Execute a command with a timeout

timeout -k 1m 30s some_command
A timeout is great, but what if the command is taking longer than expected because it's hung up or ran into some other problem? That's where the -k option comes in. Run "some_command" and timeout after 30s. If the command is still running after 1 minute, it will receive a kill signal.

2
By: tlemerond
2012-03-27 18:06:18

7 Alternatives + Submit Alt


  • 43
    timeout 5s COMMAND
    kev · 2011-11-19 06:14:33 7

  • 23
    timeout 10 sleep 11
    grokskookum · 2009-09-23 14:59:40 20
  • or "Execute a command with a timeout" Run a command in background, sleep 10 seconds, kill it. ! is the process id of the most recently executed background command. You can test it with: find /& sleep10; kill $!


    6
    very_long_command& sleep 10; kill $!
    dooblem · 2010-04-29 20:43:13 3
  • In this example the command "somecommand" will be executed and sent a SIGALARM signal if it runs for more than 10 seconds. It uses the perl alarm function. It's not 100% accurate on timing, but close enough. I found this really useful when executing scripts and commands that I knew might hang E.g. ones that connect to services that might not be running. Importantly this can be used within a sequential script. The command will not release control until either the command completes or the timeout is hit. Show Sample Output


    5
    perl -e "alarm 10; exec @ARGV" "somecommand"
    jgc · 2009-09-23 12:03:55 8
  • I like much more the perl solution, but without using perl. It launches a backgroup process that will kill the command if it lasts too much. A bigger function: check_with_timeout() { [ "$DEBUG" ] && set -x COMMAND=$1 TIMEOUT=$2 RET=0 # Launch command in backgroup [ ! "$DEBUG" ] && exec 6>&2 # Link file descriptor #6 with stderr. [ ! "$DEBUG" ] && exec 2> /dev/null # Send stderr to null (avoid the Terminated messages) $COMMAND 2>&1 >/dev/null & COMMAND_PID=$! [ "$DEBUG" ] && echo "Background command pid $COMMAND_PID, parent pid $$" # Timer that will kill the command if timesout sleep $TIMEOUT && ps -p $COMMAND_PID -o pid,ppid |grep $$ | awk '{print $1}' | xargs kill & KILLER_PID=$! [ "$DEBUG" ] && echo "Killer command pid $KILLER_PID, parent pid $$" wait $COMMAND_PID RET=$? # Kill the killer timer [ "$DEBUG" ] && ps -e -o pid,ppid |grep $KILLER_PID | awk '{print $1}' | xargs echo "Killing processes: " ps -e -o pid,ppid |grep -v PID | grep $KILLER_PID | awk '{print $1}' | xargs kill wait sleep 1 [ ! "$DEBUG" ] && exec 2>&6 6>&- # Restore stderr and close file descriptor #6. return $RET }


    4
    $COMMAND 2>&1 >/dev/null & WPID=$!; sleep $TIMEOUT && kill $! & KPID=$!; wait $WPID
    keymon · 2010-05-26 11:12:26 2

What Others Think

Pug Puppies for Sale Near Me pugs puppies for sale teacup pugs for sale pug puppies for sale by owner pug puppies ohio PUG PUPPY FOR SALE NEAR ME PUG PUPPIES FOR SALE pug puppies for sale in kentucky Pug Puppies for Sale Under $500 Near Me pug puppies for sale in texas pug puppies for sale $200 pugs for sale near me under $500 pugs for sale under $400 near me pugs for sale near me puppies for sale near me under $500 pug puppies for sale under $1,000 near me pug for sale pug puppies for sale under $300 Brindle Pug Pitbull Pug Mix Pugs for sale cheap Cheap pug affordable pug puppies for sale near me black pugs for sale near me White Pugs for sale pug dog for sale free pug puppies pug puppies for sale in my area mn pug breeders pug puppies indiana pugs for sale michigan PUG PUPPY ADOPTION Pug puppies for sale Pug puppies for sale near me Pug puppies near me Pug Puppies for Sale Under $500 Near Me Cute Pug Puppies Black pug puppies Black pug puppies for sale pug puppies for adoption black pug puppies for sale near me chihuahua pug mix puppies how much is a pug puppy teacup pug puppies baby pug puppies baby pug puppies for sale pictures of pug puppies pug puppies for sale in Ohio pug puppies price pug mix puppies teacup pug puppies for sale best food for pug puppy newborn pug puppies pug puppies craigslist pug puppies for sale craigslist adorable pug puppies how much does a pug puppy cost Pitbull pug mix puppies pug pit mix puppy pug puppies for sale $200 pug puppies for sale in NJ Pug puppies for sale in Wisconsin pug puppy cost pug puppy food royal canin pug puppy royal canin pug puppy food fawn pug puppy pug puppies for sale florida pug puppies for sale in Indiana pug puppies for sale in KY pug puppies for sale in NC pug dog puppy AKC Registered Pug Puppies For sale cheap pug puppies for sale near me cheap pug puppies for sale in California cheap pug puppies for sale in nj Black Pug Puppies for sale pugs puppies for sale
Perfecthomepugs · 30 weeks and 3 days ago

What do you think?

Any thoughts on this command? Does it work on your machine? Can you do the same thing with only 14 characters?

You must be signed in to comment.

What's this?

commandlinefu.com is the place to record those command-line gems that you return to again and again. That way others can gain from your CLI wisdom and you from theirs too. All commands can be commented on, discussed and voted up or down.

Share Your Commands



Stay in the loop…

Follow the Tweets.

Every new command is wrapped in a tweet and posted to Twitter. Following the stream is a great way of staying abreast of the latest commands. For the more discerning, there are Twitter accounts for commands that get a minimum of 3 and 10 votes - that way only the great commands get tweeted.

» http://twitter.com/commandlinefu
» http://twitter.com/commandlinefu3
» http://twitter.com/commandlinefu10

Subscribe to the feeds.

Use your favourite RSS aggregator to stay in touch with the latest commands. There are feeds mirroring the 3 Twitter streams as well as for virtually every other subset (users, tags, functions,…):

Subscribe to the feed for: