The /proc File System and Commands

Process tools that are available in the /usr/proc/bin directory display highly detailed information about the processes listed in the /proc directory. (The /proc directory is also known as the process file system (PROCFS).) Images of active processes are stored here by their process ID number.

The process tools are similar to some options of the ps command, except that the output that is provided by the tools is more detailed. In general, the process tools do the following:

• Display more information about processes, such as fstat and fcntl, working directories, and trees of parent and child processes

• Provide control over processes by allowing users to stop or resume them