Why do process names start with the letter k in Linux?
When using the top command on a linux server, I can see multiple root processes starting with the letter k, like for example kthreadd, kblockd, khelper, kacpi_notify, ksmd, kswapd0, khugepaged, ksmd and much more.
I assume it's not a coincidence; what does the k stand for here?
linux process
edited Jan 22 at 4:24
Blackwood
2,89671728
asked Jun 10 '16 at 15:31
Nicolas CNicolas C
17318
add a comment |
When using the top command on a linux server, I can see multiple root processes starting with the letter k, like for example kthreadd, kblockd, khelper, kacpi_notify, ksmd, kswapd0, khugepaged, ksmd and much more.
I assume it's not a coincidence; what does the k stand for here?
linux process
edited Jan 22 at 4:24
Blackwood
2,89671728
asked Jun 10 '16 at 15:31
Nicolas CNicolas C
17318
1
A bit googling tells you "kernel"
– deviantfan
Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
@deviantfan I guessed "k" for "kernel" without googling :)
– DavidPostill♦
Jun 10 '16 at 15:35
1
@DavidPostill That was meant as a hint to OP that writing questions for this is not necessary, not that we all need Google for this.
– deviantfan
Jun 10 '16 at 15:37
add a comment |
When using the top command on a linux server, I can see multiple root processes starting with the letter k, like for example kthreadd, kblockd, khelper, kacpi_notify, ksmd, kswapd0, khugepaged, ksmd and much more.
I assume it's not a coincidence; what does the k stand for here?
linux process
edited Jan 22 at 4:24
Blackwood
2,89671728
asked Jun 10 '16 at 15:31
Nicolas CNicolas C
17318
When using the top command on a linux server, I can see multiple root processes starting with the letter k, like for example kthreadd, kblockd, khelper, kacpi_notify, ksmd, kswapd0, khugepaged, ksmd and much more.
I assume it's not a coincidence; what does the k stand for here?
linux process
linux process
edited Jan 22 at 4:24
Blackwood
2,89671728
asked Jun 10 '16 at 15:31
Nicolas CNicolas C
17318
edited Jan 22 at 4:24
Blackwood
2,89671728
asked Jun 10 '16 at 15:31
Nicolas CNicolas C
17318
edited Jan 22 at 4:24
Blackwood
2,89671728
edited Jan 22 at 4:24
Blackwood
2,89671728
edited Jan 22 at 4:24
Blackwood
2,89671728
2,89671728
asked Jun 10 '16 at 15:31
Nicolas CNicolas C
17318
asked Jun 10 '16 at 15:31
Nicolas CNicolas C
17318
asked Jun 10 '16 at 15:31
Nicolas CNicolas C
17318
17318
1
A bit googling tells you "kernel"
– deviantfan
Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
@deviantfan I guessed "k" for "kernel" without googling :)
– DavidPostill♦
Jun 10 '16 at 15:35
1
@DavidPostill That was meant as a hint to OP that writing questions for this is not necessary, not that we all need Google for this.
– deviantfan
Jun 10 '16 at 15:37
add a comment |
1
A bit googling tells you "kernel"
– deviantfan
Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
@deviantfan I guessed "k" for "kernel" without googling :)
– DavidPostill♦
Jun 10 '16 at 15:35
1
@DavidPostill That was meant as a hint to OP that writing questions for this is not necessary, not that we all need Google for this.
– deviantfan
Jun 10 '16 at 15:37
1
1
A bit googling tells you "kernel"
– deviantfan
Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
A bit googling tells you "kernel"
– deviantfan
Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
@deviantfan I guessed "k" for "kernel" without googling :)
– DavidPostill♦
Jun 10 '16 at 15:35
@deviantfan I guessed "k" for "kernel" without googling :)
– DavidPostill♦
Jun 10 '16 at 15:35
1
1
@DavidPostill That was meant as a hint to OP that writing questions for this is not necessary, not that we all need Google for this.
– deviantfan
Jun 10 '16 at 15:37
@DavidPostill That was meant as a hint to OP that writing questions for this is not necessary, not that we all need Google for this.
– deviantfan
Jun 10 '16 at 15:37
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Those aren’t processes but kernel threads:
Threads are "light weight processes" (LWPs). [...]
[...]
Kernel-space threads often are implemented in the kernel using several tables (each task gets a table of threads). In this case, the kernel schedules each thread within the timeslice of each process. There is a little more overhead with mode switching from user->kernel-> user and loading of larger contexts, but initial performance measures indicate a negligible increase in time.
Advantages. Since the clocktick will determine the switching times, a task is less likely to hog the timeslice from the other threads within the task. Also I/O blocking is not a problem. Lastly, if properly coded, the process automatically can take advantage of SMPs and will run incrementally faster with each added CPU.
Related reading
edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:17
Community♦
1
answered Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
Daniel BDaniel B
34.3k76587
add a comment |
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Those aren’t processes but kernel threads:
Threads are "light weight processes" (LWPs). [...]
[...]
Kernel-space threads often are implemented in the kernel using several tables (each task gets a table of threads). In this case, the kernel schedules each thread within the timeslice of each process. There is a little more overhead with mode switching from user->kernel-> user and loading of larger contexts, but initial performance measures indicate a negligible increase in time.
Advantages. Since the clocktick will determine the switching times, a task is less likely to hog the timeslice from the other threads within the task. Also I/O blocking is not a problem. Lastly, if properly coded, the process automatically can take advantage of SMPs and will run incrementally faster with each added CPU.
Related reading
edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:17
Community♦
1
answered Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
Daniel BDaniel B
34.3k76587
add a comment |
Those aren’t processes but kernel threads:
Threads are "light weight processes" (LWPs). [...]
[...]
Kernel-space threads often are implemented in the kernel using several tables (each task gets a table of threads). In this case, the kernel schedules each thread within the timeslice of each process. There is a little more overhead with mode switching from user->kernel-> user and loading of larger contexts, but initial performance measures indicate a negligible increase in time.
Advantages. Since the clocktick will determine the switching times, a task is less likely to hog the timeslice from the other threads within the task. Also I/O blocking is not a problem. Lastly, if properly coded, the process automatically can take advantage of SMPs and will run incrementally faster with each added CPU.
Related reading
edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:17
Community♦
1
answered Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
Daniel BDaniel B
34.3k76587
add a comment |
Those aren’t processes but kernel threads:
Threads are "light weight processes" (LWPs). [...]
[...]
Kernel-space threads often are implemented in the kernel using several tables (each task gets a table of threads). In this case, the kernel schedules each thread within the timeslice of each process. There is a little more overhead with mode switching from user->kernel-> user and loading of larger contexts, but initial performance measures indicate a negligible increase in time.
Advantages. Since the clocktick will determine the switching times, a task is less likely to hog the timeslice from the other threads within the task. Also I/O blocking is not a problem. Lastly, if properly coded, the process automatically can take advantage of SMPs and will run incrementally faster with each added CPU.
Related reading
edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:17
Community♦
1
answered Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
Daniel BDaniel B
34.3k76587
Those aren’t processes but kernel threads:
Threads are "light weight processes" (LWPs). [...]
[...]
Kernel-space threads often are implemented in the kernel using several tables (each task gets a table of threads). In this case, the kernel schedules each thread within the timeslice of each process. There is a little more overhead with mode switching from user->kernel-> user and loading of larger contexts, but initial performance measures indicate a negligible increase in time.
Advantages. Since the clocktick will determine the switching times, a task is less likely to hog the timeslice from the other threads within the task. Also I/O blocking is not a problem. Lastly, if properly coded, the process automatically can take advantage of SMPs and will run incrementally faster with each added CPU.
Related reading
edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:17
Community♦
1
answered Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
Daniel BDaniel B
34.3k76587
edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:17
Community♦
1
edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:17
Community♦
1
edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:17
Community♦
1
1
answered Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
Daniel BDaniel B
34.3k76587
answered Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
Daniel BDaniel B
34.3k76587
answered Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
Daniel BDaniel B
34.3k76587
34.3k76587
add a comment |
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1
A bit googling tells you "kernel"
– deviantfan
Jun 10 '16 at 15:34
@deviantfan I guessed "k" for "kernel" without googling :)
– DavidPostill♦
Jun 10 '16 at 15:35
1
@DavidPostill That was meant as a hint to OP that writing questions for this is not necessary, not that we all need Google for this.
– deviantfan
Jun 10 '16 at 15:37