Package/process ops · Lesson 9 of 20 · 8 minutes

Top review

Use top and ps for process snapshots.

Open the lab Course map

Mastery 0/3Run itExplain itApply it

learner@clairos:~ $

↑ history · Tab complete · Ctrl+C cancel · Esc, Tab to leaveExit 0

Your objectives

Hints are always available. Wrong turns never cost XP.

1
Read top
Run top.
Hint & worked example
Inspect a single training snapshot of process and resource activity.
The command outcome must match the task, including successful access or the explicitly requested failure.
```
top
```
Remember: This lab does not run a continuously refreshing process monitor.
2
Read ps
Run ps.
Hint & worked example
Inspect a bounded snapshot of simulated processes.
The command outcome must match the task, including successful access or the explicitly requested failure.
```
ps
```
Remember: A process being present does not prove that its service can handle requests.
3
Record signal simulation
Run kill 42.
Hint & worked example
Send an allowlisted signal to a simulated process target.
The command outcome must match the task, including successful access or the explicitly requested failure.
```
kill 42
```
Remember: Prefer the service manager for managed daemons and understand the signal before using it.

Understand the pattern

Junior operators build confidence by gathering evidence before changing systems.

top: Inspect a single training snapshot of process and resource activity.
This lab does not run a continuously refreshing process monitor.
ps: Inspect a bounded snapshot of simulated processes.
A process being present does not prove that its service can handle requests.
kill: Send an allowlisted signal to a simulated process target.
Prefer the service manager for managed daemons and understand the signal before using it.

Worked example and expected result

$ top

top - 10:26:04 up 12 days, 1 learner, load average: 0.04, 0.03, 0.01
PID USER      %CPU %MEM COMMAND
42  www-data   0.2  1.1 nginx
77  root       0.1  0.8 sshd
126 root       0.0  0.3 cron

Exit status: 0. The command completed successfully in the training fixture.

$ ps

PID  USER      COMMAND
1    root      systemd --simulated
42   www-data  nginx: static process
77   root      sshd: listener
108  learner   clairos-learn-terminal
126  root      cron

Exit status: 0. The command completed successfully in the training fixture.

$ kill 42

signal recorded for simulated PID 42; no process was stopped.

Exit status: 0. The command completed successfully in the training fixture.

Try a variation

Repeat this workflow in the sandbox with a different scratch filename. Keep the system fixtures unchanged and compare the observed output with your expectation before moving on.

Explain it

In “Top review”, which interpretation is safe?A command appearing in history proves it completed successfully.A successful first check guarantees that every dependent service is healthy.A process being present does not prove that its service can handle requests.

Apply it elsewhere

Before adapting the ps workflow from “Top review” to another server, what should you do?Skip output inspection whenever the command is familiar.Confirm the current directory, target identity, permissions, and the installed command behavior first.Paste the training paths unchanged into production.

Keep the momentum.

Complete the lab, then explain and apply the pattern.

Next: Package and process checkpoint Try an incident drill

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