Process Lasso

Using the INI Configuration File

The configuration options and process rules are stored in an INI configuration file. You can manually edit this INI file, import/export it, choose an alternate INI file to use, or pretend it doesn't exist. Usually system and network administrators or those with a lot of process rules need to manually tweak the INI file. Otherwise, the Process Lasso graphical user interface (GUI) will help you edit it.

Where is the INI configuration file located?

By default, Process Lasso automatically generates a configuration file for each user context in which it runs. These configuration files are located in the "ProcessLasso" subfolder of the respective user's application data folder. The log is also stored in this same location. The 'About' window of Process Lasso will show the full paths.

Administrators can change the path of the configuration file so that all instances of Process Lasso/Process Governor use the same configuration file. This can be done running the installer again and choosing a global configuration path in the second configuration dialog.

Sample Configuration File

                        
#

# prolasso.ini configuration file [sample]

# any line not recognized is ignored   

#     

[OutOfControlProcessRestraint]

OocOn=True

TotalProcessorUsageBeforeRestraint=85

PerProcessUsageBeforeRestraint=20

TimeOverQuotaBeforeRestraint=2800

PerProcessUsageForRestore=10

PlayOnRestraint=C:\Windows\media\Windows Pop-up Blocked.wav

PlayOnRestore=C:\Windows\media\Windows Feed Discovered.wav

MinimumTimeOfRestraint=6000

TameOnlyNormal=True

LowerToIdleInsteadOfBelowNormal=False

ExcludeServices=False

PlaySoundOnRestraint=False

PlaySoundOnRestore=False

RestrainByAffinity=False

RestraintAffinity=

ExcludeForegroundProcesses=True

DoNotLowerPriorityClass=False

OocExclusions=

[GUI]

HideGraph=False

HideProcessIcons=False

ShowGraphLegend=True

ClearLogAtExit=False

[Performance]

ManageOnlyCurrentUser=True

ExitOnCloseWindow=False

BoostForegroundThread=False

BoostForegroundProcess=False

SoundsOff=True

AggressivelyTrimProcessLassoWorkingSet=True

CloseApplicationTimeoutSeconds=10

ForcedMode=False

[Updates]

CheckForUpdates=False

[SystemTrayIcon]

UseStaticIcon=False

ShowResponsivnessInTrayInsteadOfProcessorUsage=False

[Logging]

LogAllProcessesExecuted=False

LogProcessesDisallowed=True

LogDefaultPriorityAdjustments=True

LogDefaultAffinityAdjustments=True

LogOutOfControlProcessesRestrained=True

LogOutOfControlProcessesRestored=True

LogInstanceLimitTerminations=True

MaximumLogEntries=50

[MemoryManagement]

TrimAllProcessesAtThisIntervalInMs=0

[SysTrayBalloons]

ShowBalloons=False

BalloonTipDuration=10000

ShowBalloonsForOocPriorityRestoration=False

[Performance]

UpdateSpeed=1000

[ProcessAllowances]

AllowedProcesses=badprog2.exe

DisallowedProcesses=badprog*.exe

InstanceLimitedProcesses=word.exe,excel.exe

[ProcessDefaults]

DefaultPriorities=notepad.exe,above normal;calc.exe,above normal

DefaultAffinities=notepad.exe,1;calc.exe,0

MatchWildcardsToPathnames=False

[AdvancedRules]

WatchdogRules=someproc1.exe:billy;0;2;100;2000;0;0;0,someproc2.exe:joe;0;2;100;2000;0;0;0

Names encapsulated in '[' and ']' are groups of options. Each group has one or more options (called keys) that are set to values. Each key is optional, and if it doesn't exist the default value is used. Lines that do not contain a recognized key or group name are ignored. This file is not case sensitive.

Groups Overview

Group	Description	Keys
Performance	Configures performance related parameters.	UpdateSpeed
OutOfControlProcessRestraint	Configures parameters related to restraint of out of control processes (those consuming too many system resources).	OocOn TotalProcessorUsageBeforeRestaint PerProcessUsageBeforeRestraint TimeOverQuotaBeforeRestraint ProcessUsageQuotaCausingRestore OocExclusions
ProcessAllowances	Configures processes allowed and disallowed from execution.	AllowedProcesses DisallowedProcesses InstanceLimitedProcesses MatchDisallowedWildcardsToPathnames
ProcessDefaults	Configures default process priorities.	DefaultPriorities
Logging	Configures logging options.	LogAllProcessesExecuted LogProcessesDisallowed LogDefaultPriorityAdjustments LogOutOfControlProcessesRestrained LogInstanceLimitTerminations MaximumLogEntries
AdvancedRules	Sets more advanced process rules.	WatchdogActions

Keys

Defined keys (options) and their accepted values are as follows:

Group Key Description Accepted Values and Format Default Value

Performance UpdateSpeed The interval between enumerations of running processes by ProcessGovernor and ProcessLasso, in milliseconds. The lower the interval more responsive the applications are to changes in running processes, but more CPU cycles are used. Any non-negative number. It is not recommended to exceed 4000ms or go below 500ms. It is recommended to keep this value the default. 1500

Performance ForcedMode When forced mode is enabled, Process Lasso more aggressively enforces default priorities and affinities. Some applications change their own priorities, and this setting may be necessary in such cases. 'True' if this feature is enabled, 'False' if not. False

OutOfControlProcessRestraint OocOn Toggles out-of-control process restraint on or off. 'True' if this feature is enabled, 'False' if not. True

OutOfControlProcessRestraint TotalProcessorUsageBeforeRestraint The percentage of processor(s) in use that initiates a check of processes that may be out-of-control. While the total processor usage is below this threshold, processes are not restrained. This value includes usage of all processors on a system. Range: 1-100. 75

OutOfControlProcessRestraint TimeOverQuotaBeforeRestraint Number of milliseconds above ProcessorUsageQuota before the process priority is lowered. Any non-negative number. 1750

OutOfControlProcessRestraint PerProcessUsageQuotaBeforeRestraint The percentage of processor(s) in use by a process before its priority is reduced. Note that TotalProcessorUsageBeforeRestraint must have already been met. 1-100. This value must be equal to or lesser than ProcessorUsageQuota. 20

OutOfControlProcessRestraint PerProcessUsageQuotaForRestore The percentage of processor(s) in use by a process that is considered a safe enough value to restore a preciously restrained process to its original priority. 1-100. This value must be equal to or lesser than ProcessorUsageQuota. 5

OutOfControlProcessRestraint OocExclusions Processes excluded from out-of-control restraint. This is a comma delimitered list of process names. Wildcards are allowed.
Format:
process1,process2,process3
Example:
taskmgr.exe, game*.exe None.

AdvancedRules WatchdogRules Complex watchdog operations. See below. n/a

ProcessAllowances DisallowedProcesses Processes disallowed to execute. If a process is launched matching a specification in this list, it will be terminated. This is a comma delimitered list of process names. Wildcards are allowed.
Format:
process1,process2,process3
Example:
taskmgr.exe, game*.exe

ProcessAllowances AllowedProcesses Processes allowed to execute. These are only applicable if they match a process specification in the DisallowedProcesses key. For example, if notepad*.exe is lised in DisallowedProcesses and notepad1.exe is listed in AllowedProcesses, then notepad1.exe will be allowed to execute, but notrpad2.exe will not. This is a comma delimitered list of process names. Wildcards are allowed.
Format:
process1,process2,process3
Example:
taskmgr.exe, game*.exe None.

ProcessAllowances InstanceLimitedProcesses This variables provides a list of processes who should be limited to no more than a certain number of instances in a given user session. This is a comma delimitered list of process names, with semicolons used to indicate the maximum instance count.
Example:
myprogram.exe;2

ProcessDefaults DefaultPriorities A list of default priorities for processes. This is a comma delimitered list of process names and priorities. Wildcards are allowed. Valid priorities are:

Real time

High

Above normal

Normal

Below normal

Idle

Format:
process1,priority1,process2,priority2
Example:
taskmgr.exe, high,*.scr,idle
None.

Logging LogAllProcessesExecuted Toggle logging of all processes executed. 'True' if enabled, 'False' if not. False

Logging LogProcessesDisallowed Toggle logging of processes terminated because they were disallowed. 'True' if enabled, 'False' if not. True

Logging LogDefaultPriorityAdjustments Toggle logging of processes whose priority was adjusted to a configured default value. 'True' if enabled, 'False' if not. True

Logging LogOutOfControlProcesses Toggle logging of processes restrained because they were found to be out-of-control. 'True' if enabled, 'False' if not. True

Logging MaximumLogEntries The maximum number of log entries. When the log file reaches this limit, it is resized to 80% of this value. Minimum reasonable value is 10. 500

Logging LogInstanceLimitTerminations Set to log terminations of processes based on their instance limit, as configured. 'True' if enabled, 'False' if not True

Peformance note: Process Lasso uses its own high performance INI parsing algorithm.

Documentation of WatchdogRules

(formerly OverloadProcessActions)

WatchdogRules=someprocess.exe:billy;0;2;100;2000;0;0;0, ...

Field 1	Field 2	Field 3	Field 4	Field 5	Field 6	Field 7	Field 8
Process PL 'actualized' base name and user	Action Type	Metric In Question	Threshold	Duration	Action Specific Value	Type Specific Value	Compare Type

Field 1: Process PL 'actualized' base name and user
This field accepts the base name for which you want the rule to match. It is actualized into the format that you see Process Lasso display in its GUI. That means that service names and/or service group names may also be included in the base name. The username may also be specified by using a colon as a delimter. Both accept wildcards. Examples, "myprocess*.exe:MyUser" - "myprocess*:My*".

Field 2: Action Type

TERMINATE =0
RESTART = 1
AFFINITY_CHANGE = 2
TRIM_VM = 3
SET_CPU_PRIORITY = 4
SET_IO_PRIORITY = 5
STOP_PROCESSING_RULES = 6
LOG = 7

Field 3: Metric In Question

CPU = 0
MEMORY = 1

Field 4: Threshold
This is the threshold for action. If Field 3 is CPU, then this is % of total CPU used of time. If Field 3 is Memory (1), then this is MEGABYTES.

Field 5: Duration
This is the length of time the process remains over threshold before the watchdog action is triggered, stored in milliseconds.

Field 6: Action Type Specific
This can be any number of values depending on the Action Type

Desired CPU priority class (numeric)

Desired I/O priority (numeric)

Desired CPU affinity (numeric, stored as a bitmask in decimal)

Field 7: Type Specific Value

unused = 0

WORKING SET = 0
COMMIT CHARGE = 1
TOTAL VIRTUAL MEMORY = 2
ANY MEMORY METRIC = 3

Field 8: Comparison Type

UNDEFINED = 0
LESS THAN = 1
GREATER THAN = 2

Group	Key	Description	Accepted Values and Format	Default Value
Performance	UpdateSpeed	The interval between enumerations of running processes by ProcessGovernor and ProcessLasso, in milliseconds. The lower the interval more responsive the applications are to changes in running processes, but more CPU cycles are used.	Any non-negative number. It is not recommended to exceed 4000ms or go below 500ms. It is recommended to keep this value the default.	1500
Performance	ForcedMode	When forced mode is enabled, Process Lasso more aggressively enforces default priorities and affinities. Some applications change their own priorities, and this setting may be necessary in such cases.	'True' if this feature is enabled, 'False' if not.	False
OutOfControlProcessRestraint	OocOn	Toggles out-of-control process restraint on or off.	'True' if this feature is enabled, 'False' if not.	True
OutOfControlProcessRestraint	TotalProcessorUsageBeforeRestraint	The percentage of processor(s) in use that initiates a check of processes that may be out-of-control. While the total processor usage is below this threshold, processes are not restrained. This value includes usage of all processors on a system.	Range: 1-100.	75
OutOfControlProcessRestraint	TimeOverQuotaBeforeRestraint	Number of milliseconds above ProcessorUsageQuota before the process priority is lowered.	Any non-negative number.	1750
OutOfControlProcessRestraint	PerProcessUsageQuotaBeforeRestraint	The percentage of processor(s) in use by a process before its priority is reduced. Note that TotalProcessorUsageBeforeRestraint must have already been met.	1-100. This value must be equal to or lesser than ProcessorUsageQuota.	20
OutOfControlProcessRestraint	PerProcessUsageQuotaForRestore	The percentage of processor(s) in use by a process that is considered a safe enough value to restore a preciously restrained process to its original priority.	1-100. This value must be equal to or lesser than ProcessorUsageQuota.	5
OutOfControlProcessRestraint	OocExclusions	Processes excluded from out-of-control restraint.	This is a comma delimitered list of process names. Wildcards are allowed. Format: process1,process2,process3 Example: taskmgr.exe, game*.exe	None.
AdvancedRules	WatchdogRules	Complex watchdog operations.	See below.	n/a
ProcessAllowances	DisallowedProcesses	Processes disallowed to execute. If a process is launched matching a specification in this list, it will be terminated.	This is a comma delimitered list of process names. Wildcards are allowed. Format: process1,process2,process3 Example: taskmgr.exe, game*.exe
ProcessAllowances	AllowedProcesses	Processes allowed to execute. These are only applicable if they match a process specification in the DisallowedProcesses key. For example, if notepad*.exe is lised in DisallowedProcesses and notepad1.exe is listed in AllowedProcesses, then notepad1.exe will be allowed to execute, but notrpad2.exe will not.	This is a comma delimitered list of process names. Wildcards are allowed. Format: process1,process2,process3 Example: taskmgr.exe, game*.exe	None.
ProcessAllowances	InstanceLimitedProcesses	This variables provides a list of processes who should be limited to no more than a certain number of instances in a given user session.	This is a comma delimitered list of process names, with semicolons used to indicate the maximum instance count. Example: myprogram.exe;2
ProcessDefaults	DefaultPriorities	A list of default priorities for processes.	This is a comma delimitered list of process names and priorities. Wildcards are allowed. Valid priorities are: Real time High Above normal Normal Below normal Idle Format: process1,priority1,process2,priority2 Example: taskmgr.exe, high,*.scr,idle	None.
Logging	LogAllProcessesExecuted	Toggle logging of all processes executed.	'True' if enabled, 'False' if not.	False
Logging	LogProcessesDisallowed	Toggle logging of processes terminated because they were disallowed.	'True' if enabled, 'False' if not.	True
Logging	LogDefaultPriorityAdjustments	Toggle logging of processes whose priority was adjusted to a configured default value.	'True' if enabled, 'False' if not.	True
Logging	LogOutOfControlProcesses	Toggle logging of processes restrained because they were found to be out-of-control.	'True' if enabled, 'False' if not.	True
Logging	MaximumLogEntries	The maximum number of log entries. When the log file reaches this limit, it is resized to 80% of this value.	Minimum reasonable value is 10.	500
Logging	LogInstanceLimitTerminations	Set to log terminations of processes based on their instance limit, as configured.	'True' if enabled, 'False' if not	True