okay, i'm a bit embarrassed about this one... a while ago, we had a powerful machine up on floor, "slipbox". His original purpose was to be a server for many machines, to provide slip access to multiple people. (he might still be up at the house, for all i know) anyway, as far as i know, no modems were ever hooked up to him. So, i used to log in to slipbox to run XV and display gifs and jpgs and things, as slipbox was the fastest machine on floor at the time.


In my .cshrc, i had some path bits, and commands that only got run depending on what machine the csh was started on. I used the "machine" command to determine that....only there was no "machine" command on slipbox, so i wrote one. I made a script which was in the end of my path, which just echoed "mc88110" or whatever slipbox was at the time. I used C-Shell to write scripts back then, as it was what i was most familiar with...


I called the "machine" script 3 times in my .cshrc. starting to see a problem here?


Okay, I'd log into slipbox, and it would start up c-shell, running the machine script 3 times. each of those used c-shell, so they started up the machine script 3 times, and they told two friends, and they told 3 friends, and so on, and so on... Needless to say, whenever i logged in, i bogged down the machine like you wouldn't believe!


here is a 'ps -ef' result output from when this would happen. Most of all the processes here are mine... oops! 

     UID   PID  PPID  C    STIME TTY      TIME COMD
    root     0     0  0   Jul 10 ?        0:01 sched
    root     1     0  0   Jul 10 ?       14:26 /sbin/init 
    root     2     0  0   Jul 10 ?        0:01 pageout
    root     3     0  0   Jul 10 ?       10:20 fsflush
    root     4     0  0   Jul 10 ?        0:00 kmdaemon
    root     5     0  0   Jul 10 ?        0:00 memdiag
    root   346     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:25 /usr/lib/saf/sac -t 300 
   jerry 24489 24488  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
    root   311     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:01 /usr/lib/nfs/lockd 
    root   216     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:00 /usr/lib/netsvc/rwall/rpc.rwalld 
    root   198     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:07 /usr/sbin/in.routed -q 
    root   210     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:00 /usr/sbin/rpcbind 
    root   221     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:00 /usr/lib/netsvc/rusers/rpc.rusersd 
    root   226     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:00 /usr/lib/netsvc/spray/rpc.sprayd 
    root   244     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:01 snmpd 
    root   260     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:57 /usr/lib/lpsched 
    root   284     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:08 /usr/lib/nfs/nfsd -p udp 8 
    root   251     1  0   Jul 10 ?        2:18 /usr/sbin/cron 
    root   272   260  0   Jul 10 ?        0:00 lpNet 
    root   348     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:00 /usr/lib/saf/ttymon -g -d /dev/contty -l contty 
    root   289   284  0   Jul 10 ?        0:08 /usr/lib/nfs/nfsd -p udp 8 
    root   287   284  0   Jul 10 ?        0:08 /usr/lib/nfs/nfsd -p udp 8 
    root   290   284  0   Jul 10 ?        0:08 /usr/lib/nfs/nfsd -p udp 8 
    root   291   284  0   Jul 10 ?        0:08 /usr/lib/nfs/nfsd -p udp 8 
    root   292   284  0   Jul 10 ?        0:08 /usr/lib/nfs/nfsd -p udp 8 
    root   293     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:06 /usr/lib/nfs/biod 4 
    root   294     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:06 /usr/lib/nfs/biod 4 
    root   295     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:06 /usr/lib/nfs/biod 4 
    root   296     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:07 /usr/lib/nfs/biod 4 
    root   300   284  0   Jul 10 ?        0:08 /usr/lib/nfs/nfsd -p udp 8 
    root   301   284  0   Jul 10 ?        0:08 /usr/lib/nfs/nfsd -p udp 8 
    root   302     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:00 /usr/lib/nfs/mountd 
    root   306     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:00 /usr/lib/nfs/statd 
    root   315     1  0   Jul 10 ?        0:00 /usr/lib/nfs/bootparamd 
    root   349   346  0   Jul 10 ?        0:24 /usr/sbin/inetd 
    root   345     1  0   Jul 10 ?        2:45 /usr/bin/X11/xdm 
    root   350   346  0   Jul 10 ?        0:21 /usr/lib/saf/listen tcp 
   jerry 24488 24487  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24486 24485  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24483 24482  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24482 24481  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24471 24469  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24481 24480  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24480 24479  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
    root  7374     1  0   Jul 13 ?        0:15 /usr/sbin/in.rwhod 
   jerry 24485 24484  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24450 24449  0   Jul 21 ?        0:01 csh -c which xterm 
   jerry 24490 24489  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24487 24486  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24491 24490  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
    root 24622     1  0   Jul 21 console  0:00 /usr/lib/saf/ttymon -g -p Console Login:  -d /dev/console -l console 
   jerry 24484 24483  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24479 24478  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24492 24491  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
    root 24449   349  0   Jul 21 ?        1:24 in.rshd 
   jerry 24478 24477  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24459 24450  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 which xterm 
   jerry 24477 24476  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24461 24459  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24476 24475  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24463 24461  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24475 24474  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24465 24463  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24474 24473  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24467 24465  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24473 24472  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24469 24467  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24472 24471  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24493 24492  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24494 24493  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24495 24494  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24496 24495  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24497 24496  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24498 24497  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24499 24498  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24500 24499  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24501 24500  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24502 24501  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24503 24502  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24504 24503  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24505 24504  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24506 24505  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24507 24506  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24508 24507  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24509 24508  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24510 24509  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24511 24510  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24512 24511  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24517 24512  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24518 24517  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24519 24518  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24520 24519  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24569 24567  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24526 24520  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24570 24569  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24528 24526  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24575 24574  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24530 24528  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24574 24570  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24532 24530  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24576 24575  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24534 24532  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24579 24576  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24536 24534  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24581 24579  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24538 24536  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24582 24581  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24540 24538  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24542 24540  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24584 24582  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24544 24542  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24585 24584  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24546 24544  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24586 24585  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24548 24546  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24587 24586  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24550 24548  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24588 24587  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24552 24550  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24589 24588  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24554 24552  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24590 24589  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24556 24554  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry  1105 24590  0   Jul 25 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24558 24556  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 25898  1105  0 10:23:31 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24560 24558  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 25899 25898  0 10:23:37 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24562 24560  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 28605 25899  0 15:58:06 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24564 24562  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24565 24564  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 29029 28605  0 16:56:49 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 24567 24565  0   Jul 21 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 29265 29263  0 17:14:42 pts0     0:00 -csh 
   jerry 29280 29265 31 17:16:52 pts0     0:00 ps -ef 
   jerry 29279 29270  4 17:16:51 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
    root 29263   349  0 17:14:42 ?        0:00 in.rlogind 
   jerry 29269 29029  0 17:15:35 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine 
   jerry 29270 29269  1 17:15:40 ?        0:00 /bin/csh /u1/jerry/bin/scripts/machine