Are there any tools for managing multiple Java instances on Linux? Or heck, even a decent 'ps' command line to differentiate them?

I'm running Java applications all over the place and differentiating them for maintenance, etc. isn't becoming much fun.

Thanks.

what about the following:

ps -eaf | grep java

you may have to tweak the parameter you're passing to grep; rather than java, depending on the version, it might be javaw if I recall

PS

actually just tried this on an account of mine; the following was more productive, but this might be because it is running a pretty old version of Java, 1.17:

ps -eaf | grep jdk

That's a variation of what I've been using, "ps -auxwww | grep java", but "ps -eaf | grep java" lists the full java commandline on a single line therefore cutting off the various defines and classpaths that identify exactly what it's running.

Still on the search for a JVM management tool/script/hack.

The proper way would be to have your java applications listen to a socket which you have control over. You should then be able to issue commands (start, stop, restart, etc..). You'll need to take security into consideration.