The K Desktop Environment

Chapter 3. Command Reference

3.1. The Main Kpm Window

3.1.1. The File Menu

File->Iconify (Ctrl+Z)

Iconifies the main window. When iconfied, Kpm uses far less CPU time because there is no need to update the process list. If KWin is the window manager, there will be an icon in Kicker displaying the average system load. Under other window managers (such as fvwm), Kpm's icon itself will show the load, depending on how the window manager is configured.

File->Quit (Ctrl+Q)

Quits Kpm. Closing the main window or pressing Quit on the toolbar has the same effect.

3.1.2. The View Menu

View->Refresh process list (Ctrl+U)

Immediately updates the process list. This is very useful with rather long update periods. This can also be done by pressing Refresh process list on the toolbar or by pressing Space.

View->All Processes

Displays all processes.

View->Your Processes

Displays processes started by current user. This includes those processes running under a different user (for example, setuid root programs started by the current user).

View->Non-Root Processes

Displays all processes except those started by root.

View->Running Processes

Displays only running processes (that is, processes running or on the run queue).

View->User Fields

Displays the the most common process fields. These are those fields typically displayed by top.

View->Job Fields

Displays the most relevant fields for job control.

View->Memory Fields

Displays fields related to memory usage, page faults, etc.

View->Select Fields...

Allows the selection of a custom set of fields to be displayed.

3.1.3. The Process Menu

Process->Renice... (Ctrl+R)

Modifes the priority of the marked process or processes. Under Linux, a process has a priority (nice value) ranging from -20 (highest priority) to +20 (lowest priority), thus increasing the nice value gives a process less CPU time. Only the super-user allowed to lower the nice value (increase its priority). This means that an ordinary user cannot lower the nice value of a process, even if that user raised it previously. An oridnary user is only allowed to alter the priority of that user's processes. The super-user is allowed to modify the priority for any process, and only the super-user may lower the nice value of a process.

Process->Change Scheduling... (Ctrl+s)

Allows the super-user to change the scheduling policy of the selected process or processes. This function uses the POSIX.1b real-time extensions present in Linux 2.0.x and later kernels. Normal processes are set to SCHED_OTHER and have a static priority of 0. Real-time (soft) processes have a policy of SCHED_FIFO or SCHED_RR and a static priority in the range of 1 to 99. This option is only available to the super-user.

Process->Socket Info (Ctrl+i)

Displays a list of TCP and UDP sockets used by the selected process or processes.

3.1.4. The Signal Menu

The choices in the signal menu send various signals to all marked processes. Be careful when doing this, especially if more than one process is marked. The standard POSIX signals are explained here.

Signal->Terminate (Ctrl+T)

Sends SIGTERM to the selected process or processes.

Signal->Hangup (Ctrl+H)

Sends SIGHUP to the selected process or processes.

Signal->Interrupt

Sends SIGINT to the selected process or processes.

Signal->Kill (Ctrl+k)

Sends SIGKILL to the selected process or processes.

Signal->Other

Presents a list of other signals to be sent to the selected process or processes.

3.1.5. The Settings Menu

Settings->Show Toolbar

Toggles display of the toolbar.

Settings->Show Command Path

Toggles display of the command path in the CMDLINE field of the process list.

Settings->Show Resource Info

Toggles display of the resource displays.

Settings->Save Options

Saves the current settings. Until a new set of settings is saved, the saved settings will be used upon start up of Kpm.

Settings->Preferences...

Opens a dialog to change Kpm preferences.

Settings->Update Period...

Opens a dialog to change the update period.