Getting Started with SAS in UNIX Environments

Running SAS in a Foreground or Background Process

UNIX is a multitasking operating system, so you can run multiple processes at the same time. For example, you can have one process running in the foreground and three in the background.

A foreground process executes while you wait for the prompt; that is, you cannot execute additional commands while the current command is being executed. After you enter a command, the shell starts a process to execute the command. After the system executes the command, the shell displays the prompt and you can enter additional commands. The following is an example of SAS executing as a foreground process:

sas

A background process executes independently of the shell. After you enter a command, the shell starts a process to execute the command, and then issues the system prompt. You can enter other commands or start other background processes without waiting for your initial command to execute. The following is an example of the command that is used to execute a background process:

sas&

Note: Both the C shell and the Korn shell include commands that enable you to move jobs among three possible states: running in the foreground, running in the background, and suspended. [cautionend]

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