Slow performance when doing ps -ef | wc -l

[reclspeak]

Hi!

I have an AIX partition exhibiting some strange though not particularly annonying behaviour with the "ps" command but only when it is piped to "wc"

This happens during random times of the day or night;

timex ps -ef | wc -l

real 11.64
user 0.08
sys 7.24

2014 (processes)

At other times the same routine will complete rapidly.

So this routine will take just over 11 seconds to complete. ps -ef on its own completes near enough instantly. Any other routine that employs ps -ef and pipes, say to a grep also completes in normal time.

I can't correlate any resource shortfall for when this happens - and no indication that the partition is particularly stressed.

Has anyone else seen anything similar, and if so, any thoughts for a diagnostic route to follow?

Ta!

recl

 

[khalidaaa]

What version of AIX is this? Is it updated to the latest maintenance level? Have you considered calling IBM to let you know of any existence patches?

Regards,
Khalid

 

[MoreFeo]

How much free space in /tmp?

 

[reclspeak]

Hi!

Great responses.

AIX is at 5300-06-04-0748

IBM have ben involved with truss and perpmr, but have given up with ideas now.

/tmp is at 90%.

This is my last throw of the dice with this - I can't figure out any more routes for a possible diagnosis.

recl