UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Is it possible to monitor processes whether they are waiting or active? Basically I would like to know since which TIME the process has been running and the state.

Code:

top

command.

I meant...
1. how do I distinguish between active and waiting processes?
2. within man ps I brought up a few options say, TIME but I'm not sure how to use them, any ideas?
3. how do I query 'zombie' processes?


OSs
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Linux Based i.e. CentOS 4.x, RedHat Linux (various versions)
Solaris 5.10

Depending on the ps/OS zombies are either listed as <defunct> (on most Unices),
or simply as zombie.
You cannot query them because these are already dead (finished) processes
whose parent procs already exited without caring for their exit status.
The occurrence of zombies is most of the times an indication of badly
programmed applications.
You should at least file a bug report with their developers,
but even better not use these programs anymore.
Because zombies are already dead
they take up no resources only a slot in the process table,
which indeed can become a massive problem if a berserk application
is producing lots of them so that the total number of slots in the system's
process table gets filled up.
When this finally happens your only choice is a system reboot.
That's why zombies are sign of bad programming.