Re: [PATCH] Linux-2.5 fix/improve get_pid()

Helge Hafting (helgehaf@aitel.hist.no)
Fri, 09 Aug 2002 10:48:55 +0200


"Albert D. Cahalan" wrote:

> The problem is screen space, pure and simple. If the
> default limit goes to over 1 billion, then "ps" output
> must wrap lines. There is no alternative, unless you
> think "System going down to reset PID numbers!" is OK.
>

There is an alternative.
Use 32-bit PID's, but with an additional rule for wraparound.
Simply wrap the PID when
(nextPID > 2*number_of_processes && nextPID > 30000)
The latter one just to avoid wrapping at 10 when there are
5 processes.

This simple approach supports 32-bit PIDs for those
that need them, while "ps" and friends always looks nice
except for those who actually run large amounts of processes.
You won't get a very large PID unless you need to.

Helge Hafting
-
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/