sleep

PURPOSE

     Suspends execution for an interval.

SYNOPSIS
     sleep time


DESCRIPTION

     The sleep command suspends execution of a process for the
     interval specified by seconds.   seconds can range from 1
     to 65,536 seconds.

EXAMPLES

     1.  To run a  command after a certain amount  of time has
         passed:

           echo  "SYSTEM SHUTDOWN IN 10 MINUTES!" | wall
           (sleep 300; echo "SYSTEM SHUTDOWN IN 5 MINUTES!" | wall) &
           (sleep 540; echo "SYSTEM SHUTDOWN IN 1 MINUTE!" | wall) &
           (sleep 600; shutdown)  &

         This command  sequence warns all users  10 minutes, 5
         minutes, and 1 minute before the system is shut down.
     2.  To run a command at regular intervals:

           while true
           do
              date
              sleep 60
           done

         This shell procedure displays  the date and time once
         a minute.  To stop it, press INTERRUPT (Alt-Pause).

RELATED INFORMATION

     The following commands:  "shutdown" and "wall."

     The alarm   system call and the sleep,  pause, and signal
     subroutines in AIX Operating System Technical Reference.