View Source: ProcFileSystem - Waikato Linux Users Group

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Under [Linux], there is a special FileSystem mounted under /proc that gives access to the [Linux] [Kernel] settings and information.

Some of the information you can find includes:

* a subdirectory for each current process. You can find things like the command line, the environment, memory and file usage. There is a special directory called "self" that refers to whichever process accesses it. For example, you can do __less /proc/self/status__ to find out about the less process, or you can do __cd /proc/self ; less status__ to find out about your shell process.
* __/proc/cpuinfo__ gives information about the detected [CPU](s), including manufacturer, id, known bugs, and extensions.
* [FileSystem]s and peripherals. For example, when you attach a [USB] device such as a DigitalCamera, your programs communicate with the device through a file with a name like __/proc/bus/usb/001/003__.
* sysctl's are available via /proc/sys/
* network devices and status.

Also, the SuperUser can change some [Kernel] settings by writing to particular files. For example, to allow your [Linux] machine to act as a router by forwarding packets from other machines, it is necessary (but usually already automated) to do __echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward__.

Writing programs that get information from __/proc__ is a good way to make them non-[Port]able to other [Unix](-like) systems.

See also:
* ProcessNotes
* procinfo(8)
* proc(5)

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Last edited on Friday, July 2, 2004 2:40:49 pm by PerryLorier

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