Introduction

Mastering Linux process management, system monitoring, and package installation is essential for effective system administration. This comprehensive guide covers process control, system information retrieval, network diagnostics, and practical package management through a real-world example.

Process Management Deep Dive

Understanding Process States

Linux processes exist in various states, and understanding how to monitor and control them is crucial for system administration. Unlike Windows Task Manager, Linux provides more granular control over process management.

Real-Time Process Monitoring

The top command provides a dynamic, real-time view of running processes:

top

This displays:

• Process ID (PID)
• User ownership
• CPU and memory usage
• Process state
• Command that initiated the process

Press q to exit the real-time view.

Static Process Listing

For a snapshot of current processes, use the ps command with various options:

ps -u        # Show current user's processes
ps -au       # Show all users' processes
ps aux       # Show all processes with detailed information

The ps aux command is particularly useful as it displays comprehensive process information including:

• User who owns the process