The pstack command is a Linux utility that displays the stack trace for each process. It is used to diagnose and debug the running processes on a Linux system. This command is useful when a process is not responding or behaving unexpectedly.
Overview
To use the pstack command, simply type pstack followed by the process ID (PID) of the process you want to examine. The command will then display the stack trace for that process.
pstack [options] pid
Examples
pstack 1234
This will display the stack trace for the process with PID 1234.
Specific use cases
- Debugging a process that is not responding or behaving unexpectedly.
- Analyzing the execution flow of a process.
Options
The following table lists all available options for the pstack command:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -h | Display help message and exit |
| -V | Display version information and exit |
| -f | Display the stack trace for all threads in the process |
| -p | Attach to a running process using its PID |
| -u | Display the user name and ID of the process owner |
Troubleshooting tips
- If the
pstackcommand does not display any output, ensure that the process ID (PID) is correct and that the process is running. - If the command displays an error message, ensure that you have sufficient permissions to access the process.
Notes
- The
pstackcommand is included in theprocps-ngpackage, which is typically pre-installed on most Linux systems. - The stack trace displayed by the
pstackcommand is generated by reading the process’s memory and interpreting the contents of the stack. As a result, it may not always be accurate or complete.