UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hey guys,
Just wondering is there anyway that I would be able to run a detached process that would continue to run regardless of me being logged into the linux host?

To run a detached command you need to redirect all file descriptors so the terminal isn't waiting for them to close. In BASH:

Code:

command > outfile 2> errfile < /dev/null & disown
# you can now log out and have command continue to run
exit

'outfile' and 'errfile' can be /dev/null as well if you don't need to save any output. If you're not using bash, ignore the the 'disown'.

Thanks but the reply I'm recieving is:


bash: outfile: Permission denied
command > outfile 2> errfile < /dev/null
-bash: outfile: Permission denied

again I'm sorry but I'm really noob at this. also what directory should i be making this to? presumably the root?

You dont have permission to open a file in that directory.

It means what it says: You don't have permissions to create 'outfile' or 'errfile' in that directory. What directory are you in? What you save where, depends entirely on what you wish to save, where. But quite probably not into root. If you don't know, try your home directory.

Also, you forgot the '& disown' bit. That's the bit that actually makes it a background process so you can't forget that.

Code:

command > ~/outfile 2> ~/errfile < /dev/null & disown

And remember, if you don't actually need to save any output from this program, you can make all of them /dev/null and it will save nothing nowhere.