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Subject: Re: Unable to kill processes in D-state
From: Robert Love <rml@tech9.net>
To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
In-Reply-To: <20021005090705.GA18475@stud.ntnu.no>
References: <20021005090705.GA18475@stud.ntnu.no>
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Date: 05 Oct 2002 14:11:02 -0400
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On Sat, 2002-10-05 at 05:07, Thomas Lang?s wrote:

> We have a fairly large installation on-campus, and we have some problems
> with the current linux-kernel (and older ones) - namely that processes
> entering D-state will stay there forever (given that the right event got
> them there in the first place).  This right event is killing the 
> autofs-daemon.  Doing this will result in heavy load because of lots
> of D-state processes, and you can't kill any of the D-state processes.
> Why shouldn't one be able to kill processes that has entered D-state?
> We have to reboot our servers to get rid of this problem, and it's
> rather annoying.

Because they are in uninterruptible sleep.  They are doing something
important, presumably in a critical section, and have no wake-up path
for signals or errors.

Finally, they probably hold a semaphore.  In short, you cannot kill
them, nor would you want to.

I would simplify the question and ask why are you killing the autofs
daemon?  Clearly this is a recipe for disaster.

	Robert Love


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