'ps aux' displays users as uids, instead of username

SlowCoder · 05-28-2008, 07:34 PM

Dunno, but for some reason, after I updated Fedora 7, ps began showing uids instead of the username. I assume this means there is some disassociation between the username and uid in some file, but it is correct in /etc/passwd. It does show 'root' processes. So, where do I go next?

aus9 · 05-29-2008, 05:44 AM

can you confirm that running
ps u

has no USER field please

clvic · 05-29-2008, 05:45 AM

What about the output of other commands like:
ps -o uid -o "%u %U" -A
or whoami or id ?
Maybe you aliased ps? Or have more than one version installed ("which -a ps" to verify)

aus9 · 05-29-2008, 05:52 AM

if you have time you can check that your /bin/ps should have executable user function eg

Code:

su
strings /bin/ps | grep users

returns for me

strings /bin/ps | grep users
Please send bug reports to <feedback@lists.sf.net> or <albert@users.sf.net>
a all w/ tty, including other users -t by tty
r only running processes U processes for specified users
List of real users must follow --User.
List of effective users must follow --user.
List of users must follow -u.
List of users must follow U.

SlowCoder · 05-29-2008, 07:23 AM

Here is the output from the commands you all suggested:

Code:

$ ps u
USER       PID %CPU %MEM    VSZ   RSS TTY      STAT START   TIME COMMAND
500      23897  0.0  0.0   4820  1544 pts/1    Ss   08:09   0:00 -bash
500      23963  0.0  0.0   4512   940 pts/1    R+   08:17   0:00 ps u

$ which -a ps
/bin/ps

$ whoami ; id
myusername
uid=500(myusername) gid=500(myusername) groups=500(myusername)

$ ps -o uid -o "%u %U" -A | tail
    0 root     root
    0 root     root
    0 root     root
  500 500      myusername
  500 500      myusername
    0 root     root
  500 500      myusername
  500 500      myusername
  500 500      myusername
  500 500      myusername

The last command does indicate that ps knows my username. So why does the standard 'ps aux' show my uid in the user field?

archtoad6 · 05-29-2008, 07:43 AM

Did you check your aliases?
Is there any chance there is a PS_FORMAT environment variable messing you up?
Try running

Code:

alias | grep 'ps'
# &
set   | grep '^PS'

SlowCoder · 05-29-2008, 08:22 AM

No, no aliases for ps.

Would it have anything to do with the length of the username?

aus9 · 05-29-2008, 08:37 AM

when you upgraded, did you keep any old files from /etc?

2) did you change your login name....since you mention long username?

edit added (3)
do you have an entry for proc in /etc/fstab eg
none /proc proc defaults 0 0

SlowCoder · 05-29-2008, 10:09 AM

1. I did not upgrade. I updated. Still Fedora 7. Didn't figure I'd need to back up etc files.
2. No login name change. But the user name is 10 characters long.
3. Yes. The proc entry is in fstab.

archtoad6 · 05-30-2008, 07:33 AM

What about the PS_FORMAT environment variable I asked about?

Code:

set | grep '^PS_'

Ajax4Hire · 05-30-2008, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlowCoder

No, no aliases for ps.

Would it have anything to do with the length of the username?

Yes.

If a username is longer than 8 characters, then "ps aux" will substitute the uid for username.
Your username of "myusername" is clearly longer than 8-characters.
I ran into this a while back with the username of "Ajax4Hire", more than 8 and the only user to get truncated to a uid. Realized the problem and renamed myself to Ajax. boo-hoo.

SlowCoder · 05-30-2008, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by archtoad6

What about the PS_FORMAT environment variable I asked about?

Code:

set | grep '^PS_'

Other than the PS1/2/3/4 variables, no environment variable exists that includes PS or FORMAT.

SlowCoder · 05-30-2008, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajax4Hire

Yes.

If a username is longer than 8 characters, then "ps aux" will substitute the uid for username.
Your username of "myusername" is clearly longer than 8-characters.
I ran into this a while back with the username of "Ajax4Hire", more than 8 and the only user to get truncated to a uid. Realized the problem and renamed myself to Ajax. boo-hoo.

If this actually is the case, I'll have to assume that I simply didn't notice it until after I performed the update.

P.S. "myusername" is not the real name, but the real one is more than 8 characters.

archtoad6 · 05-31-2008, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajax4Hire

If a username is longer than 8 characters, then "ps aux" will substitute the uid for username.

HTH did you figure that out?
Is it documented? -- I couldn't find it in the man page, at least the one on my system.

aus9 · 05-31-2008, 10:40 AM

well I have something in /usr/share/doc/procps....has a todo file in mdv 2008.1 version 3.2.7 and it mentions

under -----top----
don't truncate long usernames

in the news file same pathway I have
procps-3.2.2 --> procps-3.2.3

avoid truncating long usernames

-----------------------------------

of course that might explain a shortening of name and not change to uid....but its start.