NAME

fuser − identify processes using a file or file structure

SYNOPSIS

/etc/fuser [−ku] files | resources [−] [[−ku] files | resources]

DESCRIPTION

fuser outputs the process IDs of the processes that are using the files specified as arguments.  Each process ID is followed by a letter code, interpreted as follows: if the process is using the file as 1) its current directory, the code is c, 2) the parent of its current directory (only when the file is being used by the system), the code is p, or 3) its root directory, the code is r.  For block special devices with mounted file systems, all processes using any file on that device are listed.  For all other types of files (text files, executables, directories, devices, etc.) only the processes using that file are reported. 

The following options may be used with fuser:

−u the user login name, in parentheses, also follows the process ID. 

−k the SIGKILL signal is sent to each process.  Since this option spawns kills for each process, the kill messages may not show up immediately [see kill(2)].

If more than one group of files are specified, the options may be respecified for each additional group of files.  A lone dash cancels the options currently in force; then, the new set of options applies to the next group of files. 

The process IDs are printed as a single line on the standard output, separated by spaces and terminated with a single new line.  All other output is written on standard error. 

Any user with permission to read /dev/kmem and /dev/mem can use fuser.  Only the super-user can terminate another user’s process

FILES

/unix for system namelist

/dev/kmem for system image

/dev/mem also for system image

SEE ALSO

kill(2), mount(1M), ps(1), signal(2). 

September 02, 1992