If you are ever stuck on a Linux system that is completely unresponsive try the following key combination to get access back:
Alt PrintScreen r s e i u b.
When you type the command the system executes the following commands:
* r – takes the control of the keyboard back from X.
* s – writes the data from the disc cache to the hard disk.
* e – sends SIGTERM to all processes except init.
* i – sends SIGKILL to all processes except init
* u – remounts all the filesystems readonly (basically a measure to help you reboot safely)
* b – reboots the system
Please keep in mind that this is a last ditch method, that is to be used only when everything else has failed to get you access to the system. Normally you should be able to switch to a virtual terminal (
Source: Fix Unresponsive or Frozen Linux Computers using Shortcuts | MakeUseOf.com
– Suramya
I happen to compile my kernel just yesterday and noticed this thing. Never knew it before. “Documentation/sysrq.txt” in the kernel source tree might interest you.
Comment by Anomalizer — November 25, 2008 @ 9:32 AM
Thanks for the info. I will check it out the next time I try to compile a kernel.
– Suramya
Comment by Suramya — November 25, 2008 @ 9:08 PM