Problem
Is there a Linux policy regarding the recycling of spent PIDs? I mean, how long after a PId has been used will it be used again?
Asked by Cygnus
Solution #1
PIDs will increase to a system-dependent limit as new processes fork in, then wrap around. Before this wrap-around, the kernel will not reuse a PID.
/proc/sys/kernel/pid max is the limit (maximum number of pids). According to the instruction manual:
Answered by cnicutar
Solution #2
This should explain your query; it looks that when the PIDs run out, it will recycle them, ignoring the ones that are still assigned.
Answered by Osmium USA
Post is based on https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11323410/linux-pid-recycling