After 24 hours, Linux lags to near freeze

[meton_magis]

ps aux will show you the information (for the most part) but one thing you should learn for any computer is how to only get the most important information.

You can find all this on `man ps` but it took me someone else showing me this for it to click.

ps ax -o cpu,vsz,pid,comm | sort -n

you can swap the `cpu` and the `vsz` to change what value is the sort value (vsz is ram usage). the pid is self explanitory, comm is the command that was used to start the processes.

[Dark Nuker]

I'm running Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.06GHz, 2GB DDR2 RAM, GeForce FX 5200 graphics card. After having my system running for about 26 hours, I was playing a movie, running pidgin messenger, Azureus, Add/Remove Software, Brasero Disc Burner, Open Office, and 2 terminals. I wasn't actually using all those programs, just ran them to test my system. That got my system to lag (notice the hours). My system began to lag so quick that I couldn't even get to the terminal that was already prepared with the command "ps aux" so I had no choice to but to reboot again. After reboot, I ran the same programs as above and this time also ran Gimp and Kino and my system didn't lag at all. I really don't get it. I never had these issues while running Win7 for 20 days straight and that OS takes up so much extra of the system resources than Linux. However, while running those programs after reboot, I did use the "ps aux" command and this is what I got. Noticing there was no lag this time, I'm not sure if the output will be the same it was would be with the lag. But here is it anyways.

USER PID %CPU %MEM VSZ RSS TTY STAT START TIME COMMAND
root 1 0.1 0.0 1668 560 ? Ss 14:07 0:00 init [5]
root 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [kthreadd]
root 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [migration/0]
root 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [ksoftirqd/0]
root 5 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [migration/1]
root 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [ksoftirqd/1]
root 7 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [events/0]
root 8 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [events/1]
root 9 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [khelper]
root 49 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [kblockd/0]
root 50 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [kblockd/1]
root 53 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [kacpid]
root 54 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [kacpi_notify]
root 142 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [kseriod]
root 182 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 14:07 0:00 [pdflush]
root 183 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 14:07 0:00 [pdflush]
root 184 0.1 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [kswapd0]
root 225 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [aio/0]
root 226 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [aio/1]
root 867 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [kpsmoused]
root 884 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [ksuspend_usbd]
root 885 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [khubd]
root 908 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [ata/0]
root 909 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [ata/1]
root 910 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [ata_aux]
root 914 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [scsi_eh_0]
root 915 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [scsi_eh_1]
root 916 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [scsi_eh_2]
root 917 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:07 0:00 [scsi_eh_3]
root 940 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:08 0:00 [kjournald]
root 1050 0.1 0.1 2428 1332 ? S<s 14:08 0:00 /sbin/udevd -d
root 2229 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:08 0:00 [kondemand/0]
root 2230 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:08 0:00 [kondemand/1]
root 2397 0.0 0.1 3800 1056 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 /sbin/mount.ntfs-3g /dev/sdb1 /media/hd -o rw
daemon 2749 0.0 0.0 1700 336 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 /usr/sbin/atd
root 2756 0.0 0.0 1656 576 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 /usr/sbin/acpid
root 2812 0.0 0.0 1724 648 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 syslogd -m 0
root 2860 0.0 0.0 1668 440 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 klogd -x
root 2876 0.0 0.1 3900 1016 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 crond
root 3220 0.0 0.0 1688 464 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 /sbin/ifplugd -I -b -i eth0
root 3517 0.0 0.0 2264 528 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 dhclient -1 -q -lf /var/lib/dhcp/dhclient-eth0.leases -pf /var/run/dhclient-eth0.pid -cf /etc/dhclient-eth0.conf eth0
root 3701 0.0 0.3 15768 3148 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/sbin/gdm-binary -nodaemon
13 3702 0.1 0.1 2608 1212 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 dbus-daemon --system
17 3733 0.1 0.3 5592 2804 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 hald
root 3738 0.0 0.2 9076 2292 ? Ssl 14:08 0:00 /usr/sbin/console-kit-daemon
root 3739 0.0 0.1 3288 1036 ? S 14:08 0:00 hald-runner
avahi 3812 0.0 0.1 2740 1284 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 avahi-daemon: running [mandrivalinux.local]
root 3853 0.0 0.2 6932 2048 ? SNs 14:08 0:00 cupsd
root 3859 0.0 0.1 3356 1004 ? S 14:08 0:00 hald-addon-input: Listening on /dev/input/event2 /dev/input/event1 /dev/input/event0
root 3875 0.0 0.1 3368 1108 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/lib/hald-addon-cpufreq
17 3876 0.0 0.0 2020 808 ? S 14:08 0:00 hald-addon-acpi: listening on acpid socket /var/run/acpid.socket
root 3891 0.0 0.3 16476 3200 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/sbin/gdm-binary -nodaemon
root 3893 6.4 13.6 137792 123404 tty7 SLs+ 14:08 0:27 /etc/X11/X :0 -audit 0 -deferglyphs 16 -auth /var/lib/gdm/:0.Xauth -nolisten tcp vt7
root 3896 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:08 0:00 [kauditd]
root 3917 0.0 0.1 3360 1000 ? S 14:08 0:00 hald-addon-storage: polling /dev/sr0 (every 2 sec)
nuker 4356 0.0 1.4 73548 13128 ? Ssl 14:08 0:00 gnome-session
nuker 4419 0.0 0.0 4800 492 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 /usr/bin/ssh-agent -- /etc/X11/xdm/Xsession GNOME
nuker 4490 0.0 0.0 3032 688 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session --sh-syntax
nuker 4492 0.0 0.1 2484 1036 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 /usr/bin/dbus-daemon --fork --print-pid 5 --print-address 9 --session
nuker 4541 3.1 0.5 31440 4976 ? S<sl 14:08 0:12 /usr/bin/pulseaudio --daemonize --log-target=syslog
root 4571 0.0 0.0 1920 472 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 /usr/sbin/mandi -d
root 4581 0.0 0.0 1652 460 tty1 Ss+ 14:08 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty1
root 4582 0.0 0.0 1652 460 tty2 Ss+ 14:08 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty2
root 4583 0.0 0.0 1652 460 tty3 Ss+ 14:08 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty3
root 4584 0.0 0.0 1652 460 tty4 Ss+ 14:08 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty4
root 4585 0.0 0.0 1652 460 tty5 Ss+ 14:08 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty5
root 4586 0.0 0.0 1652 460 tty6 Ss+ 14:08 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty6
nuker 4620 0.0 0.2 6588 2180 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/lib/pulse/gconf-helper
nuker 4622 0.1 0.4 6808 3956 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/lib/gconfd-2 10
nuker 4636 0.0 0.0 3568 836 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 /usr/bin/imwheel -k --rc /etc/X11/imwheel/imwheelrc.generic
nuker 4661 0.0 0.2 10000 2460 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 s2u --daemon=yes
nuker 4667 0.0 0.2 14448 1932 ? SL 14:08 0:00 /usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon
nuker 4670 0.1 1.0 43180 9636 ? Sl 14:08 0:00 /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon
nuker 4681 0.3 0.2 16980 2644 ? Ss 14:08 0:01 gnome-screensaver
nuker 4687 1.2 1.4 25088 13148 ? S 14:08 0:05 /usr/bin/metacity --sm-client-id=default0
nuker 4693 2.5 2.7 130020 24584 ? S 14:08 0:10 gnome-panel --sm-client-id default1
nuker 4695 0.0 0.3 40980 2952 ? Ssl 14:08 0:00 /usr/lib/bonobo-activation-server --ac-activate --ior-output-fd=16
nuker 4697 0.8 2.7 149068 24800 ? Sl 14:08 0:03 nautilus --no-default-window --sm-client-id default2
nuker 4698 0.0 1.7 28124 15788 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/bin/perl /usr/bin/mdkapplet
nuker 4699 0.0 0.6 17844 5940 ? S 14:08 0:00 bluetooth-applet --singleton
nuker 4703 0.0 0.9 33404 8616 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/bin/eggcups
nuker 4707 0.0 0.8 23604 7552 ? S 14:08 0:00 gnome-obex-server
nuker 4709 0.0 1.0 84328 9444 ? Sl 14:08 0:00 /usr/lib/evolution/2.22/evolution-alarm-notify
nuker 4713 0.4 2.6 36916 24216 ? S 14:08 0:01 /usr/bin/perl /usr/bin/net_applet
nuker 4720 0.0 0.2 5228 1892 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/lib/gvfsd
nuker 4721 0.0 0.5 17128 5260 ? S 14:08 0:00 pam-panel-icon --sm-client-id default3
root 4722 0.0 0.0 1840 620 ? S 14:08 0:00 /sbin/pam_timestamp_check -d root
nuker 4725 0.0 0.8 26120 7372 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 gnome-power-manager
nuker 4726 0.1 0.4 23392 4488 ? Ss 14:08 0:00 /usr/lib/gnome-volume-manager
root 4733 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:08 0:00 [btaddconn]
root 4734 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:08 0:00 [btdelconn]
root 4748 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:08 0:00 [krfcommd]
nuker 4774 0.0 0.2 5396 1940 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/lib/gvfsd-burn --spawner :1.9 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/0
nuker 4777 0.0 0.2 22156 2520 ? S 14:08 0:00 /usr/lib/gvfsd-trash --spawner :1.9 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/1
nuker 4801 0.1 1.5 95012 14280 ? Sl 14:08 0:00 /usr/lib/mixer_applet2 --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_MixerApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=22
nuker 4845 0.0 0.1 4140 1528 ? S 14:09 0:00 /bin/sh /usr/bin/mozilla-firefox
nuker 4850 0.0 0.1 3664 1280 ? S 14:09 0:00 /bin/sh /usr/lib/firefox-2.0.0.13/run-mozilla.sh /usr/lib/firefox-2.0.0.13/mozilla-firefox-bin
nuker 4855 8.6 6.5 210584 59672 ? Sl 14:09 0:33 /usr/lib/firefox-2.0.0.13/mozilla-firefox-bin
nuker 4875 0.7 2.9 110864 26504 ? Sl 14:09 0:02 /usr/bin/Adobe/Reader9/Reader/intellinux/bin/acroread --display :0.0 -progressPipe 3 -exitPipe 4
nuker 4967 0.5 1.6 41088 15188 ? Sl 14:09 0:01 gnome-terminal
nuker 4969 0.0 0.0 2616 652 ? S 14:09 0:00 gnome-pty-helper
nuker 4970 0.0 0.2 4344 1880 pts/0 Ss 14:09 0:00 bash
nuker 5023 0.4 2.0 76500 18480 ? S 14:10 0:01 pidgin
root 5041 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:10 0:00 [scsi_eh_4]
root 5042 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 14:10 0:00 [usb-storage]
nuker 5140 1.3 2.1 103952 19672 ? Sl 14:11 0:03 nautilus --no-desktop file:///media/EXTERNAL
root 5154 0.0 0.1 3788 968 ? Ss 14:11 0:00 /sbin/mount.ntfs-3g /dev/sdc5 /media/XP -o rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=hal,locale=en_US.UTF-8
nuker 5230 15.5 9.1 221564 82820 ? Sl 14:11 0:35 totem file:///media/EXTERNAL/Movies/Sex%20Drive.avi
nuker 5234 0.0 0.3 9576 3308 ? S 14:11 0:00 /usr/lib/gnome-vfs-daemon
nuker 5263 13.2 8.5 287784 77336 ? Sl 14:12 0:24 /usr/lib/jvm/jre/bin/java -Djava.library.path=/usr/lib -Dgnu.gcj.runtime.VMClassLoader.library_control=nev er -Dazureus.install.path=/home/nuker/.azureus/app -classpath /usr/share/java/Azureus2.jar:/usr/share/java/bcprov.jar:/usr/lib/java/swt-gtk.jar:/usr/share/java/bcprov.jar: org.gudy.azureus2.ui.swt.Main
nuker 5414 0.1 1.0 58852 9696 ? S 14:13 0:00 /usr/bin/rpmdrake
root 5415 0.0 0.1 4904 1368 ? S 14:13 0:00 /usr/sbin/userhelper -w rpmdrake
root 5418 17.5 16.2 203232 147404 ? S 14:13 0:25 /usr/bin/perl /usr/sbin/rpmdrake
nuker 5479 2.2 7.3 190768 66748 ? Sl 14:13 0:02 /usr/lib/ooo-2.4/program/soffice.bin -writer -splash-pipe=5
nuker 5504 1.0 2.5 114044 23232 ? S 14:14 0:00 brasero
nuker 5532 5.7 3.4 99152 30952 ? Sl 14:14 0:03 gimp --display :0.0
nuker 5732 1.9 0.5 18104 4784 ? S 14:14 0:00 /usr/lib/gimp/2.0/plug-ins/script-fu -gimp 9 8 -run 0
nuker 5768 4.1 3.8 135380 34696 ? S 14:15 0:01 kino
nuker 5979 0.0 1.0 58588 9596 ? R 14:15 0:00 /usr/lib/notification-daemon
nuker 5980 0.0 0.0 2428 900 pts/0 R+ 14:15 0:00 ps aux