How to use the command psgrep (with examples)

The psgrep command is a useful tool for searching running processes using the grep command. It allows you to find process lines that contain a specific string, exclude headers, and search using a simplified format.

Use case 1: Find process lines containing a specific string

Code:

psgrep process_name

Motivation: This use case allows you to quickly search for running processes that contain a specific string. It can be helpful when you need to find a particular process among a list of running processes.

Explanation: In this use case, the command “psgrep” is followed by the specific string you want to search for. It will then search for process lines containing the given string.

Example output:

592    root          /usr/sbin/apache2
847    www-data      /usr/sbin/apache2
1572   www-data      /usr/sbin/apache2

Use case 2: Find process lines containing a specific string, excluding headers

Code:

psgrep -n process_name

Motivation: By excluding headers from the output, this use case provides a cleaner and more focused result. It can be helpful when you want to directly see the relevant process lines without any additional information.

Explanation: In this use case, the command “psgrep” is followed by the “-n” flag and then the specific string you want to search for. The “-n” flag tells the command to exclude the headers from the output.

Example output:

592    root          /usr/sbin/apache2
847    www-data      /usr/sbin/apache2
1572   www-data      /usr/sbin/apache2

Use case 3: Search using a simplified format (PID, user, command)

Code:

psgrep -s process_name

Motivation: This use case provides a simplified format, showing only the PID (Process ID), user, and command of the matching processes. It can be useful when you need a concise overview of relevant processes.

Explanation: In this use case, the command “psgrep” is followed by the “-s” flag and then the specific string you want to search for. The “-s” flag tells the command to use the simplified format.

Example output:

592    root          /usr/sbin/apache2
847    www-data      /usr/sbin/apache2
1572   www-data      /usr/sbin/apache2

Conclusion:

The psgrep command is a powerful tool for searching running processes using the grep command. It can help you quickly find specific processes, exclude headers for a cleaner output, and obtain a simplified format for a concise overview. Mastering the different use cases of psgrep can greatly enhance your process management and troubleshooting capabilities.