[SOLVED] "kill" doesn't like "pidof"

littlebigman · 07-07-2011, 07:25 AM

Hello

A script uses the following command:

Code:

root:/var/tmp> pidof inetd
55

root:/var/tmp> kill -HUP `pidof inetd`
kill: bad pid '`pidof'
kill: bad pid 'inetd`'

Since "pidof" by itself works fine, does someone know why "kill" can't use its output?

Thank you.

TobiSGD · 07-07-2011, 07:36 AM

Try it with

Code:

kill -HUP $(pidof inetd)

Works for me.

littlebigman · 07-07-2011, 08:00 AM

Thanks for the tip, but it doesn't work with the Hush shell that I use on an appliance :-/

Code:

root:/var/tmp> kill -HUP $(pidof inetd)
sh: syntax error: unexpected )

root:/var/tmp> echo $SHELL
/bin/sh

root:/var/tmp> ls -al /bin/*sh
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root             7 Jul  6  2011 /bin/hush -> busybox
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root             7 Jul  6  2011 /bin/sh -> busybox

16pide · 07-07-2011, 09:08 AM

why not:

Code:

killall -HUP inetd

16pide · 07-07-2011, 09:14 AM

or try this:

Code:

a=`pidof inetd`;kill -HUP $a

pwc101 · 07-07-2011, 09:15 AM

Alternatively, if you have pkill:

Code:

pkill -HUP inetd

16pide · 07-07-2011, 09:16 AM

This would also work:

Code:

(echo -n "kill -HUP ";pidof inetd)|/bin/sh

catkin · 07-07-2011, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlebigman

Code:

root:/var/tmp> pidof inetd
55

root:/var/tmp> kill -HUP `pidof inetd`
kill: bad pid '`pidof'
kill: bad pid 'inetd`'

Since "pidof" by itself works fine, does someone know why "kill" can't use its output?

The error message shows kill is not getting the output of pidof inetd but the two words `pidof and inetd`; hush is not interpreting the backquote characters in the usual sh-derivative shell way.

Does hush support command substitution?

littlebigman · 07-08-2011, 03:56 AM

Thanks for the idea, that was it: By default "Process substitution" is not enabled. After adding it and recompiling, the command runs OK.

Thanks everyone for the feedback.