Windows PowerShell Start-Process equivalent in Linux
Launches a program in the background and optionally keeps it running after the terminal closes.
PowerShell Start-Process
nohup command > output.log 2>&1 &
nohup command > output.log 2>&1 &
nohup command > output.log 2>&1 &
Overview
What this command does
On Windows, "PowerShell Start-Process" is used to start a detached process. On Linux, the closest practical mapping shown here is "nohup command > output.log 2>&1 &". Launches a program in the background and optionally keeps it running after the terminal closes. This reference is grouped under PowerShell Equivalents → Processes.
Windows → Linux context
What changes when you use this on Linux?
Equivalent task, different tool
Windows PowerShell Start-Process maps to nohup command > output.log 2>&1 & for this task. Treat this as a workflow mapping rather than a character-for-character syntax translation.
Portable across the compared distros
The Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch rows use the same command in this mapping. Package availability or defaults can still vary, so check the installed tool version when an option behaves differently.
Command-specific caution
Backgrounding does not automatically make a production service reliable. Use a systemd service for persistent managed workloads.
For the broader concept behind this mapping, read PowerShell vs Bash.
Practical tasks
Common use cases
Start a detached process
Launches a program in the background and optionally keeps it running after the terminal closes.
firefox &
Start an application in the background
nohup long-command > output.log 2>&1 &
Keep a command running after logout
jobs -l
List jobs started by this shell
Ready to run
Copyable Linux commands
Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.
firefox &
nohup long-command > output.log 2>&1 &
jobs -l
Walkthrough
Examples with explanations
firefox & # start a background application
nohup long-command > output.log 2>&1 & # detach a long-running task
jobs -l # list shell jobsReference
Common options and variations
| Command or option | Use |
|---|---|
firefox & | Start an application in the background |
nohup long-command > output.log 2>&1 & | Keep a command running after logout |
jobs -l | List jobs started by this shell |
Distro differences
Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch
Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch all use "nohup command > output.log 2>&1 &" for this mapping. The command syntax shown here is portable across the three rows, although installed versions and system defaults can still vary.
| Distribution | Package manager / base | Equivalent command | Difference to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu | same command | nohup command > output.log 2>&1 & |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Fedora | same command | nohup command > output.log 2>&1 & |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Arch | same command | nohup command > output.log 2>&1 & |
Same command on this distribution. |
Important
What to watch out for
Keep learning