came up with 150%.  This means that the 
Linux kernel must swap memory pages out to disk, causing operations that 
would normally utilize the fastest part of the computer (RAM) to use the 
slowest part (hard disk).

The good news is that RAM is cheap and increasing your physical memory 
to 512 MB (or 1 GB if your motherboard can handle it) should yield a 
noticeable improvement.  For now, you could shut down some of the more 
memory hungry (and non-vital) services.  yum-updatesd, beagled, and 
spamd are accounting for 47.7% of your physical memory alone.  Shutting 
them down and configuring your desktop to consume fewer resources 
(terminate unnecessary programs and applets, disable desktop effects, 
etc.) should give you a reasonable idea of how the machine will perform 
with more memory.

Finally, those processes that begin with "k" are special kernel 
processes.  They should be there even if you are running from the 
command line.  In other words, killing them would be a VERY BAD THING.

I hope this is helpful,

Matthew Roth
InterMedia Marketing Solutions
Software Engineer and Systems Developer




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