When performing a routine server process inspection the systems administrator notices that about 300 processes similar to the following are running: Root 7858 0 21:39 pts/0 00:00:00 [websrv]…

Question

Options

• ASchedule a server reboot
• BRaise the process priorities
• CReinstall the OS on the server
• DLower the process prionties

• A
  76% (42)
• B
  15% (8)
• C
  4% (2)
• D
  5% (3)

Explanation

The processes shown with <defunct> status are zombie processes - processes that have completed execution but remain in the process table because their parent process has not yet read their exit status (wait() call). Zombie processes are already dead; they cannot be killed with kill or kill -9 because there is no running process to signal. The only reliable way to remove zombie processes is for their parent to acknowledge them, or for the system to be rebooted. Since the malfunctioning software (the parent) was already removed but the zombies persist, scheduling a server reboot (A) is the best course of action - a reboot clears all process table entries. Raising or lowering process priorities (B, D) has no effect on defunct processes, and reinstalling the OS (C) is an extreme and unnecessary action.

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