nice command in Linux
The Linux nice command is used to set the priority of processes, allowing users to control CPU resource allocation. By adjusting the “niceness” levels, users can determine the importance of processes and influence how system resources are utilized. Nice values range from -20 to 19, with lower values indicating higher priority. This command is particularly useful for managing system performance and ensuring critical tasks receive adequate resources.
nice Syntax:
Section titled “nice Syntax:”nice [OPTION] [COMMAND [ARG]...]Linux nice Options:
Section titled “Linux nice Options:”| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -n | Specify a niceness value |
| -adjust | Adjust the niceness by a certain value |
nice Parameters:
Section titled “nice Parameters:”| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| COMMAND | Command to be executed |
| ARG | Arguments to be passed to the command |
How to use nice command:
Section titled “How to use nice command:”Run a process with very low priority
Section titled “Run a process with very low priority”nice -n 19 ./my_programRuns the program “my_program” with very low priority.
Increase the priority of a running process
Section titled “Increase the priority of a running process”renice -n -5 -p 12345Increases the priority of the process with PID 12345 by setting its nice value to -5.
Set the priority of a command before executing it
Section titled “Set the priority of a command before executing it”nice -n 10 ./my_script.shSets the priority of the script “my_script.sh” to 10 before executing it.
List the current nice values of all running processes
Section titled “List the current nice values of all running processes”nice --10Displays the current nice values of all running processes.
Lower the priority of a currently running process
Section titled “Lower the priority of a currently running process”renice -n 5 -p 54321Lowers the priority of the process with PID 54321 by setting its nice value to 5.
Run a process with high priority
Section titled “Run a process with high priority”nice -n -15 ./important_programRuns the important program “important_program” with high priority.
Monitor resource usage and priority of a process
Section titled “Monitor resource usage and priority of a process”top -p 12345Monitors the resource usage and priority of the process with PID 12345 using the top command.
Run a command with specific priority level
Section titled “Run a command with specific priority level”nice --adjustment=15 ./low_priority_commandRuns the low priority command “low_priority_command” with a specific priority level of 15.
How do I use nice in Linux?
Section titled “How do I use nice in Linux?”To use the nice command in Linux, execute the following command:
nice --adjustment=10 ./my_script.shHow can I run a command with a specific niceness value?
Section titled “How can I run a command with a specific niceness value?”To run a command with a specific niceness value in Linux, use the following syntax:
nice -n 5 ./my_programHow can I check the current niceness value of a process?
Section titled “How can I check the current niceness value of a process?”To check the current niceness value of a process in Linux, you can use the following command:
nice -n 10 --pid=1234How do I change the niceness value of a running process?
Section titled “How do I change the niceness value of a running process?”To change the niceness value of a running process in Linux, you can use the renice command with the following syntax:
renice -n 10 -p 1234How do I start a new process with a specific niceness value?
Section titled “How do I start a new process with a specific niceness value?”To start a new process with a specific niceness value in Linux, you can use the nice command followed by the desired niceness level, like this:
nice -n 15 ./my_script.shHow can I set the CPU affinity for a process using nice?
Section titled “How can I set the CPU affinity for a process using nice?”You can set the CPU affinity for a process using nice by combining it with the taskset command. Here is an example:
nice -n 10 taskset -c 0-3 ./my_programHow do I view a list of running processes with their niceness values?
Section titled “How do I view a list of running processes with their niceness values?”To view a list of running processes with their niceness values in Linux, you can use the following command:
ps -eo pid,comm,niceHow can I run a command at a lower priority using nice?
Section titled “How can I run a command at a lower priority using nice?”To run a command at a lower priority in Linux, you can use the nice command with a higher niceness value. Here is an example:
nice -n 15 ./my_backup_script.shApplications of the nice command
Section titled “Applications of the nice command”- Setting priority levels for processes
- Controlling resource allocation for processes
- Improving system performance by prioritizing important processes
- Running CPU-intensive tasks without impacting other operations
- Managing system load dynamically based on process requirements