---
name: "dmtcp_launch"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "dmtcp"
version: "4.2.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dmtcp_launch"
---

# dmtcp\_launch(1)

## NAME

**dmtcp\_launch** -- launch a process under DMTCP control.

## SYNOPSIS

**dmtcp\_launch** \[*OPTIONS*\] *\<command\>* \[*args...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**dmtcp\_launch** launches a process under DMTCP control.

A typical usage is:\
\
   rm ckpt\_a.out\_\*.dmtcp # Remove any stale copies of ckpt image\
\
   dmtcp\_launch --interval 5 a.out\
\
   dmtcp\_command --checkpoint # Execute this in another window\
\
   \#Kill the currently running a.out process\
\
   dmtcp\_restart ckpt\_a.out\_\*.dmtcp

## OPTIONS

### Connecting to the DMTCP Coordinator

- **-h**, **--coord-host** *hostname* (environment variable DMTCP\_COORD\_HOST)

   Hostname where dmtcp\_coordinator is run (default: localhost)

- **-p**, **--coord-port** *port* (environment variable DMTCP\_COORD\_PORT)

   Port where dmtcp\_coordinator is run (default: 7779)

- **--port-file** *filename*

   File to write listener port number.  (Useful with **--coord-port 0**, which is used to assign a random port)

- **-j**, **--join**

   Join an existing coordinator, raise error if one doesn't  already exist

- **--new-coordinator**

   Create a new coordinator at the given port. Fail if one  already exists on the given port. The port can be specified  with **--coord-port**, or with environment variable DMTCP\_COORD\_PORT.  If no port is specified, start coordinator at a random port (same  as specifying port '0').

- **--no-coordinator**

   Execute the process in stand-alone coordinator-less mode.\
   Use **dmtcp\_command** or **--interval** to request checkpoints.

- **-i**, **--interval** *seconds* (environment variable DMTCP\_CHECKPOINT\_INTERVAL)

   Time in seconds between automatic checkpoints.  0 implies never (manual ckpt only); if not set and no env var,  use default value set in dmtcp\_coordinator or dmtcp\_command.  Not allowed if **--join** is specified

### Checkpoint image generation

- **--gzip**, **--no-gzip** (environment variable DMTCP\_GZIP=\[01\])

   Enable/disable compression of checkpoint images (default: 1 (enabled))\
   WARNING: gzip adds seconds. Without gzip, ckpt is often \< 1s

- **--ckptdir** *path* (environment variable DMTCP\_CHECKPOINT\_DIR)

   Directory to store checkpoint images (default: curr dir at launch)

- **--ckpt-open-files**

   Checkpoint open files and restore old working dir. (default: do neither)

- **--checkpoint-open-files**

   Deprecated. Use **--ckpt-open-files** instead.

- **--ckpt-signal** *signum*

   Signal number used internally by DMTCP for checkpointing (default: 12)

- **--ckpt-signal** *signum*

   Deprecated. Use **--ckpt-signal** instead.

### Enable/disable plugins

- **--with-plugin** *plugins* (environment variable DMTCP\_PLUGIN)

   Colon-separated list of DMTCP plugins to be preloaded with DMTCP.  (Absolute pathnames are required.)

- **--batch-queue**, **--rm**

   Enable support for resource managers (Torque PBS and SLURM).  (default: disabled)

- **--modify-env**

   Update environment variables based on the environment on the restart host  (e.g., DISPLAY=$DISPLAY). This can be set in a file dmtcp\_env.txt.  (default: disabled)

- **--disable-alloc-plugin** (environment variable DMTCP\_ALLOC\_PLUGIN=\[01\])

   Disable alloc plugin (default: enabled).

- **--disable-dl-plugin** (environment variable DMTCP\_DL\_PLUGIN=\[01\])

   Disable dl plugin (default: enabled).

- **--disable-all-plugins** (EXPERTS ONLY, FOR DEBUGGING)

   Disable all plugins.

### Other options

- **--prefix** *path*

   Prefix where DMTCP is installed on remote nodes.

- **--tmpdir** *path* (environment variable DMTCP\_TMPDIR)

   Directory to store temporary files  (default: $TMDPIR/dmtcp-$USER@$HOST or /tmp/dmtcp-$USER@$HOST)

- **-q**, **--quiet** (or set environment variable DMTCP\_QUIET = 0, 1, or 2)

   Skip NOTE messages; if given twice, also skip WARNINGs

- **--help**

   Print this message and exit.

- **--version**

   Print version information and exit.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: dmtcp-forum@lists.sourceforge.net\
 DMTCP home page: \<http://dmtcp.sourceforge.net\>

## SEE ALSO

[**dmtcp**(1)](/dmtcp/1.md), [**dmtcp\_coordinator**(1)](/dmtcp_coordinator/1.md), [**dmtcp\_launch**(1)](/dmtcp_launch/1.md), [**dmtcp\_restart**(1)](/dmtcp_restart/1.md), [**dmtcp\_command**(1)](/dmtcp_command/1.md)

## AUTHOR

See /usr/share/doc/dmtcp-3.0.0/AUTHORS.

## VERSION

DMTCP version 3.0.0 of September, 2018.

## COPYRIGHT

See /usr/share/doc/dmtcp-3.0.0/COPYING file.

License LGPLv3+: GNU LGPL version 3 or later \<http://gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html\>.

This program comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.  This is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it under certain  conditions; see COPYING file for details.