Process names I've looked up sometime (some because they were using 100% CPU)

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Things taking unreasonable CPU

Things that don't do something useful but eat up your processing power endlessly.


Antimalware

This often means something is doing a lot of file reading, which necessarily should be scanned. This will e.g. make startup after login a little slower than not doing so, but since startup apps are a great vector for resident malware, that's a check you probably want.


If this lasts for maybe 15 minutes or loneer, this may well be window's file indexing updating (Resource Manageer). This can mean a noticeable slowdown in use. Though should only happens occasionally.



kipmi0 (linux)

✎ This article/section is a stub — some half-sorted notes, not necessarily checked, not necessarily correct. Feel free to ignore, or tell me about it.

Short version:

  • this process is a background helper that isn't necessary, but speeds up certain IPMI operations
non-interrupt IPMI takes a lot of polling
if not actively using IPMI, high CPU on this process may be due to an unresponsive BMC
This kernel process is essentially high niceness, so it shouldn't steal processing power from anything.


If you're not using IPMI, or are but only rarely, you can disable it by not loading the kernel module. Edit modprobe.conf to say: 

options ipmi_si force_kipmid=0


You can also make it less insistent, via something like: 

echo 100 > /sys/module/ipmi_si/parameters/kipmid_max_busy_us

(...or in its config)


https://www.novell.com/support/kb/doc.php?id=7003352

http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=nas7d580df3d15874988862575fa0050f604

http://mintojoseph.blogspot.nl/2010/05/what-is-kipmi-why-is-it-taking-too-much.html

ksoftirqd (linux)

Google drive (Windows)

Known bug. Haven't seen it in a while, so possibly resolved in an update?


mysqld_safe

See MySQL_notes#mysqld_safe_taking_.7E100.25_CPU


Windows explorer (WinXP, mostly)

Explorer didn't always deal well with previews of certain files.

e.g winXP was would occasionally do the 100% CPU think trying to generate thumbnails for some video files.

See Media_thumbnails_and_previews#Windows_-_Video_and_audio_explorer_extensions_.28previews.2C_metadata.29

Other notes on background processes

For those that are trying to figure out whether there are any running processes that shouldn't be there.


Linux

kworker

kernel worker threads for various work (most things that take serious time), including

  • interrupts
  • timers
  • IO

If it's taking a lot of CPU, that often means significant disk IO and/or significant networking. Sometimes things like sorta-broken drivers.


jbd2

Journaling Block Device is a journaling layer between the filesystem and storage.

While any filesystem can use it, from what you'll find used it's mainly used by ext4 (called jbd2)

dsl_scan_iss

ZFS scrub.

Shouldn't be taking 100% CPU, but will often take moderate amounts of IO.

Shouldn't interfere in that it should back off when you actually use the filesystem, but if you think it's bothering everyday work, remember you can put a limit on how easily it backs off (which on slight use ~= how fast scrubs read).

Windows

Common background processes:

Note that this list cannot tell you whether a process is spyware or such, since spyware may choose to name processes one of the below. Install a spyware scanner to discover this.


system stuff

  • svchost.exe: (usually several) hosts a service (those that need this type of hosting) (You can't easily tell which of these processes hosts which service)
  • services.exe: assists service starts/stops
  • rundll32.exe


  • alg.exe (mainly handles windows firewall and connection sharing)
  • csrss.exe (graphics processing proxy)
  • smss.exe (manages login sessions)
  • lsass.exe (local security, login. Perhaps see lsass.exe taking all cpu)
  • spoolsv.exe (handles printing)
  • HelpSvc.exe (Help service. Perhaps see HelpSvc.exe taking all cpu)
  • mmc.exe (supports elements of device manager, etc.)


  • mdm.exe (process debugging, used e.g. in IE script debugging)


installed apps

Microsoft:

  • ctfmon.exe (alternate input methods for MS office)
  • wdfmgr.exe (part of Windows Media Player 10)

nVidia (video card drivers/utilities):

  • nvsvc32.exe

ATI (video card drivers/utilities):

  • ati2evxx.exe
  • mom.exe
  • CCC.exe

Novell:

  • naldesk.exe
  • nalntsrv.exe
  • nalrstrt.exe (NAL Restart Utility?)
  • zentray.exe
  • ZenRem32.exe (Remote Management)
  • dpmw32.exe (print, security)
  • nwtray.exe (tray menu)
  • nwquota.exe (quota checker & tray menu)
  • wm.exe (Workstation Manager)
  • wmrundll.exe
  • iprntlgn.exe (iPrint)
  • iprntctl.exe (iPrint)
  • xtagent.exe (NetIdentity)

Apple

  • mDNSResponder.exe (Bonjour for Windows, used by iTunes music sharing, and some other apps. See also zeroconf)
  • iTunesHelper.exe
  • iPodService.exe

Symantec/Norton AntiVirus/Internet Security:

  • ccApp.exe (autoprotect and such)
  • ccEvtMgr.exe (logger)
  • VPtray.exe (tray icon)
  • DefWatch.exe (updates virus definitions)
  • SavRoam.exe (roaming user support)
  • ccSetMgr.exe
  • spbbcsvc.exe

Spybot S&D

  • TeaTimer.exe (resident protection)
  • SDHelper.exe (resident protection, browser)

GEAR

Google:

  • googletalk.exe: Google talk app
  • GoogleUpdateService.exe

VMWare:

  • vmware-authd.exe
  • vmnat.exe

Installshield:

  • ikernel.exe (installation engine, while some installation is open)

Adobe

  • apdproxy.exe (camera photo download helper, lightroom)

Wacom

  • Tablet.exe
  • tabuserw.exe

S3:

  • s3hotkey.exe: utility for S3 Twister integrated graphics card (laptops, miniITX systems, etc.), apparently used to switch between monitors, whatever that means exactly.

Sun:

  • jusched.exe (java update scheduler/checker)
  • jucheck.exe (same)


Realtek:

  • RTLCPL.exe (installed with motherboard sound cards)
  • soundman.exe (installed with motherboard sound cards)

Pinnacle:

  • remoterm.exe (the app that handles the remote for various Pinnacle video products)

InterVideo:

  • WinCinemaMgr.exe (part of WinDVD)

AOL (Viewpoint Media Player or Viewpoint Toolbar, used by AIM, AOL, but not really necessary. See also [1]):

  • viewpointservice.exe
  • viewmgr.exe


Other/unsorted:

  • starwindservice.exe (Alcohol 120%)
  • MsMpEng.exe - Windows Defender
  • SenseNdr.exe - Windows Defender


Unsorted

WavesLocalServer - DAW related (which?)



See also

  • The autoruns app, which gives a brief description of the things registered to start with windows
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