Process group

For process groups in data replication, see Virtual synchrony.

In a POSIX-conformant operating system, a process group denotes a collection of one or more processes.[1] Among other things, a process group is used to control the distribution of a signal; when a signal is directed to a process group, the signal is delivered to each process that is a member of the group.[2]

Similarly, a session denotes a collection of one or more process groups.[3] A process may not create a process group that belongs to another session; furthermore, a process is not permitted to join a process group that is a member of another session—that is, a process is not permitted to migrate from one session to another.

When a process replaces its image with a new image (by calling one of the exec functions), the new image is subjected to the same process group (and thus session) membership as the old image.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference definition was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference kill was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference session was invoked but never defined (see the help page).