pstree, version 19.3 ==================== This is a derivative of the pstree supplied as part of psmisc 19 (hence the version number) by Werner Almesberger. psmisc is a program to display the set of currently running processes as a compact tree, and is useful for getting a feel for what's running on a system. This version works with NetBSD (and hence probably other *BSDs), Linux, Solaris 2, IRIX and DEC OSF/1. - Ben Harris Operating-system-specific notes follow: Linux ----- Under Linux, pstree will use libproc (part of procps) if it's available. Without libproc, pstree will use its own code for reading /proc, which isn't as reliable as libproc. If you really want to build without using libproc (eg you're building pstree for a system that doesn't have it), you can configure with --without-libproc. NetBSD ------ pstree cannot get processes' command lines under versions of NetBSD prior to version 1.3K or so, since /proc/$pid/cmdline didn't exist before that. Solaris 2, OSF/1, IRIX ---------------------- All of these have variants of the System V procfs. Solaris 2.6 and IRIX have slightly modified versions which allow any user to get at process information. Earlier versions of Solaris and all versions of OSF/1 up to Tru64 UNIX 5.0 prevent users' seeing one another's processes. pstree can still list the current user's processes if invoked as "pstree ". If invoked by root, pstree can see all processes, but it isn't yet safe to make pstree setuid root. NetBSD, Solaris 2, OSF/1 ------------------------ On these systems, init (with PID 1) isn't quite the parent of all processes. Running "pstree root" may be enlightening.