> kill -HUP `head -1 /var/run/sendmail.pid` To complete your exageration :-) kill -HUP `head -1 /var/run/sendmail.pid | awk '{print$1}'` I mailed the more simple form to make it understood what a process is, and that I wanted him to send a -HUP rather a -9. The rest is a goodie for the advanced user. -- Markus Illenseer