How to Change Process Priority in Linux Using the nice Command

 

How to Change Process Priority in Linux Using the nice Command

When working with Linux, there are times you may want to adjust the priority of a process to optimize your system’s performance. For this, the built-in nice utility is your go-to tool.

The nice command allows you to start a process with a specific priority, ensuring that critical tasks get more CPU time or less important ones are deprioritized.

Syntax of the nice Command

The basic syntax for using nice is:

nice -n N command  

Here’s a breakdown:

• N: This represents the priority level you want to assign. It can range from -20 (the highest priority) to 19 (the lowest priority).
• command: Replace this with the program or process you want to run with the specified priority.

By default, the system assigns a priority of 10 to new processes, which you can override using the -n option.

Example of Using the nice Command

Let’s say you want to run a script called backup.sh with a lower priority (e.g., 15):

nice -n 15 ./backup.sh  

This ensures the backup.sh script consumes fewer CPU resources compared to higher-priority tasks running on the system.

Why Use nice?

Using nice effectively can:

• Prevent resource-heavy processes from slowing down your system.
• Ensure critical tasks run without interruptions.
• Improve overall system stability during multitasking.

Additional Tips

• To check the current priority (or niceness) of running processes, use the top or htop commands.
• If you need to change the priority of a running process, consider using the renice command.

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Conclusion

The nice utility is a powerful yet simple tool for managing process priorities in Linux. By understanding and using this command, you can take greater control of your system’s performance.

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