/proc directory

[Matthew Seaman]

On Wed, Dec 17, 2003 at 02:42:07PM -0800, flux wrote:
> What is /proc -directory for in FreeBSD? What kind of data does it
> store? How and for what could I use it?

It's a filesystem based abstraction of the process table from the
kernel.  Some programs use it to get information about various
processses -- although the important utilities like ps(1) just grovel
directly through the kernel memory.

Basically you mount it on your system, which lets a bunch of stuff
work properly, and you then ignore it for ever more.  Unless you're
particularly concerned about security, in which case, you don't mount
it and do without the stuff that needs it to run.  Note that mounting
the /proc directory is only a risk in the eyes of the most utterly
paranoid administrators.

	Cheers,

	Matthew

-- 
Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil.                       26 The Paddocks
                                                      Savill Way
PGP: http://www.infracaninophile.co.uk/pgpkey         Marlow
Tel: +44 1628 476614                                  Bucks., SL7 1TH UK
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