Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!samsung!cg-atla!millipore!lampert
From: lampert@millipore.com (Jeff Lampert)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sequent
Subject: How can I really tell if something is a runaway?
Keywords: Runaway, Dynix 3.1
Message-ID: <1991May20.150755.18581@millipore.com>
Date: 20 May 91 15:07:55 GMT
Distribution: us
Organization: Millipore Corporation
Lines: 28


I have five Sequent systems running Dynix and Oracle and have a real problem
with runaways.

Has anyone discovered a sure fire method of discovering runaways?  If I
do a 'ps -aux' then cross reference the terminals against a 'who'
listing, I can find some of them (like vi, etc.).

The problem is that Oracle owns a lot of the stuff in the 'ps' listing,
and I can never be sure that it's not a valid process.

The runaways usually run at 98.0% CPU, but once in a while a valid Oracle
process does too.

Argh!  I called Sequent and they basically said that I can find them by
knowing which processes should be tied to a terminal (like vi, or an Oracle
application screen), but who the heck has time to be familiar with every
application on every system?  Not me...

I just got a copy of something called "Watcher" that may do what I need,
but I'd like to know how you have solved the problem (or even it it _is_ a
problem for you).

Thanks in advance!

Jeff Lampert
(800)221-1975 x2598
lampert@millipore.com