How to use lsof in Linux to clear deleted but unreleased files?

In Linux, you can use the lsof command to view files that have been deleted but not yet released, and use the kill command to clear the processes associated with these files.

Firstly, use the following command to search for deleted but unreleased files:

lsof | grep deleted

This will list all deleted files and their corresponding processes.

Next, locate the corresponding Process ID (PID) and use the following command to kill that process:

kill -9 PID

Please be aware that using the “kill -9” command will forcefully terminate a process, which may result in data loss or other issues. Therefore, use this command with caution and ensure you understand its potential implications.

After completing the above steps, any deleted but unreleased files should be cleared.