Monitoring active processes ...

Scripting Forums AppleScript | Mac OS X
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#1

Hi,

Still trying to understand how to monitor my computer’s activity …

When the backup application Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) is running, a few processes are triggered: 2 or 3 «rsync» and also «ccc_helper». With this statement:

tell application "System Events" to exists process "theAppsName"

I can check if the process «ccc_helper» exists but I cannot with «rsync» even if it is running. Both processes belong to Root. What is the difference between these 2 processes ? I would like to check (with AppleScript or shellscript) if «rsync» is running. How can I do that ?

#2

Maybe code as follows is sufficient?


if my processisactive("rsync") then
	tell me
		display dialog "rsnyc is active!"
	end tell
end if

on processisactive(processname)
	set command to "ps -c -A | grep " & quoted form of processname
	try
		set output to do shell script command
		return true
	on error
		return false
	end try
end processisactive
#3

Bonjour Martin,

Great it works … Thanks !

Can you explain me what exactly the shellscript does ? Does it detect a process that is open (0% CPU usage) or using CPU ? Does it apply to applications also ?

Thanks in advance.

Robert Lespérance

#4

Hallo Robert,

As I am currently quite busy, just type:

man ps

into an open terminal window.

And yes, it also lists apps.

#5

Still very confused. Like the first chinese lessons :lol::lol::lol::lol: If you have time later to answer my questions, I would appreciate.

Funny … I tried your script on «rsync» and when executing the script displayed the message. I tried it on «Retrospect» that is a root application (I have been trying to monitor it for a long time without success). The script never displayed the message either when active and not executing nor when executing.

Regards.

#6

For root processes only you can also try to use this modified code:


if my processisactive("rsync") then
   tell me
       display dialog "rsnyc is active!"
   end tell
end if

on processisactive(processname)
   set command to "ps -c -u root | grep " & quoted form of processname
   try
       set output to do shell script command
       return true
   on error
       return false
   end try
end processisactive
#7

Hi Martin,

I am trying to see how I can better monitor the idle, running/executing and done state of any root process. I have 2 of these processes I am working with. One is used by SuperDuper: “SDCopy” runs when SD is currently executing a backup. The other is the “Retrospect” application. While these processes both run under Root, the result of your 2 scripts differ.

¢ SDCopy returns true to the first script and false to the second
¢ Retrospect returns false to both

What is the state that your scripts are supposed to return and why is the reply different ? What does each of your script exactly do ?

Regards.

Robert Lespérance

Script 1. set command to "ps -c -A | grep " & quoted form of theProcess
Script 2. set command to "ps -c -u root | grep " & quoted form of theProcess

Model: iMac G5 - 1.6 mgz
AppleScript: 2.1.1
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Operating System: Mac OS X (10.4)