Terminal unix command questions

[savoym]

I am new to the unix command lines and wanted to ask what I hope are 2 simple questions.

1. I could not find this answer when googling, what is the definition of "aux" in the ps aux command?

2. When I execute command: ps aux | grep httpd it displays this:
_www 600 0.0 0.0 2461456 816 ?? S 10:56AM 0:00.00 /opt/local/apache2/bin/httpd -k start
_www 599 0.0 0.0 2461456 816 ?? S 10:56AM 0:00.00 /opt/local/apache2/bin/httpd -k start
_www 598 0.0 0.0 2461456 816 ?? S 10:56AM 0:00.00 /opt/local/apache2/bin/httpd -k start
root 597 0.0 0.1 2461456 7196 ?? Ss 10:56AM 0:00.07 /opt/local/apache2/bin/httpd -k start
msavoy 628 0.0 0.0 2432768 612 s000 R+ 11:03AM 0:00.00 grep httpd
_www 602 0.0 0.0 2461456 816 ?? S 10:56AM 0:00.00 /opt/local/apache2/bin/httpd -k start
_www 601 0.0 0.0 2461456 816 ?? S 10:56AM 0:00.00 /opt/local/apache2/bin/httpd -k start

However, when I execute command ps -aux | grep httpd it displays this:
ps: No user named 'x'

What does the "aux" in the first command stand for?

Any help/direction would be greatly appreciated. Regards.

 

[mrapplegate]

I am new to the unix command lines and wanted to ask what I hope are 2 simple questions.

1. I could not find this answer when googling, what is the definition of "aux" in the ps aux command?

2. When I execute command: ps aux | grep httpd it displays this:
_www 600 0.0 0.0 2461456 816 ?? S 10:56AM 0:00.00 /opt/local/apache2/bin/httpd -k start
_www 599 0.0 0.0 2461456 816 ?? S 10:56AM 0:00.00 /opt/local/apache2/bin/httpd -k start
_www 598 0.0 0.0 2461456 816 ?? S 10:56AM 0:00.00 /opt/local/apache2/bin/httpd -k start
root 597 0.0 0.1 2461456 7196 ?? Ss 10:56AM 0:00.07 /opt/local/apache2/bin/httpd -k start
msavoy 628 0.0 0.0 2432768 612 s000 R+ 11:03AM 0:00.00 grep httpd
_www 602 0.0 0.0 2461456 816 ?? S 10:56AM 0:00.00 /opt/local/apache2/bin/httpd -k start
_www 601 0.0 0.0 2461456 816 ?? S 10:56AM 0:00.00 /opt/local/apache2/bin/httpd -k start

However, when I execute command ps -aux | grep httpd it displays this:
ps: No user named 'x'

What does the "aux" in the first command stand for?

Any help/direction would be greatly appreciated. Regards.

Try the man page, in terminal type man ps
It will tell what each option is.

 

[pitt1717]

aux is not a word rather an argument. in this case 3 strung together a, u, and x. (note this is case sensitive). the following link can lend assistance
http://unixhelp.ed.ac.uk/CGI/man-cgi?ps


also note that 'man ps' in the command line will give the same definitions. man can be used to learn about all the commands osx, bsd, linux etc has installed on the system

hope that helps

 

[savoym]

Thanks for the quick reply. I appreciate the direction and help.

Regards.