nice(1) DG/UX 5.4.2 nice(1)
NAME
nice - run a command at a higher or lower priority
SYNOPSIS
nice [ -increment ] command [ arguments ]
DESCRIPTION
Nice executes command with a lower or higher CPU scheduling priority.
Scheduling priority numbers are such that the higher the number, the
lower the priority. A process at a lower priority will probably
execute more slowly than a process with a higer priority. The
highest priority level is -20. The lowest is 19.
By default, nice executes command at a lower priority (which is your
shell's priority plus 10).
If you provide an increment argument, the system executes your
command at a priority that much higher or lower than your current
priority. For example, with an argument of -10, nice will execute
your command at your current priority plus 10. With an argument of
--10, nice will execute your command at your current priority minus
10. If your shell's normal priority is 0 and you invoke nice with an
argument of -10, nice executes your command at a priority of 10.
Only a superuser can raise a process's priority by passing nice a
negative number. If a non-superuser invokes nice with a negative
number, nice assumes -0 as the argument.
If you attempt to execute a command at a priority greater than 19,
nice executes it at 19. If you attempt to execute a command at a
priority less than -20, nice executes it at -20. You cannot
interrupt a process running at a very high priority (such as -20).
To interrupt such a process, use the renice(1) command first to lower
the process's priority.
System runtime conditions determine exactly how priority affects
execution speed. To change the priority of a process that is already
running, use the renice(1) command.
Note that this command is not the same as the built-in version of
nice that you get if you use the csh. See csh(1). If you use the
csh but prefer to use this version of nice, invoke this command with
its full pathname, /usr/bin/nice.
EXAMPLES
$ nice -19 who
nice will execute the who command at a lower CPU priority (that is,
at a priority 19 points lower than your shell's current priority).
$ nice --10 who
If you are the superuser, nice will execute the who command at a
higher (10 points higher) CPU priority. If you are not superuser,
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nice(1) DG/UX 5.4.2 nice(1)
nice executes the command at your current priority.
$ nice who
nice will execute who at a priority that is 10 points lower than your
shell's priority.
DIAGNOSTICS
Nice returns the exit status of the subject command.
SEE ALSO
csh(1), nohup(1), renice(1), sh(1), getpriority(2), nice(2),
setpriority(2).
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