LX0-103 · Question #206
Regarding the command: nice -5 /usr/bin/prog Which of the following statements is correct?
The correct answer is B. /usr/bin/prog is executed with a nice level of 5.. The 'nice -5' command uses legacy syntax where '-5' is interpreted as a positive niceness increment of 5, raising the nice level to 5 and lowering process priority - not a negative value.
Question
Regarding the command:
nice -5 /usr/bin/prog Which of the following statements is correct?
Options
- A/usr/bin/prog is executed with a nice level of -5.
- B/usr/bin/prog is executed with a nice level of 5.
- C/usr/bin/prog is executed with a priority of -5.
- D/usr/bin/prog is executed with a priority of 5.
How the community answered
(33 responses)- B94% (31)
- C3% (1)
- D3% (1)
Why each option
The 'nice -5' command uses legacy syntax where '-5' is interpreted as a positive niceness increment of 5, raising the nice level to 5 and lowering process priority - not a negative value.
A nice level of -5 requires 'nice --5' or 'nice -n -5' with superuser privileges; 'nice -5' sets a positive increment of 5, not -5.
In the legacy 'nice' syntax, 'nice -N command' interprets N as a positive increment added to the default nice value of 0, yielding a nice level of 5. A negative nice value (higher priority) would require 'nice --5' or 'nice -n -5', both of which require root privileges.
Nice values and kernel internal priority are related but distinct concepts - 'nice' sets the niceness (scheduling hint), not a raw kernel priority value.
The kernel internal priority is derived from the nice level but is not the same numeric value and is not directly set by the 'nice' command.
Concept tested: Linux nice command niceness adjustment syntax
Source: https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/nice.1.html
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