function::task_ancestry - Linux

Overview

task_ancestry retrieves and displays the ancestry hierarchy of a specified task in the form of a tree. It provides insight into the task’s parent-child relationships within the Linux kernel’s task graph.

Syntax

task_ancestry [options] <task>

Options/Flags

• -v, –verbose: Display detailed information about each task, including its name, PID, and state.
• -a, –all: Print all tasks in the ancestry tree, regardless of their state.
• -t, –tree: Print the ancestry tree in a hierarchical format.
• -c, –color: Colorize the output for easier visualization.

Examples

• Print the ancestry tree of the current task:

task_ancestry

• Display detailed information about the ancestry tree:

task_ancestry -v

• Show all tasks, regardless of their state:

task_ancestry -a

• Print the ancestry tree in a hierarchical format:

task_ancestry -t

• Colorize the output for easier visualization:

task_ancestry -c

Common Issues

• No such task: Ensure the specified task is running or valid.
• Access denied: Verify that you have sufficient permissions to access the task’s information.

Integration

task_ancestry can be integrated with other commands to provide deeper insights into task relationships. For example:

• ps aux | task_ancestry: Display the ancestry tree of all running processes.
• sudo dtruss -p <pid> | task_ancestry: Trace system calls and display the ancestry tree of the specified process.

Related Commands

• pstree: Displays the process tree in a hierarchical format.
• top: Displays real-time information about running tasks.
• pidof: Finds the PID of a running process.