Methods and apparatus for managing defunct processes
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to managing defunct processes. A parent process that does not collect exit information associated with a child process may leave a defunct child process. A defunct child process is identified. The parent process of the defunct child process is modified. The parent process can be modified by changing an existing thread or instantiating a new thread to collect exit information associated with the child process. Collecting exit information causes the removal of the defunct child process.
1. A computer-implemented method for a running parent process to collect exit information from a defunct child process associated with the running parent process, the computer-implemented method comprising:
identifying a running parent process associated with the defunct child process; and
modifying the running parent process associated with the defunct child process by creating an agent thread side the running parent process, the agent thread being operable to force the running parent process to collect exit information for the defunct child process, thereby enabling the collection of exit information for the defunct child process associated with the running parent process without terminating the running parent process.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the parent process comprises altering the parent process to invoke wait( ) or waitpid( ).
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a control criterion is used to determine whether to modify the parent process.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the control criterion comprises determining whether the parent process is stopped.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the control criterion comprises determining whether the defunct process is a newly defunct process, wherein the parent is modified only if it is determined that the defunct process is not a newly defunct process.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the control criterion comprises determining that the parent process is not an initial process.
7. A computer-implemented method for reaping a defunct child process associated with a running parent process, the computer-implemented method comprising:
identifying a defunct child process associated with the running parent process;
attaching an agent thread to the running parent process to allow modification of the running parent process, wherein the running parent process is modified to reap the defunct child process without terminating the running parent process.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein a control criterion is used to determine whether to modify the parent process.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the control criterion comprises determining whether the parent process is stopped.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the control criterion comprises determining whether the defunct process is a newly defunct process, wherein the parent is modified only if it is determined that the defunct process is not a newly defunct process.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the control criterion comprises determining that the parent process is not an initial process.
12. A computer program product, stored on a machine-readable medium, for a running parent process to collect exit information from a defunct child process associated with the running parent process, the computer program product comprising instructions operable to cause a computer to:
identify a running parent process associated with the defunct child process; and
modify the running parent process associated with the defunct child process by creating an agent thread inside the running parent process, the agent thread being operable to force the running parent process to collect exit information for the defunct child process, thereby enabling the collection of exit information for the defunct child process associated with the running parent process without terminating the running parent process.
13. An apparatus for a running parent process to collect exit information from a defunct child process associated with the running parent process, the apparatus comprising:
means for identifying a running parent process associated with the defunct child process; and
means for modifying the running parent process associated with the defunct child process by creating an agent thread inside the running parent process, the agent thread being operable to force the running parent process to collect exit information for the defunct child process, thereby enabling the collection of exit information for the defunct child process associated with the running parent process without terminating the running parent process.
14. An apparatus for reaping a defunct child process associated with a running parent process, the apparatus comprising:
memory;
a processor coupled to memory, the processor being configured to:
identify a defunct child process associated with the parent process, and
attach an agent thread to the running parent process to allow modification of the running parent process wherein the running parent process is modified to reap the defunct child process without terminating the running parent process.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a control criterion is used to determine whether to modify the parent process.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the control criterion comprises determining whether the parent process is stopped.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the control criterion comprises determining whether the defunct process is a newly defunct process, wherein the parent is modified only if it is determined that the defunct process is not a newly defunct process.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the control criterion comprises determining that the parent process is not an initial process.