fuser (Unix)

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fuser is a UNIX command used to show which processes are using a specified file, file system, or socket. For example:

# fuser -m -u /mnt/usb1
/mnt/usb1:   1347c(root)  1348c(guido)  1349c(guido)

fuser displays the PIDs of processes using the specified files or file systems. In the default display mode, each file name is followed by a letter denoting the type of access:

current directory.
executable being run.
open file.
open file for writing.
root directory.
mmap'ed file or shared library

fuser returns a non-zero code if none of the files are accessed or in case of a fatal error. If at least one access has succeeded, fuser returns zero. The output of "fuser" may be useful in diagnosing "resource busy" messages arising when attempting to unmount filesystems.

[edit] Options

-k 
kills all process accessing a file. For example fuser -k /home/export/ganesh kills all processes accessing this directory without confirmation. Use -i for confirmation
-i 
interactive mode. Prompt before killing process
-v 
verbose.
-u 
append username
-a 
display all files

Also note that -k sends a SIGKILL to all process. Use the -signal to send a different signal. For a list of signals supported by the fuser run 'fuser -l'

[edit] Related commands

  • The list of all open files and the processes that have them open can be obtained through the lsof command.
  • The equivalent command on BSD operating systems is fstat(1)

[edit] External links

fuser(1): identify processes using files or sockets – Linux man page


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