sometimes, when I run ps, I get a listing of the environment vars instead of the correct process listing. This happened most recently when running ps ax |grep firefox the output below shows a terminal session with a few working ps commands, then one that failed, then some more that worked. It only happens very rarely, and isn't fatal, or even particularly serious. Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. run ps a number of times 2. 3. Actual Results: damon@sys04 3delight-3.0.1-Linux-i686 $ ps ax PID TTY STAT TIME COMMAND 1 ? S 0:00 init [3] 2 ? SWN 0:00 [ksoftirqd/0] 3 ? SW< 0:01 [events/0] 4 ? SW< 0:00 [khelper] 5 ? SW< 0:05 [kblockd/0] 6 ? SW 0:00 [khubd] 31 ? SW< 0:00 [aio/0] 30 ? SW 0:22 [kswapd0] 124 ? SW< 0:00 [ata/0] 130 ? SW 0:00 [kseriod] 148 ? SW 0:06 [kjournald] 277 ? S 0:00 /sbin/devfsd /dev 5144 ? S 0:00 metalog [MASTER] 5145 ? S 0:00 metalog [KERNEL] 5249 ? S 0:02 /usr/sbin/cupsd 5474 ? S 0:00 /sbin/portmap 5585 ? S 8:21 /usr/sbin/famd -T 0 -c /etc/fam.conf 5614 ? S 0:00 /usr/sbin/sshd 5657 ? S 0:00 /usr/sbin/cron 5753 ? S 0:00 /usr/sbin/xinetd -pidfile /var/run/xinetd.pid -stayal 5770 tty1 S 0:00 /sbin/agetty 38400 tty1 linux 5772 tty2 S 0:00 /sbin/agetty 38400 tty2 linux 5773 tty3 S 0:00 /sbin/agetty 38400 tty3 linux 5775 tty4 S 0:00 /sbin/agetty 38400 tty4 linux 5776 tty5 S 0:00 /sbin/agetty 38400 tty5 linux 5777 tty6 S 0:00 /sbin/agetty 38400 tty6 linux 5804 ? S 0:00 /usr/bin/gdm 8310 ? S 0:01 /usr/libexec/bonobo-activation-server --ac-activate - 8567 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution-data-server-1.0 --oaf-activate 8590 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution-data-server-1.0 --oaf-activate 8591 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution-data-server-1.0 --oaf-activate 8601 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution-data-server-1.0 --oaf-activate11077 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution/1.4/evolution-wombat --oaf-act 5727 ? SW 0:00 [pdflush] 16943 ? SW 0:00 [pdflush] 8173 ? S 0:04 /usr/libexec/gconfd-2 29 8187 ? S 0:00 /usr/bin/gdm 8190 ? RL 4:07 /usr/X11R6/bin/X :0 -audit 0 -auth /var/lib/gdm/:0.Xa29479 ? S 0:01 gnome-session 29497 ? S 0:00 /usr/bin/ssh-agent -- gnome-session 29500 ? S 0:00 /usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon 29502 ? S 0:01 gnome-smproxy --sm-config-prefix /.gnome-smproxy-e3ca29504 ? S 0:01 /usr/libexec/gnome-settings-daemon --oaf-activate-iid29514 ? S 0:01 xscreensaver -nosplash 29534 ? S 1:06 metacity --sm-save-file 1103864448-16804-2233727497.m29540 ? S 0:04 gnome-panel --sm-config-prefix /gnome-panel-kNJLDu/ -29542 ? S 0:06 nautilus --sm-config-prefix /nautilus-r51gCn/ --sm-cl29544 ? S 0:03 gaim --session 117f000001000110377199200000167590011 29548 ? S 1:17 evolution-2.0 --sm-config-prefix /evolution-2.0-5NdVm29557 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution/1.4/evolution-alarm-notify --s29559 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution/2.0/evolution-alarm-notify --s29560 ? S 0:00 nautilus --sm-config-prefix /nautilus-r51gCn/ --sm-cl29561 ? S 0:00 nautilus --sm-config-prefix /nautilus-r51gCn/ --sm-cl29563 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/gnome-vfs-daemon --oaf-activate-iid=OAFI29564 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/gnome-vfs-daemon --oaf-activate-iid=OAFI29565 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/gnome-vfs-daemon --oaf-activate-iid=OAFI29582 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution/2.0/evolution-alarm-notify --s29583 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution/2.0/evolution-alarm-notify --s29584 ? S 0:00 nautilus --sm-config-prefix /nautilus-r51gCn/ --sm-cl29586 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/mapping-daemon 29587 ? S 0:00 nautilus --sm-config-prefix /nautilus-r51gCn/ --sm-cl29588 ? S 0:00 nautilus --sm-config-prefix /nautilus-r51gCn/ --sm-cl29590 ? S 0:00 nautilus --sm-config-prefix /nautilus-r51gCn/ --sm-cl29608 ? Z 0:00 [netstat] <defunct> 29610 ? S 0:10 /usr/libexec/wnck-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GN29624 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/mixer_applet2 --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:29642 ? S 0:00 evolution-2.0 --sm-config-prefix /evolution-2.0-5NdVm29643 ? S 0:01 evolution-2.0 --sm-config-prefix /evolution-2.0-5NdVm29654 ? S 0:01 evolution-2.0 --sm-config-prefix /evolution-2.0-5NdVm29656 ? S 0:01 /usr/libexec/clock-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:G29730 ? S 0:00 evolution-2.0 --sm-config-prefix /evolution-2.0-5NdVm29732 ? S 0:01 evolution-2.0 --sm-config-prefix /evolution-2.0-5NdVm29739 ? S 0:00 evolution-2.0 --sm-config-prefix /evolution-2.0-5NdVm29763 ? S 0:00 evolution-2.0 --sm-config-prefix /evolution-2.0-5NdVm29764 ? S 0:00 evolution-2.0 --sm-config-prefix /evolution-2.0-5NdVm30122 ? R 0:07 /usr/bin/gnome-terminal 30123 ? S 0:00 gnome-pty-helper 30124 pts/160 S 0:00 -bash 30125 ? S 0:00 /usr/bin/gnome-terminal 30126 ? S 0:00 /usr/bin/gnome-terminal 30286 ? S 0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution-data-server-1.0 --oaf-activate30339 pts/162 S 0:00 -bash 30354 pts/162 S 0:00 ssh root@wayland 30491 pts/160 R 0:00 ps ax damon@sys04 3delight-3.0.1-Linux-i686 $ ps ax |grep firefox 30497 pts/160 R 0:00 grep firefox INFODIR=/usr/share/info:/usr/X11R6/info MANPATH=/usr/share/man:/usr/local/share/man:/usr/share/gcc-data/i686-pc-linux-gnu/3.3/man:/usr/X11R6/man::/opt/blackdown-jdk-1.4.2.01/man:/usr/qt/3/doc/man SSH_AGENT_PID=29497 HOSTNAME=sys04.vpac.org TERM=xterm SHELL=/bin/bash GLOBUS_LOCATION=/opt/globus GTK_RC_FILES=/etc/gtk/gtkrc:/home/damon/.gtkrc-1.2-gnome2 WINDOWID=23068719 QTDIR=/usr/qt/3 ANT_HOME=/usr/share/ant-core MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME=/usr/lib/mozilla USER=damon LS_COLORS=no=00:fi=00:di=01;34:ln=01;36:pi=40;33:so=01;35:do=01;35:bd=40;33;01:cd=40;33;01:or=01;05;37;41:mi=01;05;37;41:ex=01;32:*.cmd=01;32:*.exe=01;32:*.com=01;32:*.btm=01;32:*.bat=01;32:*.sh=01;32:*.csh=01;32:*.tar=01;31:*.tgz=01;31:*.arj=01;31:*.taz=01;31:*.lzh=01;31:*.zip=01;31:*.z=01;31:*.Z=01;31:*.gz=01;31:*.bz2=01;31:*.bz=01;31:*.tbz2=01;31:*.tz=01;31:*.deb=01;31:*.rpm=01;31:*.rar=01;31:*.ace=01;31:*.zoo=01;31:*.cpio=01;31:*.jpg=01;35:*.jpeg=01;35:*.gif=01;35:*.bmp=01;35:*.ppm=01;35:*.tga=01;35:*.xbm=01;35:*.xpm=01;35:*.tif=01;35:*.tiff=01;35:*.png=01;35:*.mng=01;35:*.xcf=01;35:*.pcx=01;35:*.mpg=01;35:*.mpeg=01;35:*.m2v=01;35:*.avi=01;35:*.mkv=01;35:*.ogm=01;35:*.mp4=01;35:*.m4v=01;35:*.mp4v=01;35:*.mov=01;35:*.qt=01;35:*.wmv=01;35:*.asf=01;35:*.rm=01;35:*.rmvb=01;35:*.flc=01;35:*.fli=01;35:*.gl=01;35:*.dl=01;35:*.pdf=00;32:*.ps=00;32:*.txt=00;32:*.log=00;32:*.tex=00;32:*.doc=00;32:*.mp3=00;36:*.wav=00;36:*.mid=00;36:*.midi=00;36:*.au=00;36:*.ogg=00;36: GDK_USE_XFT=1 GNOME_KEYRING_SOCKET=/tmp/keyring-I4B8AW/socket SSH_AUTH_SOCK=/tmp/ssh-JyWhA29479/agent.29479 KDEDIR=/usr/kde/3.2 SESSION_MANAGER=local/sys04.vpac.org:/tmp/.ICE-unix/29479 USERNAME=damon CONFIG_PROTECT_MASK=/etc/gconf /etc/terminfo PAGER=/usr/bin/less XINITRC=/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc DESKTOP_SESSION=gnome PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/opt/bin:/usr/i686-pc-linux-gnu/gcc-bin/3.3:/usr/X11R6/bin:/opt/blackdown-jdk-1.4.2.01/bin:/opt/blackdown-jdk-1.4.2.01/jre/bin:/usr/qt/3/bin:/usr/kde/3.2/bin:/usr/games/bin:/opt/globus/bin:/home/damon/bin GLIBC_SSP_CHECKED=1 PWD=/home/damon/tmp/3delight-3.0.1-Linux-i686 INPUTRC=/etc/inputrc JAVA_HOME=/opt/blackdown-jdk-1.4.2.01 JAVAC=/opt/blackdown-jdk-1.4.2.01/bin/javac EDITOR=/bin/nano KDEDIRS=/usr QMAKESPEC=linux-g++ PS1=\[\033[01;32m\]\u@\h \[\033[01;34m\]\W \$ \[\033[00m\] GDMSESSION=gnome CXX=g++ HOME=/home/damon SHLVL=1 JDK_HOME=/opt/blackdown-jdk-1.4.2.01 GNOME_DESKTOP_SESSION_ID=Default LOGNAME=damon LESS=-R CVS_RSH=ssh CLASSPATH=/opt/globus/classes:. LESSOPEN=|lesspipe.sh %s INFOPATH=/usr/share/info:/usr/share/gcc-data/i686-pc-linux-gnu/3.3/info DISPLAY=:0.0 CC=gcc CONFIG_PROTECT=/usr/lib/mozilla/defaults/pref /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xkb /usr/kde/3.2/share/config /usr/share/texmf/tex/generic/config/ /usr/share/texmf/tex/platex/config/ /usr/share/texmf/dvips/config/ /usr/share/texmf/dvipdfm/config/ /usr/share/texmf/xdvi/ /usr/share/config G_BROKEN_FILENAMES=1 COLORTERM=gnome-terminal XAUTHORITY=/home/damon/.Xauthority _=/bin/grep OLDPWD=/home/damon/tmp /bin/grep damon@sys04 3delight-3.0.1-Linux-i686 $ ps ax |grep firefox 30504 pts/160 S 0:00 grep firefox damon@sys04 3delight-3.0.1-Linux-i686 $ ps ax |grep firefox 30511 pts/160 S 0:00 grep firefox damon@sys04 3delight-3.0.1-Linux-i686 $ ps ax |grep firefox 30518 pts/160 S 0:00 grep firefox Portage 2.0.51-r3 (default-linux/x86/2004.3, gcc-3.3.4, glibc-2.3.3.20040420-r1, 2.6.7 i686) ================================================================= System uname: 2.6.7 i686 Pentium III (Coppermine) Gentoo Base System version 1.4.16 Autoconf: sys-devel/autoconf-2.59-r4 Automake: sys-devel/automake-1.8.5-r1 Binutils: sys-devel/binutils-2.14.90.0.8-r1 Headers: sys-kernel/linux-headers-2.4.21-r1 Libtools: sys-devel/libtool-1.4.3-r4 ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="x86" AUTOCLEAN="yes" CFLAGS="-O2 -march=i686 -fomit-frame-pointer -pipe" CHOST="i686-pc-linux-gnu" COMPILER="" CONFIG_PROTECT="/etc /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xkb /usr/kde/2/share/config /usr/kde/3.2/share/config /usr/kde/3/share/config /usr/lib/mozilla/defaults/pref /usr/share/config /usr/share/texmf/dvipdfm/config/ /usr/share/texmf/dvips/config/ /usr/share/texmf/tex/generic/config/ /usr/share/texmf/tex/platex/config/ /usr/share/texmf/xdvi/ /var/qmail/control" CONFIG_PROTECT_MASK="/etc/gconf /etc/terminfo /etc/env.d" CXXFLAGS="-O2 -march=i686 -fomit-frame-pointer -pipe" DISTDIR="/usr/portage/distfiles" FEATURES="autoaddcvs autoconfig ccache distlocks sandbox sfperms" GENTOO_MIRRORS="http://vpac.org/mirrors/Linux/Gentoo/gentoo" MAKEOPTS="-j2" PKGDIR="/usr/portage/packages" PORTAGE_TMPDIR="/var/tmp" PORTDIR="/usr/portage" PORTDIR_OVERLAY="/usr/local/portage" SYNC="rsync://vpac.org/portage" USE="X alsa apm arts avi berkdb bitmap-fonts cdr crypt cups doc encode esd f77 fam foomaticdb fortran gdbm gif gnome gpm gstreamer gtk gtk2 imlib java jpeg junit ldap libg++ libwww mad mikmod motif mozilla mpeg mysql ncurses nls oggvorbis opengl oss pam pdflib perl png python quicktime readline sdl spell ssl svga tcpd tetex tiff truetype x86 xml xml2 xmms xv zlib" More info: ps --version procps version 3.1.15
This is most likely a kernel bug. It may also be caused by apps modifying argv[] rather crudely.
Is this still an issue?
I have seen the same happens a couple of time on other setups where programs get strange things glued into there param list and therefor stored into argument list that ps uses to display process-name. The example where I have seen this is if you get a broken rc depsys cache-file and start processes that accept bogus arguments. The source of your problem can come from a lot of places. Kernel that messes up with buffers in procfs, ps having a buffer-fault or even grep/glibc having a problem. If you get a process with this output that is not the |grep process, can you check in /proc/<PID>/* and see if there any bogus data in the proc filesystem?
i can't reproduce this myself now. testcase: for i in `seq 1 5000`; do ps ax |grep -v ' PID TTY STAT TIME COMMAND' |egrep '[[:upper:]]{3,}' ; done ;
