[mythtv-users] Mythbackend stops <defunct>

[David Campbell]

Kevin Kuphal wrote:
> I recently upgraded my kernel to 2.6.20.1 from a Redhat 9 system in 
> order to move my DVB HD cards from my slave backend into my master 
> backend.  Everything seems to be working fine except that after a period 
> of time (not related to any recording schedule, just after a while) the 
> backend will become unresponsive and if I shut it down, it gets stuck as 
> a <defunct> process.
> 
> Does anyone know what <defunct> means.  It does not let go of it's ports 
> so I cannot start it back up again and it seems to hold onto the ivtv 
> and dvb drivers as well which leads me to believe that it is still 
> "alive" in some way.
> 
> [root at mythtv root]# ps -elf | grep mythbackend
> 0 R root     11697 11484  0  78   0 -   918 -      09:13 pts/0    
> 00:00:00 grep mythbackend
> 5 Z root     12262     1  1  78   0 -     0 exit   Apr02 ?        
> 00:29:26 [mythbackend] <defunct>
> 
> Any help would be appreciated. 

It's a zombie process.

Definition: zombie: n. [Unix] A process that has died but has not yet 
relinquished its process table slot (because the parent process hasn't 
executed a wait(2) for it yet). These can be seen in ps(1) listings 
occasionally. Compare orphan.

I get them when something fairly bad happens in myth, usually when 
watching live TV.

It sucks/

Dave