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The lsof command

The lsof command shows file infomation of all the files opened by a running process. It's name is also derived from the fact that, list open files > lsof

An open file may be a regular file, a directory, a block special file, a character special file, an executing text reference, a library , a stream or a network file (Internet socket, NFS file or UNIX domain socket). A specific file or all the files in a file system may be selected by path.

Syntax:

lsof [-OPTION] [USER_NAME]

Examples:

1. To show all the files opened by all active processes:

lsof

2. To show the files opened by a particular user:

lsof -u [USER_NAME]

3. To list the processes with opened files under a specified directory:

lsof +d [PATH_TO_DIR]

Options and their Functionalities:

Option	Additional Options	Description
-i	tcp/ udp/ :port	List all network connections running, Additionally, on udp/tcp or on specified port.
-i4	-	List all processes with ipv4 connections.
-i6	-	List all processes with ipv6 connections.
-c	[PROCESS_NAME]	List all the files of a particular process with given name.
-p	[PROCESS_ID]	List all the files opened by a specified process id.
-p	^[PROCESS_ID]	List all the files that are not opened by a specified process id.
+d	[PATH]	List the processes with opened files under a specified directory
+R	-	List the files opened by parent process Id.

Help Command

Run below command to view the complete guide to lsof command.

man lsof