Hi guys,

I am trying to write a master script which should pass filename to another script running in background [one file is passed at a time i.e. 1 background process]. Now the contraint is that I can have only 3 instances of the slave script at any point in time.

Initially there will be 3 background processes. Now suppose one finishes. So immedietly the next file should be passed. How can I achieve this. I assume ps command can be used, but correctly how?

Also, I have to update a status log when one background process ends.
The problem is that there is one status log and if 2 scripts complete at the same time, they would try to write to the status log at the same time! I have tried using 'wait' for this. Here process management comes into play.

I am facing some problem on how to implement. Please give a cue and I can go furthur. Some code snippet would be useful.

Any inputs would be helpful.

Thanks in advance...

Kind regards,

indiancosmonaut

You might be able to do this using the AIX queueing mechanism. This used to be called the bsh queue - but ksh would probably be the preferred mechanism now.

The idea is that you use ksh as if it were a printer. Rather than print jobs the queue executes ksh scripts.

Advantage: jobs can be submitted at any time, even when the queue is not 'printing'. Stopping the queue lets the last job complete. Starting the queue starts the first job in queue.

As AIX enq supports the concept of 1 input queue 'printing' to multiple 'printers' you should be able to have scripts running in parallel.